Apr
8
10:00 AM10:00

Homeschool Day: STEM Career Da

Explore the real-world side of science at our STEM Career Day, created especially for homeschool families. Meet professionals across fields like space science, biology, and environmental stewardship—and discover where curiosity can lead.

Featured exhibitors include:

UT Soft Tissue Biomechanics Laboratory
Advancing the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease through innovative imaging, testing, and modeling—translating research into real-world impact.

Southwest Research Institute
A leading nonprofit research organization based in San Antonio, tackling complex scientific and engineering challenges for government and industry.

Avery M Abramson

Astronomy & Science Communication Undergraduate@ UT Austin, former NASA Solar System Ambassador, Galaxy Evolution Vertically Integrated Projects Researcher, Astronomy Students Association officer

Texas Master Naturalists, Highland Lakes Chapter
Dedicated to conserving and celebrating the natural richness of the Hill Country through education and community outreach.

Terri Sparks, Master Gardener
A frequent Science Mill presenter who shares hands-on horticulture knowledge and engaging activities for all ages.

All exhibits, activities, and visiting companies are included with $15 admission.

Lab Schedule:
Ages 5–7: 10:30–11:20 AM
Ages 8–10: 11:30 AM–12:20 PM
Ages 11–17: 1:00–1:50 PM

Lab Cost: $12 per participant
Limited space—advance purchase strongly recommended.

No late entry to labs (safety briefing required)

  1. Please arrive at least 30 minutes early to park and check in

  2. Additional parking available in the west lot off Hwy 290 (next to Varience Designs). Cross the bridge to the front desk for check-in.

GET TICKETS TODAY!
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Apr
16
9:30 AM09:30

Mini Makers: Seeds to Sprouts

Grow Curiosity from the Very Beginning

In Mini Makers: Seeds to Sprouts, young learners (ages 5 and under) explore how plants grow and how greenhouses help them thrive in different environments.

After reading Plant the Tiny Seed by Christine Matheson, children will discover what plants need to grow — including sunlight, warmth, air, water, and healthy soil.

Each child will create their own “Greenhouse in a Bag” to take home and watch their seed sprout and grow.

This hands-on experience encourages curiosity, early science exploration, and a connection to the natural world.

Location: Learning Lab
Early Museum Access: 9:30 AM (Mini Makers families only) Workshop starts at 10:30 AM

What Kids Will Do

🌱 Visit the Science Mill greenhouse
📖 Enjoy an interactive story time
🔬 Explore different soil materials
🪴 Build their own Greenhouse in a Bag to take home
🔎 Observe, ask questions, and think like real scientists

GET TICKETS TODAY!

Mini Makers introduces children to real-world STEM careers such as:

Agricultural Scientist
Experts who study how to grow food and improve farming methods.

Horticulturist
Plant specialists who help fruits, vegetables, flowers, and trees grow healthy and strong.

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Apr
18
10:00 AM10:00

Wild Wings & Busy Things

Spring is buzzing at the Science Mill! In Wild Wings & Busy Things, families explore the fascinating world of pollinators and the plants that support them through hands-on activities and creative building.

Guests can plant chia seeds to grow a mini pollinator garden, create a plant press to preserve flowers like real botanists, and design a Pollinator Palace to give solitary bees a safe place to nest. Along the way, young scientists discover how bees, butterflies, and other pollinators help plants grow and why protecting these tiny helpers is essential to healthy ecosystems.

This interactive experience encourages curiosity, creativity, and environmental awareness while showing how small actions can make a big difference for the natural world.

Activities:

• Plant a Pollinator Garden
Decorate a cup and plant chia seeds to grow a mini garden that supports bees and butterflies.

• Create a Plant Press
Build your own plant press and learn how botanists preserve flowers and leaves for scientific study.

• Build a Pollinator Palace
Design and construct a bee habitat to help solitary bees find safe places to nest.

• Explore Pollinators in Action
Discover how bees, butterflies, and other pollinators help plants grow and support healthy ecosystems.

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Mar
14
10:00 AM10:00

Pi Day

Celebrate Pi Day on March 14 (3.14) with the Science Mill — made possible through the generous support of the Simons Foundation.

