As a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) enthusiast raising two children, I’m committed to finding the best immersive, creative and fun STEM experiences for my kids. And the good news is we don’t have to go far! Here’s a roundup of my favorite museums, outdoor adventures and hands-on opportunities right here in Oklahoma that your family can explore this fall and beyond.
NEAR
Makerspaces at Metropolitan Library System
“Focus on the process, not the product,” says the sign outside the door. “Be prepared to tinker, play and problem-solve.”
The 3D printers were already whirring as we walked into the Belle Isle Library Makerspace. Free to the public, and best suited for patrons ages 9 and up, the MLS Studio probably owns that creative machine you want to try. There is a soldering station, a stop-motion animation studio and sewing machines. The computers are loaded with Procreate, Adobe Creative Suite and Blender. There’s even a Cricut, a Brother embroidery machine and, of course, crafting supplies like markers, scissors and glue.
I worried my children, younger than the target age group, would get hurt or break something valuable in the space, but the librarian, Lindsay, showed us the button makers, which were the perfect age-appropriate project we could tackle (with help). My kids drew and cut paper for their buttons, then Lindsay helped them load the button machine. The kids took the lever-pulling part of the job very seriously and emerged from the studio as owners of the most impressive buttons OKC has ever seen!
Patrons need a library card number to reserve the space for up to two hours at a time. The MLS Studios are free to the public and located at the Almonte, Belle Isle and Bethany libraries. Learn more at metrolibrary.org.
SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology
“Our beetles clean the bones,” a tour guide announced, pointing to a small terrarium, as my daughter and I entered SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology.
I had to stash away his words about the beetles to ponder later because above us hung a gigantic humpback whale skeleton, spanning nearly the entire length of the museum. And that’s just one of almost 500 skeletons to see in this space!
“Cheetah! Giraffe! Penguin!” my daughter yelled, pointing to skeletons with glee.
Upstairs, a video plays on loop, including a clip from Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs,” where Mike Rowe helps clean the massive humpback whale bones. Watching the clip while gazing over the whale skeleton, I remembered the tour guide’s words.
My daughter and I returned to the little terrarium and gained a whole new appreciation for the flesh-eating Dermestid beetles. We decided together – we’ll let them keep their job!
SKELETONS is located in south Oklahoma City. Learn more at skeletonmuseum.com.
FAR
Discovery Lab
“Hey, there’s a place in Tulsa I want to check out,” I said to a friend, a local doctor with three children.
Bless her heart, she signed up for the experience, and the seven of us – two STEM nerds and five children – drove to Tulsa for a day trip.
At the entrance of Tulsa’s Discovery Lab, a gigantic tunnel hung above our heads. But we didn’t have time to ogle because our 6-year-olds were racing to take off their shoes.
Upon closer inspection, the tunnels are made completely of packing tape, demonstrating their strength and power in synergy. Kids can climb, play and slide through the tunnels, which are even strong enough to hold adults, including those parents who would rather keep both feet on the floor but need to save their suddenly-afraid-of-heights 4-year-old (it’s me!).
Founded in 2007 as a “museum without walls” by a group of moms who saw a need for STEAM experiences in the community, the Discovery Lab is now a full-fledged museum with intentional, immersive exhibits. They introduce big concepts in hands-on ways, such as a solar energy roller coaster, powered by kids with a flashlight.
Another exhibit, Ballapalooza, demonstrates the value of systems as children help balls move through tubes with vacuums and simple machines. When an oil derrick in the center fills, an alarm sounds and balls shoot into the sky. Children laugh, throw their hands in the air and start scooping up wayward balls again. All five of our children played in Ballapalooza for over an hour, rushing to stand beneath the falling balls as soon as the alarm bell rang.
At the end of the day, we had five exhausted kids on the road trip home. The only regret was no one napped in the car! Plan your visit at discoverylab.org.
Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge
The Salt Plains are just what they sound like – a flat, barren, salty escape – leftover from when an ocean covered most of Oklahoma. The salt creates unique selenite crystals with a brown hourglass shape inside. Located northwest of OKC near Jet, Okla., it’s the only place in the world to dig for these crystals.
After a two-hour road trip, we exited the car and noticed the ground beneath us was … white! It’s salt!
My son held his first crystal in the air after only a few minutes of digging. We gawked at the weird hourglass shape, then we took to the ground. We dug, talked, laughed and cheered as we hunted for our collective haul. We came home with a bucket full of the strange crystals. (Note: The limit is 10 pounds per person!)
Before we left, my son dared me to lick the salty ground. I’m here to report back so you don’t have to try it – it absolutely (obviously!) tastes salty!
Bring your own shovels, buckets, spades and water. Plus, don’t forget hats and sunscreen. The dedicated dig site is open from April 1 to Oct. 15. Visit fws.gov/refuge/salt-plains for more info.
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. Check out even more close-to-home suggestions for family STEM experiences, organized by genre.
SCIENCE – Myriad Gardens, OKC
Step inside the Inasmuch Crystal Bridge Conservatory and you immediately feel the heat and humidity rise. That’s because you’re stepping into a new climate ecosystem where tropical rainforest plants thrive. Cross the suspended cylinder, and you’ll arrived in a desert ecosystem, a haven for cacti and succulents. With around 900 plant varieties and a new Mango Room featuring experiments, STEM activities and microscopic investigations, a trip to the Myriad Gardens is a must for all budding botanists. Check out their fall activity schedule at myriadgardens.org.
TECHNOLOGY – National Weather Center, Norman
Suitable for all ages and free to the public, National Weather Center public tours highlight nationwide meteorological advances, including state-of-the-art technology. Between weather balloons, mobile mesonet trucks, radar trucks, new weather drones (called “coptersondes”) and a demo mesonet tower in the parking lot, the National Weather Center leads the way for the nation in weather research and tech. Find the tour schedule at ou.edu/nwc/visit.
ENGINEERING – Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, OKC
How do engineers design buildings to keep them from collapsing? That’s what kids learn at the OKCNM STEM Lab. Participants use giant touch screen tables to test building materials against threats like natural disasters and blast waves from explosions to determine how to create buildings that withstand those threats.
Best suited for middle schoolers (though appropriate for ages 4th grade through adults), STEM Lab access is available with group tickets and field trips. The museum also hosts regular family STEM nights. Find out more at memorialmuseum.com.
MATHEMATICS – Science Museum Oklahoma, OKC
You thought we could write a STEM article and NOT include Science Museum Oklahoma? Never! SMO is a fun experience for every member of the family. For your mathematics enthusiast, check out the PiShop in CurioCity and the rotating sculpture “Finity,” consisting of the five polyhedra, in front of the entrance.
The Planetarium at SMO is set to reopen with a state-of-the-art optical mechanical starball projector in September. Learn more at sciencemuseumok.org.
Wherever your STEM family travels take you this fall, plan to round out the season at MetroFamily’s Geekapalooza! The best family STEAM event of the year, Geek will be held Saturday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rose State College. Through hands-on projects and expo booths, attendees learn about subjects like robotics, the science of flight, coding and geoscience.
For children ages 2 to 17, admission is $5 in advance or $8 at the door. Adults and kids under 2 are free. Register and learn more at metrofamilymagazine.com/
