Stained Glass Inspired Art
Saturday, May 28
10:00am – 12:00pm
All programs are free with admission unless otherwise noted. Advance reservations are required to visit the Museum. Visit www.discoveryacton.org for hours, COVID safety protocols, and to make reservations. Some outdoor programs may be weather-dependent.
Tuesday, May 3
Especially for Me! Sensory-Friendly Afternoon
1:30pm – 4:30pm
Come explore the accessible Discovery Museum and Discovery Woods. Sensory-Friendly Afternoons are all about inclusion. During these events, the museum is open to the public, but group visits and birthday parties are not scheduled, to avoid crowding and support access to exhibits.
Resources available to prepare for your visit include Story Guides to the Museum and Discovery Woods, as well a Sensory Guide. These are available both online at http://bit.ly/EspeciallyforMe and at our Admissions Desk. You might also visit the Exhibits section of our website and review our Tips for Visiting.
Registration is required at as space is limited.
Especially for Me events are made possible by Alexion Charitable Foundation and Orville W. Forté Charitable Foundation, with additional support from Corning Incorporated Foundation, Mass Cultural Council, Emerson Hospital, and Nypro, Inc.
Thursday, May 5
Hand Tools for Woodworking
Drop-in 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Visit the da Vinci Workshop to experience some of the common tools used in woodworking. From hammers and nails to hand drills, there’s something for everyone to explore at our woodworking workbench.
Friday May 6, 2022
First Friday Nights Free
4:30pm – 7:30pm
Explore the Museum and Discovery Woods with free admission on the first Friday night of each month throughout the school year, October through June! (Please note that the Treehouse and Discovery Woods will close at dusk.) We will gratefully accept non-perishable food donations for Open Table and the Acton Food Pantry. Reservations are required and can be made 10 days in advance.
First Friday Nights Free are made possible by The TJX Companies, with additional support from MathWorks.
StoryWalk® Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
4:30pm – 7:30pm
A StoryWalk® is a fun way to get outside and enjoy a new book! Go on a StoryWalk® to read Jabari Tries, a story about a young boy persevering as he works to make a flying machine that can fly all the way across his yard. Follow the trail of pages to see how Jabari tries with some help from his sister Nika and a pep talk from his dad!
This StoryWalk® has been lent to us by First Connections. This program is weather dependent.
Saturday May 7, 2022
StoryWalk® Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
All Day
A StoryWalk® is a fun way to get outside and enjoy a new book! Go on a StoryWalk® to read Jabari Tries, a story about a young boy persevering as he works to make a flying machine that can fly all the way across his yard. Follow the trail of pages to see how Jabari tries with some help from his sister Nika and a pep talk from his dad!
This StoryWalk® is lent to us by First Connections. This program is weather dependent.
Music and Movement with Miss Bernadette
10:00am – 10:30am
Explore sound through singing and playing. Move, make music, listen, learn, and get a multi-sensory workout! Music improves your child’s memory, cognitive development, learning skills, and ability to express emotion. Plus, it’s fun! Miss Bernadette is a professional musician and music educator. Registration is required at https://bit.ly/MusicMoveMay2022 as space is limited. All participants aged 2 and up must wear masks during this program.
Especially for Me Visually Impaired Family Evening
5:00pm – 8:00pm
Join us for an evening at the museum especially for families experiencing a visual impairment. Play, explore, experiment, and imagine in the accessible Discovery Museum and Discovery Woods while we are closed to the general public.
Pre-registration required at as space is limited.
Please Note: Discovery Woods closes at dusk. You may want to prepare for your visit by downloading the Story Guide to Discovery Woods at http://bit.ly/EspeciallyforMe and by visiting the Exhibits section of our website.
Dinner, including a gluten-free option, will be provided.
Especially for Me events are made possible by Alexion Charitable Foundation and Orville W. Forté Charitable Foundation, with additional support from Corning Incorporated Foundation, Mass Cultural Council, Emerson Hospital, and Nypro, Inc.
Sunday May 8, 2022
StoryWalk® Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
All Day, Outside
A StoryWalk® is a fun way to get outside and enjoy a new book! Go on a StoryWalk® to read Jabari Tries, a story about a young boy persevering as he works to make a flying machine that can fly all the way across his yard. Follow the trail of pages to see how Jabari tries with some help from his sister Nika and a pep talk from his dad!
This StoryWalk® is lent to us by First Connections. This program is weather dependent.