Happening during Spring Break and in the middle of our immersive Math Universe experience, this town-wide math adventure takes over the museum and local Johnson City businesses for a full day of hands-on discovery.

Explore activities inspired by Pi, patterns, and the hidden math behind everyday life as you travel from stop to stop, uncovering surprises along the way.

It’s a full-circle celebration of curiosity, community, and a number that never ends.

290 Locale Winery & Pizzeria - Annual Pi-Day Pizza Sale
$3.14 pizzas! 12-4 pm, dine in only.
103 N Nugent Ave, JCTX 78636
290locale.com

Bee’s Knees - $3.14 for 3 honey sticks, $3.14 for 2 round container hand soaps, $13.14 for a pi round glass customized candle and other possible Pi Day specials!
209 E. Main St., ste. C, JCTX 78636
Instagram: @beesknees1877, Facebook: @thebeeskneesgiftshop

Fat Boy Burgers - Frito or Dorito Pi for $3.14
Plus a free scoop of ice cream with purchase of a meal
104 US-281, JCTX 78636
fatboyburgerstx.com

Hometown Donuts - $3.14 any taco
113 US-281, JCTX 78636
www.facebook.com/hometowndonutsjohnsoncity

Johnson City Coffee Co. - $3.14 muffins
108 W Main St., JCTX 78636
johnsoncitycoffeeco.com

Pecan Street Brewing - $3.14 kid’s pizza
106 E. Pecan Avenue, JCTX 78636
www.pecanstreetbrewing.com

This work was supported by a grant from the Simons Foundation [SSC-Sandbox-Project-00013092}

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Mar
11
to Mar 21

Math Universe ~ Spring Break at the Science Mill

Step Into a World Where Math Comes Alive

This spring break, explore Math Universe — an immersive, hands-on experience where math moves beyond numbers and becomes something you can build, see, test, and discover.

From spirals in nature to the mysteries of time and space, Math Universe transforms big ideas into unforgettable adventures for curious minds of all ages.

Discover the Patterns That Shape Our World

At Math Universe, guests will explore:

  • The Golden Ratio in art, architecture, and nature

  • Fractals and spirals hidden in snowflakes, pinecones, and galaxies

  • The power of Pascal’s Triangle and probability

  • How gravity bends space-time

  • What it means to travel at the speed of light

  • Why doubling the radius of a pie quadruples the fun

Every station is interactive. Every concept is hands-on.

Build. Experiment. Explore.

Guests will:

  • Construct spiral galaxies

  • Race through time in a relativity challenge

  • Create fractal snowflakes

  • Build geometric patterns inspired by nature

  • Test their reflexes against the speed of light

Math isn’t something you memorize here — it’s something you experience.

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Mar
5
to Mar 7

Amplify Austin. Empower the Hill Country.

Amplify Austin Day is the biggest giving event in Central Texas — and that includes Johnson City, Blanco, Fredericksburg, Llano, and beyond.

• Expand hands-on STEM experiences for rural students
• Support field trips from Hill Country schools
• Maintain and refresh interactive exhibits
• Provide access to robotics, engineering, and math programs
• Keep innovation thriving in small-town Texas

During Amplify Austin, every gift helps expand hands-on STEM access for students and families across the western Hill Country.

From Johnson City to Fredericksburg, Blanco to Llano — your support strengthens innovation beyond the city limits.

Amplify Austin runs March 5–6. Early giving is open now.
Be part of the momentum.

Donate and help us reach our goal.

DONATE TO AMPLIFY!
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Feb
14
10:00 AM10:00

Engineering Day

Join us at the Science Mill for Engineering Day, a hands-on experience designed to spark curiosity and creative problem-solving.

Visitors will build, test, and experiment through engaging engineering challenges led by engineers from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Along the way, guests will discover how engineering plays a role in the structures, systems, and solutions we rely on every day.

This event is perfect for curious minds who love to explore, create, and think outside the box.

Included with admission. All ages welcome.

The award-winning Austin Branch of the Texas Section of ASCE currently covers 17 counties including: Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, McCulloch, San Saba, Menard, Mills, Mason, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee and Llano counties in Central Texas, and has a membership in excess of 1,300 civil engineers. The Austin Branch is also responsible for mentoring, giving support, and coordinating with the University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University Student Chapters of ASCE.
 
