Creating sound has been a preoccupation of humanity since the beginning of time. But what is sound? How is it created, and how can we manipulate it into the variety of tones, pitches, and timbres that become symphony or cacophony?

Engineer Pinball games for the HiTech Carnival!  Build a table-top pinball machine, and use Arduino micro-controllers, sensors and software to keep score!

Registration required. Grades 6-12.

Taught by a HiTech instructor.

Engineer a Skee Ball Game for the HiTech Carnival!  Build this classic carnival game from scratch using Arduino micro-controllers, sensors and software to keep score of your game. Highest score wins!

Compete in the ultimate racing challenge! Working in teams, learn how mechanical systems operate by using a 1:10 scale electric radio-controlled car that can be set up in 4 million ways. Teams race their engines at the HiTech Carnival!

This course will cover an overview of the topics in zoology, including cell biology, taxonomy, major vertebrate groups, physiology, genetics, evolution, and ecology. Make displays and show off your zoology knowledge at the HiTech carnival.

Learn about the process behind designing your own characters and using illustration software. Create the look of your character, its costumes, and props, and give it a unique personality!

Registration required. Grades 6-12.

Learn about the intersection between chemistry and electricity in this engineering-focused course. Watch demonstrations, build circuits, and conduct experiments at the library!

Registration required. Grades 6-12.

Have you ever wondered what kinds of rocks make up our planet? Are you interested in learning about beautiful minerals, powerful natural hazards, and fascinating careers in geology?

Learn the basics of HTML elements and User Interface (UI) design through Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).

This class is for grades 6 - 12.    

Taught by a HiTech instructor.

Explore chemistry in a fun and colorful environment! Conduct experiments ranging from reaction types, equilibrium, reaction rates, Quantum Mechanics, and chemiluminescence. Graphing calculators recommended. 

Ages 2-3 years with adult; 30 min. Free ticket required.

Preschoolers get ready for school by doing things like talking, singing songs and rhymes, doing finger plays, and listening to stories. 

Ages 3-5 w/adult.  30 minutes, Ticket required.

Come move and groove with us as we explore music!

Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.

Ages 3-5 with adult; 45 min. Ticket required.

Make meaningful math connections through stories and activities.

Tickets available 15 minutes before class.

Edades 0-5 años con adulto. 30 minutos. Se requiere un tiquete gratis disponible en el escritorio del área infantil.

Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas en español. Seguido de un tiempo de juego.

Ages 2-5 with adult; all 30 minutes. Ticket required. Tickets available 15 minutes before class begins.

Explore and engage in various STEM concepts through self-guided stations and sensory play.

Ages 2-3 years with adult; 30 min. Free ticket required.

Preschoolers get ready for school by doing things like talking, singing songs and rhymes, doing finger plays, and listening to stories. 

Ages 3-5 w/adult.  30 minutes, Ticket required

Come move and groove with us as we explore music!

Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.

A rare macaw named Blu is brought to Rio de Janeiro to mate with a female of his species, but the pair are kidnapped by a gang of greedy animal smugglers, forcing them to stage a daring escape with the help of some new friends.

Rated G

Are you interested in 3D printing? Use 3D printing pens and colorful filaments to create unique 3D designs! This is a great class to introduce students to the basics of 3D printing. 

Registration required.

Grades 6-12.

Are you taking pre-algebra or algebra 1 and need to learn about probability? Do it the fun way and get a head start with this probability and statistics class!

Genetics will introduce students to the basics of Mendelian Genetics. Topics including inheritance patterns, genetic diversity, and genetic diseases will be explored using laws derived from Gregor Mendel’s experiments.

Want to know how to garden without soil? Learn about the structure of plants and explore various hydroponics technologies to grow food using less space and less water.

Registration required. Grades 6-12. 

Have you ever looked at a digital illustration and wondered “How did they do that?”  Learn tips, tricks, and the steps to creating your own illustration in the iPad app, Procreate.

Registration required. Grades 6-12.  