Tuesday May 10, 2022
StoryWalk® Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
All Day, Outside
A StoryWalk® is a fun way to get outside and enjoy a new book! Go on a StoryWalk® to read Jabari Tries, a story about a young boy persevering as he works to make a flying machine that can fly all the way across his yard. Follow the trail of pages to see how Jabari tries with some help from his sister Nika and a pep talk from his dad!
This StoryWalk® is lent to us by First Connections. This program is weather dependent.
Tinker Tuesday: Threading Things
Drop in 10:00am – 12:00pm
Dust off your thinking cap, warm up your imagination, and join us as we tinker about with beads, yarn, buttons, and other items that can be threaded, strung, looped, and laced. Design an artwork or engineer an invention. The possibilities are endless!
Wednesday May 11, 2022
StoryWalk® Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
All Day, Outside
A StoryWalk® is a fun way to get outside and enjoy a new book! Go on a StoryWalk® to read Jabari Tries, a story about a young boy persevering as he works to make a flying machine that can fly all the way across his yard. Follow the trail of pages to see how Jabari tries with some help from his sister Nika and a pep talk from his dad!
This StoryWalk® is lent to us by First Connections. This program is weather dependent.
Thursday May 12, 2022
StoryWalk® Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
All Day, Outside
A StoryWalk® is a fun way to get outside and enjoy a new book! Go on a StoryWalk® to read Jabari Tries, a story about a young boy persevering as he works to make a flying machine that can fly all the way across his yard. Follow the trail of pages to see how Jabari tries with some help from his sister Nika and a pep talk from his dad!
This StoryWalk® is lent to us by First Connections. This program is weather dependent.
Make a Mess: Explore Kinetic Sand
Drop in 10:00am – 12:00pm
Squish it, sculpt it, drip it, and more! Discover the unique properties of this special material as you play, create, and experiment using your hands and some simple tools.
Hand Tools for Woodworking
Drop-in 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Visit the da Vinci Workshop to experience some of the common tools used in woodworking. From hammers and nails to hand drills, there’s something for everyone to explore at our woodworking workbench.
Friday May 13, 2022
Honor Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: Geology Rocks!
Drop in 1:00pm – 3:00pm
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month! Join us as we learn about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have made important contributions to the fields of science, math, and art. In today’s program, discover the wonders of geology as we use tools to explore and observe some interesting rocks while learning about the important work of AAPI scientists such as Daniel Ibarra, a Filipino-American geoscientist.
Saturday May 14, 2022
Backyard and Beyond: Kites!
Drop in 10:00am – 12:00pm
Design your very own kite using some everyday materials. Add a tail, some string to help it fly, and take it for a spin!
Sunday, May 15
Paper Circuits Workshop
Preregister 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Join us for an exciting new program for kids and their caregivers to explore simple circuitry and engineer unique paper creations with working lights!
In this 90-minute session we’ll investigate circuits using copper tape, small LED lights, and batteries. Then, we’ll experiment with ways to make paper creations – like greeting cards, paper sculptures, or homemade books – that light-up with some paper circuit power! Advance registration is required. This program is designed for children and their caregivers to enjoy together.
Where: Discovery Museum PlayLab
Cost: $10 per person, children 7+ and adults (does not include Museum admission)
Who: This program is for children aged 7 and up with an accompanying adult. Due to the nature of the materials we’ll be using, we cannot accommodate children under 5 to be present.
Register online at
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Fun Family Yoga
10:30 am – 11:00am, Outdoors
Join us with your family to move your body in healthy ways and connect with nature while doing outdoor yoga! Yoga improves physical and mental strength, and along with mindfulness it improves self-awareness and mental focus. Kelly Western, professional yoga instructor, will lead this caregiver-child yoga class that incorporate balance, strength, stretching, and mindfulness in the context of connecting with nature. This class requires registration at https://bit.ly/FamilyYogaMay2022 as space is limited.
Yoga mats available. (Optional: Bring your own yoga mat or beach towel.)
Fun Family Yoga program is made possible with support from Emerson Hospital.
Wednesday May 18, 2022
Squishy Circuits
Drop in 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Squish and sculpt as you explore some simple circuitry. We’ll discover the conductive properties of a childhood favorite, as we sink our hands into playdough to make LEDs light up and buzzers buzz!
Thursday, May 19
Hand Tools for Woodworking
Drop-in 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Visit the da Vinci Workshop to experience some of the common tools used in woodworking. From hammers and nails to hand drills, there’s something for everyone to explore at our woodworking workbench.
