Kids and Families
Our mission is to “encourage and inspire future innovation in America.” So kids are very important to us. We do everything we can to make sure young people find the museum an exciting place that they want to return to again and again.
The museum offers a number of programs perfect for parent/child learning. Please see our events page for details on this year’s programs.
Hidden History Tour
Become a history hunter and discover Waltham’s innovative past!
Innovations of Yesteryear Festival
Last Saturday in September
Landry Park, Waltham
This hands-on event features an eclectic, interactive assortment of innovations prior to 1970. Ride on a miniature train, check out a gigantic camera, fire a Viking catapult, and type a letter to your Nana on a vintage 1920s typewriter. Learn the traditions of egg blowing and origami. We’ve got noisy steam engines, putt-putt autos, musical instruments sewing machines, blacksmiths, antique sports & games, watches & clocks, and more.
Model Engineering Show
Third Saturday in February
The show features the craftsmanship of the New England Model Engineering Society, whose members are on hand to demonstrate and discuss their working scale models of steam engines, gasoline engines, aircraft engines, locomotives, clocks, model boats, and various contraptions of their own design.
Innovation Speaks Lecture Series
Held periodically throughout the year
Past lectures have included talks on classic cars, the art and innovation of the harpsichord, innovation and the movies, the Bread & Roses Strike, Abraham Lincoln, and more.
Young Inventors Program
Periodically throughout the year, and by appointment for groups
The Young Inventors’ Program® is a positive approach to helping students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills by inviting them to invent solutions to everyday problems.
Deconstruction Day
By appointment for groups
An informal workshop encouraging kids ages 8 – 15 take apart everyday objects such as telephones, watches, clocks, and computers to explore how they work and learn the use of basic tools.
KidCorp
By appointment for groups
A program designed to connect innovative kids with organizations in need of innovation. Small groups of talented, innovative youth, age 12 – 18, work on real-world problems with professional oversight. Their ideas can translate into practical innovations in product development, organizational management, marketing, and a host of other mission-critical issues. The kids of KID – CORP get real-world experience in creative problem solving that helps train them to become the next generation of society’s innovation leaders.
