The Lancaster Science Factory

Open Tinkering in the Maker Space
2024-09-20 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-09-24 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-09-25 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-09-26 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-09-27 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-09-28 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | The Lancaster Science Factory, 454 New Holland Ave, Lancaster, PA, 17602, United States
Free with admission!
Pop into the Maker Space during your visit for special hands-on activities and free creative tinkering. Activities may include building with Strawbees, 3D Printing demos, robots, cardboard art, electrical circuits, and more.

The Force Returns!
2024-09-21 10:00 - 13:00, 2024-09-22 12:00 - 15:00
Join us for our annual weekend-long Star Wars takeover event! Explore the exhibits alongside of your favorite Star Wars characters. There will be photo opportunities galore, Padawn training classes, plus special Star Wars workshop in our Maker Space!
Buy tickets for Saturday, September 21st from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm and/or Sunday, September 22nd from Noon – 3:00 pm. Advance tickets are required. This event is excluded from our free general admission programs such as Museums for All and Library Passes.
Click here to lean more and purchase tickets today!

The Girls Code Club (Cohort 1: Ruby)
2024-09-22 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-10-06 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-10-20 14:00 - 15:30
The Lancaster Science Factory welcomes new and returning coders to the ALL NEW Girls Code Club! Each cohort will learn a different coding language in twice-monthly sessions. Join us in the Fall, Spring, or BOTH!
This program is open to girls ages 8 – 13. No coding experience is required, but it is helpful for students to have some experience with a qwerty keyboard and mouse. The cost is just $105 per participant. This includes eight facilitated lessons, a Girls Code Club water bottle, and earned attendance incentives. Scholarships are available for families with financial needs.
Sign up before September 8th, 2024 to participate in the fall session. Click here to learn more!

The Girls Code Club (Cohort 2: JavaScript)
2024-09-26 16:00 - 17:30, 2024-10-10 16:00 - 17:30, 2024-10-24 16:00 - 17:30

Free with Admission: Chemistry Magic with Eurofins Lancaster Labs
2024-09-28 11:00 - 14:00
Come one come all to the Chemistry Magic Show presented by real scientists from Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories!
This dazzling show incorporates a variety of experiments to ignite your mind from homemade rocket fuel to disappearing cups, to color-changing bottles and so much more! All ages are encouraged to participate in these hands-on experiments and watch the fascinating chemical reactions.
This activity is FREE with your paid admission or membership to the Lancaster Science Factory.

Chemistry Demos with the Millersville University chapter of the American Chemical Society
2024-09-29 13:00 - 15:00
Stop into the Science Cafe for interactive demos with volunteers from the Millersville University chapter of the American Chemical Society! Activities at the Science Cafe are presented free with admission.

First Friday @ The Lancaster Science Factory!
2024-10-04 17:00 - 19:00
Every First Friday the Lancaster Science Factory offers free admission from 5 – 7pm. Explore over 70 interactive exhibits for kids in grades K – 8 and their families! This program is possible through the generous support of PPL.

CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT

Free with Admission: STEM Showdown Qualifier
2024-10-05 10:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-19 10:00 - 12:00
Join us at the Science Cafe from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to qualify for the STEM Showdown! Kids in grades K—5 who complete hands-on activities earn their way into this special competition in January!

Click here to learn more about the STEM Showdown.

3D Printing Workshops
2024-10-05 11:00 - 13:00
Add a workshop to your visit to the Lancaster Science Factory!
Get a quick lesson on the basics of designing a 3D Print using Tinkercad and then send it to the printer and take it home. Workshops are $5 per participant. Reccomended for ages 6+.

Exploring the Five Senses
2024-10-09 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-10-16 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-10-23 16:00 - 17:00
Through hands-on activities and experiments, kids in grades K—5 will learn how our senses (and our brains) help us understand the world around us. Each class will focus on one of the five senses!
This is a series of 5, hour-long classes that meet at 4:00 pm on the following Wednesdays:

10/9
10/16
10/23
10/30
11/6

Click here to sign up for upcoming Hands-on STEM Classes!

The Circuit Lab
2024-10-10 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-10-24 16:00 - 17:00
Step into The Circuit Lab! Kids in grades 1—5 will explore how electricity is generated and how power is moved by creating circuits, conductors, batteries, and more fun hands-on activities!
This is a series of 5, hour-long classes that meet at 4:00 pm on the following Wednesdays:

10/10
10/24
11/7
11/14
11/21

Click here to sign up for upcoming Hands-on STEM Classes!

Day Off Camp!
2024-10-14 09:00 - 16:00
Spend your day off from school at the Lancaster Science Factory! Kids in grades K – 6 will enjoy two different hands-on STEM sessions with plenty of time to explore the exhibit hall and a lunch break in between!
Each full-day camp is $80 per student.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR DAY OFF CAMPS!
Scholarships are available for families with a financial need. Click here to download the application.

Monday, October 14th (Indigenous People’s Day)

Solve It: Put your puzzle skills to the test as you complete a variety of puzzles, riddles, and logic challenges. Kids will create their own puzzles and games to test their family and friends at home!
Supervised lunch break and exploration in the exhibit hall.
Science is Art: Kids will tap into their creativity as they use science to create art! They’ll love salt watercolors, color mixing, and more!

Monday, December 2nd (Monday after Thanksgiving)

Edison Bots: Whether they’ve had experience with robots before or are new to the game, kids will love spending the morning with Edison Bots! Learn about barcode programs and engage in some sumo-style bot battles!
Supervised lunch break and exploration in the exhibit hall.
Mars Bound: There is still much to learn about our planetary neighbor! Kids will design and test a parachute landing system and build a rover to land on a Mars model!

A Taste of Science!
2024-10-17 18:00 - 21:00
It’s the Biggest Science Party of the Year!
Thursday, October 17th from 6-9 pm
Join us for an evening of entertainment, food, drinks, and science – all to benefit the non-profit Lancaster Science Factory! Help us ensure our hands-on STEM experiences are accessible to all students across Lancaster County.
Tickets are just $60! This is a 21+ event.
**CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!**

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:

Live Science Trivia hosted by Drew’s Clues – participate in a team of up to 8 people!
Dinner catered by Hess’s Barbecue – vegetarian options available!
Raffles and a Silent Auction – local experiences, special gifts, food, booze, and more!
Science-themed cocktails, wine, hard seltzers, and n/a beverages!
The Science of Beer Competition by the Lancaster Brewers Club!
Lots of prizes and surprises, plus time to explore our hands-on exhibits throughout the Science Factory!

Weave a Web Workshop
2024-10-19 01:00 - 15:00
Participants will learn about spider web patterns and make a 3D spider web to take home. Workshops will be held at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Please sign up at the admission desk when you arrive!
Recommended for ages 6 and above.
$5 per participant.

Exhibit Hall Closes at 4:00 pm
2024-10-23 16:00 - 17:00
The exhibit hall will be closing one hour early on October 23rd, 2024 for staff training. This will NOT impact already scheduled hands-on STEM classes!

Lead Free Families Day
2024-10-26 10:00 - 14:00
, 26, – !

Admission will be free from 10am – 2pm, thanks to PNC Bank and Lead-Free Families! Learn about free programs to make your home lead-safe and get free lead testing for your child! There will even be special appearances by Sesame Street’s Elmo!
