DiscoverU’s science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) programs get students in grades 3–12 excited to learn and explore new subjects.

These hands-on workshops include computer programming, engineering, geology, and more. Past events have included pop-up planetariums, team design challenges, assembling mini-robots, and coding camps. Events update quarterly.

 

March

Scratch Programming Language
Saturdays, March 1, March 8  & March 29, 2025 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
North University Community Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) 

Dive into the world of computer programming with Scratch! This 3-day course will guide you through the essentials of moving objects, adding sounds, creating animations, and crafting simple games. Unleash your creativity with interactive projects and build a solid foundation in coding concepts while having fun! This is an in-person program.

Spin, Pop, Boom
Monday, March 3, 2025 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Register Here
 San Ysidro Library |  Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

Join us for this action-packed science show! Explore physical and chemical reactions using fire, foam, and music. Experience endothermic reactions that produce shivering results and exothermic reactions like elephant toothpaste. This is an in-person program.

Flower Dissection with Microscopes
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 |  5:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
North Park Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

How do plants grow and thrive? Join us as we closely examine the different parts that make up flowers through microscopes and learn about their roles in helping the plant continue its growth for another generation. This is an in-person workshop.

Project In A Box: Virtual Wind Turbine
Saturday, March 15, 2025 | 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
 SDPL Virtual Branch | Middle School (Grades 6 - 8) & High School (Grades 9 - 12)

Learn the fundamentals of renewable energy sources by making your own wind turbine! Using modules made of laser cut wood and electronic components, participants will learn different aspects of renewable energy and climate change while practicing circuitry basics. This is a virtual workshop.

Food Science
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 | 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Discover the fascinating role of science in cooking! This course combines chemistry, physics, biology, and math through exciting food experiments. Explore the science that transforms simple ingredients into delicious meals. Get ready for hands-on fun and tasty outcomes! This is an in-person program.

Blow Cart Beach
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Register Here
Linda Vista Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Using engineering skills and creative thinking, you’ll craft a beach cart with sails to harness the ocean breeze. Then, compete to see how far your car can go with just puffs of wind! Grab your friends, bring your imagination, and get ready for a fun-filled challenge packed with teamwork, laughter, and adventure. This is an in-person program.

April

Planets & Moons
Thursday, April 3, 2025 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Register Here 
Carmel Mountain Ranch Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Explore the farthest reaches of our solar system and create a lunar eclipse in the “mad” planetary tour! Learn how the planets stack up. Build and take home your own Gravity-Assisted Launcher kit. This is an in-person program.

Ta-Da! Science of Magic
Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
North University Community Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Prepare to be amazed! Explore how magicians use the principles of science to develop illusions, make paper disappear into thin air, create balls of water, and pull a (stuffed) rabbit out of a hat! This is an in-person program.

Microscopes with Garden Bugs
Thursday, April 17, 2025 |  4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Paradise Hills Library | All Ages

Explore how to use everyday spices to create vibrant paintings! This is a great way to unleash your creativity while having a blast with friends or making new ones! Bring your curiosity and willingness to experiment and let’s spice up our art together! This is an in-person workshop.

Blow Cart Beach
Friday, April 18, 2025 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Mountain View/Beckwourth Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

Join the excitement as you design and build your very own wind-powered car! Using engineering skills and creative thinking, you’ll craft a beach cart with sails to harness the ocean breeze. Then, compete to see how far your car can go with just puffs of wind! Grab your friends, bring your imagination, and get ready for a fun-filled challenge packed with teamwork, laughter, and adventure. Let’s see if you have what it takes to master the wind! This is an in-person program.

Spin, Pop, Boom
Saturday, April 19, 2025 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Register Here
Linda Vista Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Join us for this action-packed science show! Explore physical and chemical reactions using fire, foam, and music. Experience endothermic reactions that produce shivering results and exothermic reactions like elephant toothpaste. This is an in-person program.

Watercolor Painting with Spices
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Logan Heights Library | Middle School (Grades 6 - 8) & High School (Grades 9 - 12)

Explore how to use everyday spices to create vibrant paintings! This is a great way to unleash your creativity while having a blast with friends or making new ones! Bring your curiosity and willingness to experiment and let’s spice up our art together! This is an in-person workshop.

Automobile Design
Friday, April 25, 2025 | 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here 
Mira Mesa Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

Explores what makes an automobile work! This course is designed to inform and empower aspiring engineers and designers to unleash their creativity while sharpening their technical skills. This is an in-person program.

Watercolor Painting with Spices
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here 
University Community Library | Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

Explore how to use everyday spices to create vibrant paintings! This is a great way to unleash your creativity while having a blast with friends or making new ones! Bring your curiosity and willingness to experiment and let’s spice up our art together! This is an in-person workshop.

May

Sun & Stars
Friday, May 2, 2025 | 4:00 - 5:00 pm. | Register Here
Mountain View/Beckwourth Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

This stellar program is your ticket to the stars! Watch star dust burn, and journey through a soapy galaxy as you investigate the life cycle of stars! Use your Cosmic Disk to explore the constellations in this NASA approved program. This is an in-person program.

Kitchen Science
Saturday, May 3, 2025 |  11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Register Here
Mira Mesa Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

Explore the wonders of chemistry, physics, biology, and math using common kitchen items. This course offers hands-on experiments that turn your kitchen into a lab where learning meets fun! This is an in-person program.

Super STEAMio
Monday, May 12, 2025 |  4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Rancho Penasquitos Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Join the exciting Super STEAMio adventure as students explore potential and kinetic energy, elasticity, and engineering design. The mission? Create a Super STEAMio game course to help a marble plumber navigate through fiery challenges to rescue Challenge Island’s Pineapple Princess! This is an in-person program.

Kitchen Science
Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Register Here
Linda Vista Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Explore the wonders of chemistry, physics, biology, and math using common kitchen items. This course offers hands-on experiments that turn your kitchen into a lab where learning meets fun! This is an in-person program.

Food Art
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Join a fun-filled class where kids blend creativity and culinary skills! This course encourages young chefs to express their artistry through delicious, colorful, and imaginative dishes. This course combines cooking techniques with artistic flare to inspire confidence and a love for food. This is an in-person program.

Seed Starting
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
San Ysidro Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

Dive into the life cycles of various plants, from sprouting seeds to blooming beauties, and discuss what makes each one unique. Bring your curiosity and let’s grow together This is an in-person workshop.

Spin, Pop, Boom
Thursday, May 29, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Register Here
Otay Mesa-Nestor Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

Join us for this action-packed science show! Explore physical and chemical reactions using fire, foam, and music. Experience endothermic reactions that produce shivering results and exothermic reactions like elephant toothpaste. This is an in-person program.

June

Game Jam 2025 (South)
Monday, June 6, 2025 - Saturday, June 21, 2025 | 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Otay Mesa-Nestor Library | Middle School (Grades 6 - 8) & High School (Grades 9 - 12)

Dive into the world of video games! Learn the basics of game development and design, then collaborate to make your own game. No experience required. Registration required.

Super STEAMio
Saturday, June 7, 2025 |  2:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Register Here
Linda Vista Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Join the exciting Super STEAMio adventure as students explore potential and kinetic energy, elasticity, and engineering design. The mission? Create a Super STEAMio game course to help a marble plumber navigate through fiery challenges to rescue Challenge Island’s Pineapple Princess! This is an in-person program.

Spin, Pop, Boom
Friday, June 13, 2025 |  4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Register Here
Mountain View/Beckwourth Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

Join us for this action-packed science show! Explore physical and chemical reactions using fire, foam, and music. Experience endothermic reactions that produce shivering results and exothermic reactions like elephant toothpaste. This is an in-person program.

Automobile Design
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 | 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Register Here
Carmel Mountain Ranch Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

Explores what makes an automobile work! This course is designed to inform and empower aspiring engineers and designers to unleash their creativity while sharpening their technical skills. This is an in-person program.

Island Blox
Monday, June 23, 2025 | 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | Register Here
Mira Mesa Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5) & Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

In this exciting workshop, you’ll design your very own imaginative eggs, inspired by Roblox's Adopt Me, and dream up the amazing pets that could hatch from them—like “Golden Receiver” puppies or sporty critters ready to play! Then, prove you’re a top-tier pet parent by engineering a parachute car seat to keep your egg safe from a daring cliff-drop test. Using air resistance and protective padding, you’ll combine science, creativity, and engineering to ensure your egg lands safely. This is an in-person program.

Game Jam Jr. 2025 (North)
Monday, June 23, 2025 - Friday, June 27, 2025 | 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Register Here
North University Community Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Ever wonder what it takes to make a video game? In this 5-day program, students will learn the basics of video game development and design using the Scratch programming language to build their own games. Software and equipment provided. No experience necessary. Registration required. This is an in-person program.

Food Art
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 | 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library | Elementary School (Grades 3 - 5)

Join a fun-filled class where kids blend creativity and culinary skills! This course encourages young chefs to express their artistry through delicious, colorful, and imaginative dishes. This course combines cooking techniques with artistic flare to inspire confidence and a love for food. This is an in-person program.