Friday May 20, 2022
Icy Investigations
Drop in 10:00am – 12:00pm
Things are getting chilly at the Discovery Museum! Experiment with different types of salt as you explore the unique characteristics of this solid state of water. Add in some liquid watercolors and discover just how cool science can be.
Saturday May 21, 2022
Solar Launch Celebration & Solar Saturday!
Drop in 10:00am-2:00pm, Outdoors
Join us as we celebrate the endless possibilities of solar energy! We’ll try out some simple experiments to see the sun’s energy in action, go on a sun scavenger hunt, and think about how solar panels help us turn the sun’s energy into electricity. Activities and locations may change depending on the weather.
At 11:00am, join us for a special ceremony launching the Discovery Museum’s conversion to 100% solar electricity, produced on our own site through our new, 326kW solar canopy. We look forward to celebrating this milestone for our region and a first among children’s museums nationally!
Especially for Me! Free Autism-Friendly Evening
5:00pm – 8:00pm
Join us during this special free evening especially for families with members on the autism spectrum. In our ADA-compliant building you can play and explore when the museum is closed to the general public. Dinner, including a gluten-free option, will be provided.
Register at as space is limited.
Please Note: Discovery Woods closes at dusk. You may want to prepare for your visit by downloading the Story Guide to Discovery Woods at http://bit.ly/EspeciallyforMe and by visiting the Exhibits section of our website.
This Especially for Me program is offered in collaboration with Autism Alliance of MetroWest
Especially for Me events are made possible by Alexion Charitable Foundation and Orville W. Forté Charitable Foundation, with additional support from Corning Incorporated Foundation, Mass Cultural Council, Emerson Hospital, and Nypro, Inc.
Tuesday May 24, 2022
Celebrate National Scavenger Hunt Day! Discovery Museum Scavenger Hunt
All Day
I spy with my little eyes…strange things have been popping up throughout the Museum! During your visit inside the Museum, see if you can spot what is out of place. Are some things harder to find than others? Put your skills of observation to the test and find out! After finding all the strange items inside, head out to Discovery Woods and Fairyborough to try out a nature scavenger hunt. Please note, the Fairyborough trail is not handicap accessible. Portions of this program are weather dependent.
Wednesday May 25, 2022
Working in the Garden
Drop in 10:00am – 12:00pm
Learn what plants need to grow and help us take care of the Discovery Woods Garden. We will water our plants, check for weeds, and see how our plants are growing. Be on the lookout for insects that help our plants to grow! Heavy rain or other inclement weather may result in changes to this program, or cancellation.
Thursday, May 26
Hand Tools for Woodworking
Drop-in 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Visit the da Vinci Workshop to experience some of the common tools used in woodworking. From hammers and nails to hand drills, there’s something for everyone to explore at our woodworking workbench.
Friday May 27, 2022
Build a Bubble Wand
Drop in 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Design your own bubble wand! We will explore the nature of bubbles as we try out different shapes and sizes for our bubble wands. What kind of bubbles will you make? This program is weather dependent.
Saturday May 28, 2022
Honor Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month! Stained Glass Inspired Art
Drop in 10:00am – 12:00pm
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month! Join us as we learn about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have made important contributions to the fields of science, math, and art. In today’s program, we will learn about AAPI artists, such as Janel Foo, who are making important contributions to the art world through work with stained glass. Hear more about their stories, how they use their art to help others, and get inspired by some of their pieces. Then, use some everyday materials to make a stained glass inspired masterpiece of your own!
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About Discovery Museum
Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum that blends science, nature, and play, inspiring families to explore and learn together. The museum and its Discovery Woods accessible outdoor nature playscape and 550sf treehouse blend the best of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning on a beautiful 4.5-acre campus abutting 180 acres of conservation land in Acton, MA, about 20 miles west of Boston. Originally founded in 1982 and expanded to two museums in 1987, the museum reopened in a single, 16,000sf accessible building after a complete renovation and expansion in early 2018. Hands-on, open-ended exhibits developed by professional educators inspire curiosity and exploration, providing a fun and engaging experience for children and adults to discover their world together. Serving families and schools from towns throughout the region, the museum is devoted to informal education that enhances classroom learning. Discovery Museum is committed to accessibility, and is a proud recipient of the 2017 Massachusetts Commonwealth Award, the only winner in the Access category, and a 2018 LEAD® Community Asset Award from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information please visit www.discoveryacton.org. Discovery Museum is a community-supported non-profit organization.
Discovery Museum programming is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
