Free Girls in STEM day invites Las Vegas families to explore futures

Discovery Children's Museum will host its fifth annual Girls in STEM event on October 11, 2026, offering free hands-on science and engineering activities for local students. The program aims to spark interest in high-demand careers and show families how to support girls who love to tinker, test, and build.

What is the Girls in STEM event at Discovery Children's Museum this October?

On October 11, 2026, Discovery Children's Museum in downtown Las Vegas will open its doors for a morning focused on one thing: giving girls a chance to see themselves in science, technology, engineering, and math. The museum is hosting its fifth annual Girls in STEM event, a free program running from 9 a.m. to noon that mixes play, problem solving, and real-world stories from professionals. It is designed for elementary and middle school students, with their families invited to participate right alongside them.

The event brings together guest speakers from medical and engineering careers with interactive stations that let girls test ideas instead of just hearing about them. Think building, experimenting, coding, and exploring how everyday objects work, all in a setting built for kids. Because it is held inside a museum that already focuses on hands-on learning, Girls in STEM feels more like a Saturday adventure than a classroom assignment. For many Las Vegas families, it is an easy, low-pressure way to introduce big topics like robotics, health science, and design without needing any special background or supplies at home.

What makes this year especially notable is that the program continues to grow and is returning with support from major sponsors, demonstrating long-term commitment to STEM access in Southern Nevada. The combination of local educators, community partners, and national sponsors helps turn a few hours on a Sunday morning into something that can shift how a child thinks about her own future. If you are raising a curious kid in the valley, this event is a chance to put tools in her hands and possibilities in her mind at the same time.

When, where, and who: key details Las Vegas parents need to know

Girls in STEM takes place Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Discovery Children's Museum, located in the downtown Las Vegas cultural corridor near the Smith Center. The program runs from 9 a.m. to noon, which means families can participate in the activities and still have the rest of the day free. Because space is limited and organizers want to keep groups manageable at each learning station, advance registration is required through the museum's website. There is no charge to attend, but saving your spot early is important, especially if you are bringing more than one child.

The event is geared toward students from elementary through middle school, which covers roughly ages 6 through 13. Younger kids can explore basic building and cause-and-effect experiments, while older students can dig into more detailed topics like simple circuits, engineering challenges, or health science demonstrations. Families are encouraged to stay with their children during the event instead of dropping them off. That family focus is intentional, because the museum wants parents and caregivers to see the activities, hear the speakers, and gather ideas they can use at home or in school conversations.

Parking options around the museum include nearby garages and on-street spaces, with typical Sunday morning traffic lighter than weekday commutes into downtown. If you are coming from across the valley, planning a little extra travel time can reduce stress and help you arrive before the program begins. For many families, Girls in STEM becomes the centerpiece of a downtown outing that might also include a walk through nearby parks or a stop for lunch. Building the day around the event can help kids see that learning and leisure do not have to be separate, especially in a city known for nonstop entertainment.

• Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m. to noon
• Location: Discovery Children's Museum, downtown Las Vegas
• Ages: Elementary through middle school students
• Cost: Free with required advance registration
• Who should attend: Girls interested in STEM and their families

How the hands-on format helps Las Vegas girls see themselves in STEM careers

Research has long shown that girls often decide whether they see themselves in science and technology fields by late elementary or early middle school. That is why the Girls in STEM event is built around doing, not just listening. Instead of only hearing a description of what an engineer or doctor does, participants rotate through stations where they might assemble a simple structure, test how different shapes handle weight, or explore how sensors and circuits respond to touch and light. That tactile experience is especially powerful for kids who learn best by moving and experimenting.

Because Discovery Children's Museum is already set up with exhibits that encourage touching, climbing, and creating, the event can layer STEM challenges directly onto spaces children find familiar and inviting. A child who might feel intimidated by a formal classroom lab may feel totally comfortable trying out a puzzle or testing a design in the museum setting. The activities are structured to provide just enough challenge that kids feel proud when they solve a problem, but not so hard that they shut down. Volunteers and staff circulate to offer hints, encourage questions, and celebrate small wins at every step.

Another important piece of the format is seeing adults who work in STEM fields doing demonstrations and answering questions in person. When a girl in Las Vegas hears directly from a local engineer or medical professional who explains how their curiosity as a kid led to their current job, it turns an abstract idea into a path. The event also gives families language and examples they can use later when a child says she enjoys math or wants to build things. Instead of simply saying "that is nice," caregivers can connect interests with real career possibilities they saw together at the museum.

