Join Great Lakes Science Center for our first Summer of Innovation series! Guests will be able to participate in family-friendly, hands-on educational programs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on four summer Saturdays.

Join Great Lakes Science Center for a season of hands-on learning with Summer of Innovation! On four dates throughout the summer, guests will be able to engage with professionals powering the future of STEM industry across Northeast Ohio. Interactive activities will showcase cutting-edge advances in four thematic areas:

Construction: Saturday, June 14

  • Design your own hard hat, take your turn in the operator’s seat, and test your engineering skills!

Technology: Saturday, July 19

  •  Explore robotics, sensors, and data science as we talk about tech!

Sustainability: Saturday, August 9

  • Learn about stewarding our natural resources, investigate alternative energy, and more!

Aerospace: Saturday, September 13

  • Explore advances in propulsion, flight, advanced materials, and space research!

Construction: June 14 Activties 

Bolt Challenge – Ohio CAT

Using bolts and tools, assemble a structure while racing against the clock to complete your project.

Decibel Duel – Saint-Gobain

Explore acoustics by testing the sound dampening power of different building products.

Plumber’s Pipes – ARCO Home Services

Getting water from one place to another is a challenge. Attach PVC pipes to a magnetic board to create an interconnecting network that will allow a ball to drop through to the finish line.

Climb into the Operator’s Seat – Ohio CAT

Climb onboard and see what it is like to sit in the operator’s seat of the equipment used on a construction site. Learn more about the tools used to get the job done.

Safety Gear Relay – Turner Construction Company

Compete to see how quickly you can get your safety gear on and still cross the finish line first. During the relay race, competitors will stop at each station to put on their personal protective equipment – gloves, hard hats, high visibility vests and safety glasses – before crossing the finish line to toss their ring on the cone.

Wrecking Ball – Turner Construction Company

Follow the plans to build a tower and then watch a mini wrecking ball knock it down.

Hard Hat Station – Turner Construction Company

Unleash your creativity while designing your own hardhat with stickers, crayons and markers.

Wooden Tower Challenge – Turner Construction Company

See how many of the 2 X 4 pieces can be removed from the tower before it all comes tumbling down.

Cup Stacking – Turner Construction Company

See how fast you can create a pyramid stacking and balancing cups.

Hydrovac Simulation – Ganim Company

Search for underground utilities hidden beneath the sand using a baster and paint brushes. Discover how important the hydrovac is to protect buried utility lines on a work site.

Ohio CAT Photo Station

The photo backdrop provides the perfect place to snap a selfie or capture a photo of your future construction worker, engineer or scientist.

Construction Management - Whiting-Turner Contract Company

There is more to the construction field than swinging a hammer or operating a backhoe. Learn more about what goes into safely operating a crane, create a schedule for your construction project and solve puzzles designed to engage your critical thinking skills.