Discover the basics of Java, a class-based, object-oriented language used to design applications. Learn data and expressions, using classes and objects, conditionals, and loops.

Edit your photos and create amazing art with free online software in this HiTech class!

Registration required. Grades 6-12.

Taught by a HiTech instructor.

This class is being held Mon - Fri, register once for all sessions.

HCPSS 2025 Summer Lunch Meal Program provided by Howard County Public School.

Join us to review basic biology concepts and design your own biology-related carnival games. Build and test the games to show off at the HiTech Carnival!

Registration required. Grades 6-12.

Taught by a HiTech instructor.

Engineer Carnival Games for the HiTech Carnival!  Use your creativity and engineering skills to design and build games such as Ring Toss, Sink Hole, Spin the Wheel, and Plinko--or come up with your own idea!

Learn about one, two, and three-point perspective and create illustrations using newfound knowledge. By learning perspective drawing techniques in Sketchbook Pro, students will be able to create illustrations with dynamic angles and views.

Learn how the digital single lens reflex camera is engineered to utilize part of the electromagnetic spectrum we call visible light. Obtain hands on experience using a DSLR camera and learn numerous picture-taking techniques.

Learn how the creation of art is influenced by science and do experiments in chemistry, fluid dynamics, and color theory to make amazing works of art!

Learn about the forces that cause hurricanes and tornados, and how we can use them to power cities. Build instruments that measure wind speed, direction, and design a fully-functioning wind turbine that can power a light bulb!

Explore chemistry in a fun and colorful environment! Conduct experiments ranging from reaction types, equilibrium, reaction rates, Quantum Mechanics, and chemiluminescence. Graphing calculators recommended.

We read and discuss historical fiction from a wide-range of time periods and settings—everything from ancient Greece to 1970s Hollywood so far. We occasionally read other genres as well.  

Engineer a Strongman Game for the HiTech Carnival!  Build this classic carnival game from scratch using Arduino micro-controllers, pressure sensors, and LED lights. Whoever can light up the most lights wins!

Engineer a Strongman Game for the HiTech Carnival!  Build this classic carnival game from scratch using Arduino micro-controllers, pressure sensors, and LED lights. Whoever can light up the most lights wins!

Using the principles of engineering, help us keep our carnival cool this year by building the water mister arch!

Registration required. Ages 11-18.   

Taught by a HiTech instructor.

Students will learn about protecting their information, recognizing fishing scams, navigating social media and different types of cyber attacks.

Get hands-on experience in the ancient art of paper folding! Students will see how origami can be used to create structures like solar panels, bridges, and packing materials.

Explore physics in a new light! Discover various principles and laws of physics and test your knowledge through a variety of challenges and experiments.

Registration required. Grades 6-12.

Taught by a HiTech instructor.

Calling all creative teens! Join us for a week of various fun and interesting art projects, where we show you how to put the A in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math).

Dive into underwater robotics. This summer stop by and participate in the 3-week Sea Perch submersibles and marine science classes. Sea Perch is a remotely operated vehicle built by students to accomplish underwater competitions.

Explore the world of engineering, marketing, packaging individually and in teams while getting to use a true vacuum form machine.

Calling all filmmakers and video creators! Come to the Savage A/V Lab to explore our suite of video editing and visual effect making software. 

Learn the basics of composting. Composting reduces pressure on our landfills and recycles organic waste material into helpful soil supplements for gardens, container plants, and lawns.

Ages newborns-23 months with adult; 20-30 min. Free ticket required.

Newborns and toddlers learn to express feelings, language, and movement through stories, baby games, musical activities, and playtime

Adults, 60 min. Registration required.

This month's book will be Ellen Outside the Lines by A.J. Sass

Join our monthly discussion of Asian American literary titles. 

Find the answers to gardening questions by talking with a University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener. Drop in; no registration required. 

Enjoy a fun evening of crafting and learn how to create decorative gnomes from unwanted socks and scrap fabric.