Be a Scientist
Get inspired to see science in your everyday life and ignite your passion for STEAM careers with our Be a Scientist series. These events have featured thrilling experiences like conversations with real NASA astronauts and scientists, test driving soap box derby cars, tours of the Franklin County Morgue, baking bagels, building rockets, and much more. Join us for exciting, hands-on science adventures that will spark your curiosity and inspire your future!
Upcoming events:
Post the iNaturalist screenshot of your observation on social media and tag @Columbus Recreation and Parks and you will be entered into a drawing to win fun prizes!
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Date & Time
April 29, 2026 - May 1, 2026
12:00 am
Parks Crew Leader, Zach Anderson from Parks, will be demonstrating the processes involved in maintaining the beautiful landscapes of Grandview Heights.
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Date & Time
April 29, 2026
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Test-drive a Soap Box Derby racing car down Derby Hill at Big Run Park. Open to boys and girls age 7-18. All drivers must have a signed waiver by a parent. We'll provide a loaner car and instruction. Chat with experts to learn the science of gravity drag racing.
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Date & Time
April 29, 2026
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Ever wonder how 'We Grow Scientists' here at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences? Then bring the whole family for an afternoon of hands-on discovery!
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Date & Time
April 29, 2026
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Turn the classic “I Spy” game into a surprising window into how artificial intelligence learns to recognize nature. Through hands-on activities and live demos, explore how computers use visual traits and patterns to sort, group, and identify species from images.
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Date & Time
April 29, 2026
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
A collaborative workshop with Form5 and Otterbein’s Nursing Simulation Lab. Students and grown-ups get an interactive look at the future of biomedical engineering!
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Date & Time
April 29, 2026
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Step into the world of 3D printing and bring your ideas to life! You’ll learn how 3D printing works—from simple design software to the printer itself—while exploring both creative and practical uses.
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Date & Time
April 29, 2026
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Be a scientist! Learn to use iNaturalist to record scientific observations and then set out on a 1.25-mile hike to observe, identify and record mushrooms and other fungi around Blacklick Woods.
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Date & Time
April 29, 2026
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Inside the Joe Clark Innovation Lab, visitors of all ages can dive into hands-on STEM challenges, build and test aviation designs, and discover how innovators turned big ideas into reality.
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Step into a real manufacturing environment and experience robotics hands-on and in motion.
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Step into a real manufacturing environment and experience robotics hands-on and in motion.
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Come Join us in the parks for a surprise science afternoon! We will have the supplies needed to complete science experiments with us.
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
3:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Test-drive a Soap Box Derby racing car down Derby Hill at Big Run Park. Open to boys and girls age 7-18. All drivers must have a signed waiver by a parent. We'll provide a loaner car and instruction. Chat with experts to learn the science of gravity drag racing.
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join SWACO and Grove City Parks and Recreation to learn about science of trash by touring a modern-day landfill to observe the operation first-hand and use recycled material to make a treasure.
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
3:15 pm - 5:00 pm
Explore the powerful connection between hardware and software through LEGO® Robotics! In this hands-on experience, you’ll discover how the physical world (motors, sensors, and bricks you can touch) works together with code and logic inside the computer—just like in self-driving cars, smart homes, touch screens, and traffic lights.
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Want to make a colorful lava lamp? Come experience simple chemistry and creativity as you build your own bubbly lava lamp using everyday materials! Grandview Heights Parks and Recreation will have everything you need to create your lava lamp, and kids will also get to participate in other fun, hands-on STEM activities.
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Participants will dive into the science behind freezing, mixing, and chemical reactions, discovering how simple ingredients transform into a delicious treat.
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Join us at Fox's Bagels for a bagel-filled evening involving a facility tour on the process that goes into making a bagel!
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Registration for this event is full! Is it possible to go 70 MPH while standing still? Yes! It is in a wind tunnel. Join Honda at the COSI Community STEAM Event that will blow you away! Discover the science behind racing and the tools engineers use to improve aerodynamic performance.
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Date & Time
April 30, 2026
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
This event will explore the basic concepts and design of the internal combustion engine, as well as a brief history of its development. We will also show the pros and cons of alternative fuels and propulsion, for autos, trucks, trains, ships, and even spacecraft!
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Date & Time
May 1, 2026
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Join the scientists from Andelyn Biosciences for an adventure into the world of genes! Kids will trade their sneakers for lab gear and dive deep into the "Blueprint of Life."
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Date & Time
May 1, 2026
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Participants will dive into the science behind freezing, mixing, and chemical reactions, discovering how simple ingredients transform into a delicious treat.
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Date & Time
May 1, 2026
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Bring the whole family for an evening of hands‑on discovery at the House of Sport Science Fest! Explore the exciting connection between sports, movement, technology, and everyday science through STEAM stations and interactive activities.
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Date & Time
May 1, 2026
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Ready to see math in a whole new way? Dive into fun activities that show how math pops up in everyday life! This in-person event is perfect for curious minds of all ages.
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Date & Time
May 1, 2026
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Design your best egg-protecting contraption and put it to the test as we drop it from an AEP bucket truck. Will it land safely or go SPLAT?
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Date & Time
May 1, 2026
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join us for the Solstice Star Party – a hands-on astronomy event for space enthusiasts!
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Date & Time
May 1, 2026
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm