National Engineers Week 2026
Monday, February 16th through Sunday, February 22nd
Engineers work with others to solve problems for people, communities, and animals. Practice being an engineer as you try various activities and challenges throughout the February vacation week.
Activities:
In The Common (2nd Floor)
from 9:30am – 3:30pm. Offerings change daily, activities may include:
DIY Grabber– In this design challenge, you must construct a grabber from everyday materials that can safely transport “space rocks” (ping pong balls) from the surface of a distant planet to a safe container in your “lab.”
Build a City– Help us build a miniature city using craft materials. Museum staff will provide you with a plot of land in our communal tabletop city, and you get to create what you think the city might need. A park? A library? A grocery store?
Earthquake Engineering– Practice your engineering skills by designing a structure out of popsicle sticks and playdough, and test it on one of our miniature shake tables.
In Kidstage (1st Floor):
Tuesday, February 17th and Wednesday, February 18th, 12pm–1pm & 2pm–3pm
Super Science-y Sound Bath: Theremin with Joe Mulholland and Art Fernandez
Kidstage’s Super Science-y Sound Bath invites you to step into a world where invisible forces shape sound—a full-body listening experience featuring the theremin, an instrument played entirely without touch. Drop in and let the invisible waves of the theremin carry you through a super science-y journey of sound, music, and imagination!
Thursday, February 19th, 11am–1pm
Life in Space Screening
Join us in Kidstage for a 15-minute video presentation about life in space, from the perspective of NASA astronaut and former NFL player, Leland Melvin.
Friday, February 20th, 2pm–3pm
Mystery Music & Magic Sound Waves: An Interactive Theremin Experience
Step into Kidstage and discover the magic of the Theremin—an instrument you can play without even touching it! Watch Theremin artists Joseph Mulholland and Art Fernandez perform fascinating sounds, see how two Theremins can collaborate, and even try playing one yourself!
Partners:
Activities from the following Museum partners will also be available during the week:
NES Optica– Explore the visible and invisible light that surrounds us every day, and learn about the different ways we use it.
SWE Boston– Explore electricity with SWE Boston using Snap Circuits!
Stone Living Lab– In this activity, you can model how storm surge and waves affect the beach. Then, use different materials to try and protect the beach from the waves. What works best? What surprised you? How can we apply these findings to real-world scenarios?
