All ages/families. Allow 15-20 minutes. Drop-in.
All ages. Drop in. Allow 20 minutes.
Try your hand in a branch-wide scavenger hunt. Hunt for colored owls in the children's section or challenge yourself to find photos of real owls throughout the Central Branch.
Discover the gross anatomy of the human body and learn about three body systems that allow us function. Body systems to be discussed include: Integumentary, Skeletal, and Muscular. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Engineer a Skee Ball Game for the Carnival! Build this classic carnival game from scratch and compete to get the highest score! Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Register once for all four sessions, Tue-Fri.
Help us keep our carnival cool this year by engineering a water mister arch! Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Register once for all four sessions, Tue-Fri.
Registration required. Grades 6-12.
Join us in exploring the life and accomplishments of George Washington Carver, a celebrated botanist, agronomist, chemist, biochemical engineer, and inventor. Re-explore and test his experiments. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Learn the basics of coding in HTML by creating a website step-by-step and how adding images, color, and interactive elements can make your website interesting and unique. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
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. Create programming projects each day based on the topics covered.
Learn the skills of an audio engineer in music production in the digital realm.
Learn the basics of programming in Python! Create games, interactive programs, and anything else you want.
Explore chemistry in a fun and colorful environment! Conduct experiments that range from the physical and chemical properties of matter, to Thermodynamics and Thermochemistry, and even Acid-Base Chemistry. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
3, 2, FUN
Ages 2-3 years with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
Preschoolers get ready for school by doing things like talking, singing songs and rhymes, doing finger plays, and listening to stories.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Ticket required.
Tickets available 15 minutes before class.
3, 2, FUN
Ages 2-3 years with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
Preschoolers get ready for school by doing things like talking, singing songs and rhymes, doing finger plays, and listening to stories.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Ticket required. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.
Ages 3-5 with adult; 30 min.
Fun stories, songs, and activities for preschoolers that spark curiosity and support learning.
PLAY PARTNERS
Ages newborns-23 months with adult; 20-30 min. Ticket required.
Newborns and toddlers learn to express feelings, language, and movement through stories, baby games, musical activities, and playtime.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Ticket required. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.
3, 2, FUN
Ages 2-3 years with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
Preschoolers get ready for school by doing things like talking, singing songs and rhymes, doing finger plays, and listening to stories.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Tickets required. Tickets issued 15 minutes before the beginning of class.
Engineer a Catapult for the Carnival!
Anybody can program! Learn the fundamentals of programming through coursework and activities. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Register once for all four sessions, Tue-Fri.
Registration required. Grades 6-12.
Analyze and deconstruct computers to find out what is really behind the pretty screen. Explore the inner workings of a computer. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Register once for all four sessions, Tue-Fri.
Learn about infectious diseases, how they a spread, and how scientists work to find and stop their spread using medical technology.
The brain is a powerful yet mysterious organ that is waiting to tell you its secrets.
Learn about the elements as you arrange the periodic table; name compounds and balance equations; and discuss orbitals, electron configuration, and VSPER Theory. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
From photos to movie posters, what does it take to create print advertisements for Hollywood movies? Focus on the Adobe Photoshop tools needed to create a movie poster. Learn to use layers, layer effects, and filters.
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. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Learn the basics of space flight by working in teams to build and launch a gas-powered rocket.
Ages 3-5 with adult; 30 min.
Fun stories, songs, and activities for preschoolers that spark curiosity and support learning.
3, 2, FUN
Ages 2-3 years with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
Preschoolers get ready for school by doing things like talking, singing songs and rhymes, doing finger plays, and listening to stories.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Ticket required. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.
PLAY PARTNERS
Ages newborns-23 months with adult; 20-30 min. Ticket required.
Newborns and toddlers learn to express feelings, language, and movement through stories, baby games, musical activities, and playtime.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Ticket required. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.
Join us for popular teen movies on Tuesdays throughout the summer.
July 05: Featured film: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Drop ins welcome.
The Howard County Public School System is pleased to announce its participation in the 2022 Summer Food Service Program. Summer meals will be provided to all children ages 18 years and under without charge.
Dive into the Arduino philosophy of learning through tinkering, problem solving, and rapid prototyping.
Engineer a Catapult for the Carnival! Get experience with a life-size catapult, and learn the physics and history behind them.
Engineer Pinball games for the Carnival! Build a table-top pinball machine to play on! Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Register once for all four sessions, Tue-Fri.
Registration required. Grades 6-12.
Join us in exploring the life and accomplishments of George Washington Carver, a celebrated botanist, agronomist, chemist, biochemical engineer, and inventor. Re-explore and test his experiments. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Learn about infectious diseases, how they a spread, and how scientists work to find and stop their spread using medical technology.
Learn the basics of creating 3D objects to print in TinkerCad. Learn to design, edit, and prepare your object for the 3D printer. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Register once for all four sessions, Tue-Fri.
Get hands-on experience working in Adobe Illustrator, Gain an understanding of vectorillustrations and how they are used in digital media in this HiTech class.
This course will cover an overview of the topics in zoology, including cell biology, taxonomy, major vertebrate groups, physiology, genetics, evolution, and ecology. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
If you’re looking to improve your computer skills, then visit our computer skills open lab! Boost your technical knowledge by getting hands-on assistance with topics such as:
ALL BY MYSELF
Ages 4-6; 30 min. Ticket required.
Preschoolers go to class on their own. They will learn to follow rules and routines, understand feelings, and talk about stories. They may also learn about shapes and numbers, use scissors, draw and write, make guesses about what is going to happen, learn about the world, and be creative.
Tickets are available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Ticket required. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.
Ages 3-5 with adult. 45 minutes. Ticketed. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.
Stories and activities about sea creatures.
A hang out for teens to connect, play games and create.
ALL BY MYSELF
Ages 4-6; 30 min. Ticket required.
Preschoolers go to class on their own. They will learn to follow rules and routines, understand feelings, and talk about stories. They may also learn about shapes and numbers, use scissors, draw and write, make guesses about what is going to happen, learn about the world, and be creative.
Tickets are available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Ticket required. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.
Ages 9-12. Registration required.
Create a paper mosaic inspired by a famous painting. Use the provided image or design your own!
Students will have access to the sound booth and other HiTech equipment to record and mix music or create movies. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Tue-Fri. Drop-in. Grades 6-12.
Engineer a Catapult for the Carnival!
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.Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Help us keep our carnival cool this year by engineering a water mister arch! Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Register once for all four sessions, Tue-Fri.
Registration required. Grades 6-12.
Learn how to design the playing area of a pinball machine.
Students will learn basic Adobe Illustrator tools and design techniques to create carnival game board illustrations. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Register once for all four sessions, Tue-Fri.
Do you watch The Big Bang Theory, but want to know more about the Big Bang? Study the origin and development of the universe, learn how to look at the night skyand know where everything is. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Learn about the elements as you arrange the periodic table; name compounds and balance equations; and discuss orbitals, electron configuration, and VSPER Theory. Taught by a HiTech instructor.
Ages 3-5 with adult. 45 minutes. Ticketed. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.
Stories and activities about sea creatures.
All ages. Allow 30 min.
Meet up with fellow manga lovers to practice drawing your favorite characters (or create your own!), recommend the manga you're reading and the anime you're watching, check out the HCLS manga and anime collection and stream shows on Crunchyroll.
PAJAMA TIME
All ages with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
A class before bedtime. Children build skills in singing, talking, listening, reading, and getting along with others through stories, music, rhymes, and activities. Children may wear their pajamas and bring their loveys and blankets.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Ticket required.
Tickets available 15 minutes before class.
We focus on spies, espionage, and world intrigue, alternating both classic and contemporary fiction and nonfiction, from the twentieth century and beyond.
Join us for discussion of the following titles:
Join us every month to explore new artistic themes or media in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Summer Painting: Get inspired by the season by painting a Summer scene with acrylics on canvas board.
Ages 11-18 & Adults; Drop-in, 90 min.