TINKERERFEST 2023: EXPLORE WITH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND IGNITE CURIOSITY
September 19, 2023
Embark on an exhilarating journey into the captivating world of STEM at Tinkerfest! This year tinkerers will unleash their inner inventors during a day brimming with hands-on excitement, offering the opportunity to tinker, build and explore without boundaries at Science Museum Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 30.
“Tinkerfest gets to the very core of our mission — to reveal the wonder and relevance of science — and celebrates the creator, innovator and explorer in us all,” said Sherry Marshall, John E. Kirkpatrick president and CEO of SMO.
Admission to the museum and all Tinkerfest activities are free thanks to presenting sponsors Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR and OG&E. This year Science Museum Oklahoma is joining neighboring science museums in Oklahoma and Arkansas in a joint Tinkerfest Passport program all throughout September. Each organization will have a “book binding” station for guests to create their own Tinkerfest passport complete with activities from Museum of Discover (Little Rock, AR), Scott Family Amazeum (Bentonville, AR), Discovery Lab (Tulsa, OK), and Science Museum Oklahoma.
“Experimentation is essential to developing a curiosity about the world, and Tinkerfest gives children a safe environment to explore new ideas through hands-on activities, fueling their desire to learn and pushing them to get creative,” said Kimber Shoop, director of regulatory affairs at OG&E.
The daylong celebration of curiosity and creativity will encompass the entire museum and grounds, stretching from the museum’s parking lot to its gardens. Tinkerfest will include more than 65 hands-on interactive activities. Tinkering is the perfect way to introduce children to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) with hands-on activities that will engage their imaginations and inspire creativity.
"Tinkering days and events are must-attend affair for people of all ages,” said Chris Syfrett, Tinkering Initiatives manager at Science Museum Oklahoma. “This is where the magic of hands-on exploration ignites the spark of curiosity in both the little tinkerers and the seasoned craftsmen alike."
All of the museum’s permanent exhibits, as well as Science Live! and the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, will be available during Tinkerfest. Tinkerfest guests must check-in at the museum’s box office upon arrival to receive a wristband that will grant access to the museum and all Tinkerfest activities. Tinkerfest activities will conclude at 4 p.m. and the museum will remain open until 6 p.m