Full STEAM Ahead: Special Presentations...

Community Experts = Big Discoveries

At Full STEAM Ahead, every day is a chance to explore, imagine, and create, yet our evenings and weekends bring something extra special. From bubble painting and robotics to planetarium shows and record-breaking puzzle solving, our feature presentations invite families to dive deeper into the magic of STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) through hands-on experiences led by local educators, artists, creative geniuses and innovators.

Mark Your Calendars!

September 29: Bubble Painting with UND Behavioral Health

Inspired by Disney’s Inside Out, this colorful activity helps kids explore emotions through art. It’s a joyful way to connect feelings with creativity and is led by the team from UND’s Behavioral Health Initiative.

September 30: Robotics with VEX IQ

Grand Forks Public Schools brings the future to life with their elementary robotics program. Kids can explore real robots and discover how coding, engineering, and imagination come together in the world of VEX IQ.

October 1: Brainy Ink. Hands-On Learning

Johnathan Repoyo of Brainy Ink joins us with early childhood activities designed to spark curiosity and confidence in young learners. It’s playful learning with purpose.

October 2: Weaving with Kim Jacobson & Shiney Anderson

Children will get a tactile introduction to weaving and spinning while working with textures and tools that open up new creative pathways. As kids twist yarn, thread looms, and feel the rhythm of the craft, they’re not just making something new, they are connecting to a legacy of makers, storytellers, and community builders who have used this unique art to express identity, culture, and care. Weaving bridges past and future, inviting families to share skills, stories, and creativity across generations.

October 3: Music & Movement with Arioso Music Academy

Robin Riveland (aka Miss Robin) brings ukuleles, rhythm, and a crash course in juggling to the museum floor. It’s a joyful blend of music, coordination, and laughter that is designed to get everyone moving.

October 4: MKK Murals & Digitalis Planetarium

Margaret Kops Kuveke begins her collaborative mural inside the Curling Club, inviting kids to help bring the artwork to life, leading to an outside collaborative mural.

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

Kat Hunt from Digitalis Planetarium presents two rotating shows: Growing by the Stars and Astrobiology, Big Questions, offering a dazzling journey through space and science. Join the presentations during these times on both days:

Presentation Times:

11:00 AM - Growing by the Stars 

11:30 AM - Astrobiology, Big Questions

12:00 PM - Growing by the Stars 

12:30 PM - Astrobiology, Big Questions

3:00 PM - Growing by the Stars 

3:30 PM - Astrobiology, Big Questions

4:00 PM - Growing by the Stars 

4:30 PM - Astrobiology, Big Questions

5:00 PM - Growing by the Stars 

5:30 PM - Astrobiology, Big Questions

October 5: Engineer Extravaganza & Planetarium Encore

Chatty Learners’ Miss Heather will host Engineer Extravaganze with a construction zone challenge to young learners: What can you design? What will you build?

Plus, Digitalis Planetarium continues its cosmic storytelling with shows throughout the day.

October 6: Mr. Potato Head Reimagined with GF Public Library

It’s farm-to-fun as kids build their own Mr. Potato Head using real potatoes and organic materials found in fields across our region. A playful twist on a classic toy.

October 7: Puzzle Power & Pop-Up Science

Volodymyr Kapustianskyi, Guinness World Record holder, demonstrates his lightning-fast puzzle clock and Rubik’s Cube skills at 5pm.

Chatty Learners returns with a Family Scientists Lab, a pop-up science experience designed to spark curiosity and connection for all ages. This promises to be an explosive opportunity in pop-up science.

Weekdays: North Star Quilters

September 29-October 3, from 3:30–7:00 PM, the North Star Quilters offer hands-on sewing lessons, introducing children to the art and utility of quilting. It’s a gentle, skill-building experience that stitches creativity into every thread—and connects generations through shared craft. Quilting is more than fabric and pattern; it’s storytelling in stitches. Each square can hold a memory, a message, or a moment passed down from parent to child, grandparent to grandchild. As kids learn to thread needles and piece together designs, they’re also learning how quilts have long told familial stories of celebration, resilience, and love. Quilting is a quiet kind of magic, where heritage meets imagination, and every stitch becomes part of a larger tapestry.

These special presentations aren’t just fun, they are the spark behind deeper discovery. These presentations will connect children with local experts, expand their understanding of STEAM, and offer new ways to express themselves. Whether it’s weaving, robotics, or exploring the stars, each event is a reminder that learning happens everywhere and that our community is full of people eager to share their passions.

So come for the play, stay for the wonder, and leave with a head full of questions and a heart full of inspiration.

Katie Mayer, Executive Director, Grand Forks Children's Museum