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Spark!Lab

In Spark!Lab, we believe everyone is inventive. Every day we provide opportunities for children and families to explore their inventive creativity—to create, innovate, collaborate, and problem-solve—because these experiences empower kids to develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed today and in the future.

This learning space is made possible by The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., with additional support from the Ford Motor Company Fund and Chevron. 

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An adult man is working with a young girl on an activity in SparkLab
Spark!Lab

About Spark!Lab

Draper Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors.

Sparky logo
Spark!Lab

Frequently Asked Questions about Spark!Lab

Draper Spark!Lab is a hands-on invention activity center where visitors learn that invention is a process and that everyone is inventive.

Hannah Correlli, a young woman with short, dark hair and wearing jeans, a hoodie, and a yellow SparkLab apron, stands with her back to the camera, working on an articulated human cutout form in the “Create a Costume” activity in SparkLab.
Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab Staff Spotlight: Hannah Correlli

Our staff’s newest addition brings fresh, relevant perspectives to the invention lab.

SparkLab facilitator Zach Etsch standing in SparkLab, wearing his yellow staff apron and a funny hat made from a propeller beanie and brightly-patterned paper cones over each ear.
Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab Staff Spotlight: Zach Etsch

Our veteran Spark!Lab Lead Facilitator loves to educate, engage, and empower our museum visitors.

Sparky logo
Spark!Lab

Guidelines for Visiting Draper Spark!Lab with Groups

We invite groups to join in on Spark!Lab's hands-on fun!

U-Sketch pick your color green orange blue lavender purple black

Story Tags

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  • Industry and manufacturing (Relevance: 7.1428571428571%)
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  • Kid inventors (Relevance: 3.5714285714286%)
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  • Music (Relevance: 3.5714285714286%)
  • Spark!Lab (Relevance: 100%)
  • Spark!Lab Network (Relevance: 14.285714285714%)
Sparky logo
Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab Accessibility Resources

We want to ensure that everyone who visits Spark!Lab can feel and be inventive.

Mary Kate Robbett at blackboard writing Can you Sketch an Invention?
Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab Staff Spotlight: Mary Kate Robbett

The most recent addition to the Spark!Lab crew, this former NMAH ambassador has already brought her enthusiasm and museum experience to thousands of young visitors.

Close-up of Spark!Lab Lead Facilitator Nyssa Buning
Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab Staff Spotlight: Nyssa Buning

Having been involved with Spark!Lab in several capacities, this Lead Facilitator continually strives to enhance the visitor experience.

Anna Mayfield
Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab Staff Spotlight: Antanesha Mayfield

This Spark!Lab veteran loves hearing about kids’ inventions almost as much as she loves her new baby girl.

Spark!Lab Lead Facilitator Natalia Febo
Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab Staff Spotlight: Natalia Febo

Even in her time away from the Smithsonian, this Lead Facilitator is a master maker.

Spark!Lab Floor Manager Jocelyn Knauf
Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab Staff Spotlight: Jocelyn Knauf

Although she doesn’t describe herself as ‘an inventor,’ Spark!Lab’s Floor Manager espouses the exhibit’s innovative spirit — in visitors’ lives and her own.

A TechShop staff member demonstrates a new tool.
Spark!Lab

A Spark!Lab for Grownups

Recently, I got to visit TechShop in nearby Arlington, VA. What I realized following our visit is that TechShop is basically the grownup version of Spark!Lab.

Interpretive Exhibits Coordinator Tim Pula in his workshop, located inside Spark!Lab so visitors can watch him at work
Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab Staff Spotlight: Tim Pula

Infusing his projects with a passion for the invention process, Spark!Lab’s Interpretive Exhibit Coordinator develops clever and practical solutions.

A box of various connectors 3D printed by Spark!Lab's Tim Pula
Spark!Lab

The Great Connector Quest

With its high-volume visitation, Spark!Lab is always on the lookout for durable materials that complete our activities. Sometimes though, we have to invent them ourselves.

Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab Staff Spotlight: Laurel Miller

Spark!Lab’s Interpretive Exhibits Manager is all about cultivating innovation and creativity.

Spark!Lab

Spark!Lab: A Year in Review

As 2015 draws to a close, year-in-review lists flood the news. We read about the year’s most notable people, best books, biggest stories (and scandals), and even the coolest inventions. As I do my own reflecting on the year that’s passed, Spark!Lab features prominently.

A group of children participate in a Spark!Lab activity on opening day
Spark!Lab

Why Do It?

Why do I love my job? I do it so that visitors, regardless of their path, can develop skills that drive them to be successful in their lives.

Spark!Lab

Roll Out the Old . . . Bring in the Sound!

As we ready Spark!Lab for its next theme, Things that Make Sound, I interviewed Interpretive Exhibits Coordinator Tim Pula about the process of developing new activities.

Spark!Lab

Reinventing the Shopping Cart

The first shopping cart was patented in 1940 and was reinvented in 1946. We are challenging our young inventors in Spark!Lab to update it for the 21st century.

Spark!Lab

Full Color Sound

Can you hear color?

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VIEW 2734 Matching Results

Found 2734 Stories

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  • Power generation, motors, and engines (Relevance: 3.4381858083394%)
  • Spark!Lab (Relevance: 3.5844915874177%)
  • Textiles and clothing (Relevance: 3.3650329188003%)
  • Transportation (Relevance: 5.9619604974396%)
  • Women inventors (Relevance: 3.4016093635699%)
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