• Activities focus on building, testing, and tinkering.
• Stations are designed so kids of different ages can participate.
• Staff and volunteers guide girls through each challenge.
• Local professionals share how hands-on curiosity shaped their careers.
• The museum setting keeps the environment relaxed and playful.

Why sponsorship from Gene Haas Foundation and Google matters for local families

Putting on a multi-hour, multi-station STEM event with guest speakers and specialized materials is not cheap. That is where sponsors like the Gene Haas Foundation and Google come in. Their support helps cover the cost of supplies, staff time, and logistics so that the museum can open the program to families at no charge. For many households in the Las Vegas Valley, especially those watching their budgets closely, a free weekend learning experience can be the difference between attending or staying home.

Corporate and philanthropic sponsors also bring more than just funding. The Gene Haas Foundation has a track record of supporting technical education, particularly in fields like manufacturing and engineering. That aligns perfectly with the event's focus on getting kids comfortable with tools, machines, and the problem-solving mindset that comes with them. Google, known for its role in global technology and information access, adds another dimension by modeling how computer science, data, and creativity intersect in real companies that kids hear about every day.

When local families see familiar names tied to a community museum event, it sends a message that large organizations are interested in the next generation of Las Vegas talent. It also helps kids see that major companies employ people who once stood where they are now: curious, a little unsure, and just starting to imagine future careers. The long-running nature of Girls in STEM, now in its fifth year, suggests that sponsors and the museum are committed to making this more than a one-off moment. That consistency gives parents confidence that if their child gets excited, there will likely be similar opportunities in the years to come.

How Las Vegas families can make the most of Girls in STEM and keep the spark going

Attending Girls in STEM can be a powerful morning for your child, but what you do before and after the event can make the experience even more valuable. Before you go, talk with your child about what STEM means in simple language: science is asking questions about how things work, technology is using tools and devices, engineering is designing and building, and math is the language that helps it all fit together. Invite your child to list things they are curious about, from how traffic lights work on the Strip to how doctors know which treatments to use. Having those questions in mind makes it easier for them to connect with activities on site.

During the event, give your child space to lead. Let them pick which stations to visit first, read signs out loud if they want help, and choose when to ask a speaker a question. Your role can be to notice what excites them and ask follow-up questions like "What did you like about that station?" or "What was tricky about that challenge?" Taking photos of their creations (if allowed) or jotting down activity names can give you reminders to look up similar projects later. Staying patient if something spills or breaks also models that mistakes are part of learning, not something to be embarrassed about.

After you leave the museum, keep the conversation going. Ask your child to teach you one thing they learned, whether it is a new word, a building trick, or a story from a speaker. You might stop by the library to check out a beginner STEM book, look up a simple home experiment, or browse free online coding games together. Even small steps, like letting your child help measure ingredients while cooking or compare temperatures on a weather app, reinforce that STEM is woven into daily life in Las Vegas. Over time, these experiences can help a girl from any neighborhood in the valley feel that STEM spaces belong to her, not just to someone else.

• Talk about what STEM means in everyday words before the event.
• Let your child choose which activities and stations to explore first.
• Ask open-ended questions about what they enjoyed and why.
• Snap photos or notes so you can revisit favorite activities later.
• Plan one simple at-home project in the week after the event.
• Celebrate effort and curiosity more than "getting it right."

1. Register early on Discovery Children's Museum's website so your family secures a spot before the free Girls in STEM event fills up.
2. Mark your calendar for Sunday, October 11, 2026, and plan your drive and parking so you can arrive a few minutes before the 9 a.m. start.
3. Talk with your child about their interests ahead of time and encourage them to come with at least one question they want to ask a speaker or volunteer.
4. Dress your child in comfortable clothes and shoes that can handle moving, building, and possibly getting a little messy during hands-on activities.
5. Stay with your child during the event so you can see which stations excite them most and gather ideas to support those interests at home.
6. After the event, help your child pick one favorite activity to recreate or extend with a simple at-home project using basic household materials.
7. Look for additional free or low-cost STEM programs in the Las Vegas Valley, such as school clubs, library workshops, or community center events, to build on their new enthusiasm.
8. Keep the conversation about STEM careers going by pointing out real-world examples around town, like construction projects, medical centers, and tech-driven attractions on the Strip.
9. Save any handouts or resource lists from Girls in STEM so you can revisit recommended books, websites, or future events when your child is ready for the next challenge.

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