Boo!ology Lab

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Spook-tacular STEM Workshops

Step into the Virginia Discovery Museum’s Boo!ology Lab this October for some spook-tacular STEM fun for mad scientists ages 3 and older and an adult caregiver! Each Wednesday afternoon during the month, we’ll explore a different, bewitching science secret through hands-on experiments that fly, fizz, glow, scuttle, and swoop. From eerie engineering to creepy chemistry to spine-tingling physics, join us for ghoulishly good Halloween hijinks!


Program Details  |  Upcoming  |  General Policies  |  FAQs  |  Contact


Frequency

Select Wednesdays
Five Individual Workshops
(Time: 4:00-4:30 p.m.)

View Upcoming Boo!ology Workshops

Ages

Ages 4 & Up
With Adult Caregiver
(1 Child & 1 Adult)

General Policies for Museum Programs

Program Fee

$5 Per Workshop
Plus Museum Admission
(No Pre-Registration)

Spots are First-Come, First-Served


Upcoming Workshops

Pumpkin Propulsion

Wednesday, Oct. 1  |  4:00-4:30 p.m.  |  No Pre-Registration Required

Ages 4 & Up (with Adult): Ready, set … launch! Build and test your own kooky catapult to send small pumpkin candies flying through the air as we learn about force and motion. The program fee covers 1 child and 1 adult and is in addition to Museum admission, which covers all-day play.

Admission Rates

Program: $5 + Admission. Members: 10% Off. Sign-Ups: Open at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 1. Capacity: Limited on a First-Come, First-Served Basis.

Spooky Slime

Wednesday, Oct. 8  |  4:00-4:30 p.m.  |  No Pre-Registration Required

Ages 4 & Up (with Adult): Mix up a batch of mad science! Mold an ooey, gooey glob of slime that gives off a ghoulish glow in the dark as we learn about properties of matter. The program fee covers 1 child and 1 adult and is in addition to Museum admission, which covers all-day play.

Admission Rates

Program: $5 + Admission. Members: 10% Off. Sign-Ups: Open at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 8. Capacity: Limited on a First-Come, First-Served Basis.

Bubbling Witch’s Brew

Wednesday, Oct. 15  |  4:00-4:30 p.m.  |  No Pre-Registration Required

Ages 4 & Up (with Adult): Brew your own magic potion! Concoct a classic acid-base reaction that bubbles, fizzes, and foams just like a witch’s cauldron as we learn about chemical reactions. The program fee covers 1 child and 1 adult and is in addition to Museum admission, which covers all-day play.

Admission Rates

Program: $5 + Admission. Members: 10% Off. Sign-Ups: Open at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 15. Capacity: Limited on a First-Come, First-Served Basis.

Creepy Crawly

Wednesday, Oct. 22  |  4:00-4:30 p.m.  |  No Pre-Registration Required

Ages 4 & Up (with Adult): Skitter, scuttle, and scurry! Craft a long-legged spider and race it across the floor by blowing air through a straw as we learn about engineering. The program fee covers 1 child and 1 adult and is in addition to Museum admission, which covers all-day play.

Admission Rates

Program: $5 + Admission. Members: 10% Off. Sign-Ups: Open at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 22. Capacity: Limited on a First-Come, First-Served Basis.

Flapping Bat

Wednesday, Oct. 29  |  4:00-4:30 p.m.  |  No Pre-Registration Required

Ages 4 & Up (with Adult): Swoop through the night! Assemble a bat craft with movable, flapping wings as we learn about mechanics. The program fee covers 1 child and 1 adult and is in addition to Museum admission, which covers all-day play.

Admission Rates

Program: $5 + Admission. Members: 10% Off. Sign-Ups: Open at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 29. Capacity: Limited on a First-Come, First-Served Basis.


General Policies

Program Participants
  • Program participants with any of these symptoms are asked to refrain from visiting the Museum.
  • No pre-registration required, but space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • No food, gum, or drinks are allowed in the Museum, except water bottles.

Program Schedule
  • 9:30 a.m.: Sign-Ups Open
    • No pre-registration required, but space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis.
    • Participants can sign up for an afternoon workshop starting at 9:30 a.m. the day of the program at the Museum’s front desk.
    • Each workshop is $5 and covers 1 child and 1 adult and is in addition to Museum admission, which covers all-day play. Members and Sponsored Admission visitors only pay the $5 program fee.
  • 3:55-4:00 p.m.: Program Announcement and Check-In
    • Program takes place in Creation Station.
    • Children participating in the program must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
  • 4:00-4:30 p.m.: Program Instruction & Activity
  • 4:30 p.m.: Program Ends
    • All participants must exit Creation Station.
    • Creation Station will no longer be accessible, but families may continue to play in the Museum’s front and back galleries.


Frequently Asked Questions

Germ Concerns

How often is the Museum cleaned?

Creation Station is cleaned following all scheduled programs, and the entire Museum is cleaned daily. A cleaning crew will be on site after the Museum closes at 5:00 p.m. to clean and sanitize.

Program Access

Do Boo!ology Lab workshops require pre-registration?

No, Boo!ology Lab workshops do not require pre-registration, but space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign-ups for each workshop will open starting at 9:30 a.m. the day of the program at the Museum’s front desk. Each workshop is $5 and covers 1 child and 1 adult and is in addition to Museum admission, which covers all-day play. Members and Sponsored Admission visitors only pay the $5 program fee since their admission is already covered.

Do VDM members receive their 10% program discount on Boo!ology Lab workshops?

Yes, your 10% discount will be applied at the time of sign-up at the Museum’s front desk.

Can we play in the Museum before and after Boo!ology Lab workshops?

Yes. Each workshop is $5 and covers 1 child and 1 adult and is in addition to Museum admission,which covers all-day play. Your family may come and go as much as you wish before and after a program until the Museum closes at 5:00 p.m.

Parking

Where can I park to visit the Museum and attend Boo!ology Lab workshops?

VDM validates parking for Museum visitors at the Market Street Garage and Water Street Garage. Both locations provide the first hour of parking for free, and program participants receive an additional hour of free parking – for a total of two hours – when they request a validation ticket at VDM’s front desk. The Museum is also located next to the Downtown Transit Station, and Charlottesville Area Transit offers a Free Trolley that stops at the station as it travels through Downtown and the University of Virginia. Click to learn more about parking downtown or public bus routes and fares.

Click the icon in the upper left corner for map legend and details.


Contact Us

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? To learn more about Boo!ology Lab workshops, contact Education Manager Amy Griffith at amy@vadm.org or (434) 977-1025 x106.