Tinkerfest To Celebrate Creativity, Innovation At Discovery Lab

A regional event known as Tinkerfest begins Saturday, Sept. 7 at Discovery Lab.

Participating museums and science center's bring in makers, artists, and tinkerers from across the region to share their passion and skills.

Suzanna Smith is an educator at Discovery Lab and certified in traditional bookbinding. She is leading a bookmaking activity during Tinkerfest.

“Being able to have this certification helps me break down which books are appropriate for what ages, so that they can actually get a really awesome learning experience from it and take something home,” said Smith

She will teach the kids to make three types of books: lock and key, star, and traditional with a saddle stitch.

“This is an introductory level book that will help kids learn how to hold things, fold things, and then also punch holes into their spines of their books and then be able to stitch,” said Smith.

Activities like this help encourage hands-on tinkering and exploration in kids.

“Tinkering kind of marries crafting, science, and makers all into one happy family,” Smith continued saying, “So, kids get to really figure out how things work and how to make it work for them.”

Discovery Lab has partnered with two museums in Arkansas and one in Oklahoma City for Tinkerfest. The books kids make on Saturday will serve as a passport to visit the other museums on the list and get a stamp from each one.

The participating museum's and Tinkerfest dates are Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Arkansas on Sept. 14, Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville, Arkansas on Sept. 21, and Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City on September 28.

For more information, visit the Discovery Lab website.