We host monthly Branch membership meetings from September through June that include speakers on various engineering related topics, which give you numerous opportunities to get your PDH’s. A monthly newsletter is also prepared to keep our members up to date with the Branch and local industry related news. We plan and participate in a wide variety of activities with goals of helping the community, increasing awareness of Civil Engineering, and raising money for scholarships.

PURCHASE TICKETS TODAY!
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Feb
7
10:00 AM10:00

Sips & STEM - The Science of Coffee

Join us for an immersive, sensory-forward coffee experience led by Marcos Rodriguez of Greater Goods Coffee Co. (Dripping Springs).

This interactive workshop invites guests to explore coffee the way professionals do—through smell, taste, and science. You’ll learn how coffee’s chemistry, origin, and extraction methods shape flavor while experiencing a guided tasting of eight freshly roasted coffees from around the world.

Guests will take part in an industry-style cupping session, complete with hot water, professional tasting spoons, and freshly ground coffee. You’ll learn how to smell coffee like a pro, observe how aromas change when water is introduced, and compare flavor profiles across regions. Along the way, Marcos will explain why coffees smell and taste different—from terroir and processing to chemistry and extraction.Perfect for preschoolers and their caregivers, Mini Makers is a great way to introduce early STEM learning in a playful, interactive way – all while having priceless family fun.

The experience includes:

  • Guided smelling and tasting (cupping) techniques

  • Freshly ground coffee to explore aroma

  • Side-by-side coffee comparisons

  • A structured tasting period with breaks for questions

  • Partnered tasting and sensory note sheets for reflection

Purchase Tickets Here

Whether you’re a casual coffee lover or a curious science fan, this workshop offers a deeper appreciation of what’s in your cup—and why it tastes the way it does.

☕ Adult-only experience (18+)

 
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Jan
30
9:00 AM09:00

STEM Solutions Showcase (Last Day to Register!)

Innovate & Discover: Engineering Solutions in Central Texas

Welcome, young scientists and engineers! Are you ready to use your super STEM skills to solve real problems right here in Central Texas? This year, we want you to think about how science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) can help design a solution or create something new that makes a difference in our community. Get ready to innovate and discover!

Eligibility

Any student between the ages of 8 and 18 can participate! Whether you're a lone scientist or working with a team, we want to see your amazing ideas.

Entry Fee

A non-refundable entry fee will be required in order to participate.

  • $25 for individual entry

  • $40 for team entry

  • First 7 entries will receive a free trifold board

  • Deadline for entry form and payment is January 30, 2026

Download the Entry Packet
enter as an individual
enter as a team of 2-3 people.
 
 
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Mini Makers- Little Coders: Robot Adventures
Jan
21
10:30 AM10:30

Mini Makers- Little Coders: Robot Adventures

Know any curious explorers under five?

Join us for Mini Makers, the Science Mill’s newest event for young scientists. Each 45-minute Mini Makers session will begin with a themed story time followed by a related hands-on activity designed to tickle their minds and keep their little hands busy!

Perfect for preschoolers and their caregivers, Mini Makers is a great way to introduce early STEM learning in a playful, interactive way – all while having priceless family fun.

Meet Botley the Robot and learn the basics of coding through play! Kids will use movement, books, and hands-on arrow cards to give Botley step-by-step directions, then test their code to see if Botley can follow the path home. A fun introduction to robots, algorithms, sequences, and early coding skills for little learners.

Purchase Tickets Here

The museum will open at 9:30am for Mini Makers families ONLY to give our little ones time to explore.

The workshop will run from 10:30 -11:15am.

 
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Jan
17
10:00 AM10:00

STEM in Motion

Get ready to move, spin, and test your curiosity! At STEM in Motion, you’ll dive into hands-on challenges that reveal the science behind everyday movement. It’s an exciting way to explore the science of movement—one discovery at a time.

A Skater's Secret

What’s the secret behind those lightning-fast ice-skating spins? Try it yourself on our spin platform and see how pulling your arms in changes your speed. Learn how athletes use angular momentum to wow the crowd!

Bounce Lab

Which ball bounces highest? Make your prediction, then watch us drop different balls from 5 feet and measure their bounce on our wall-sized ruler. Discover how materials and energy affect the bounce in this quick, fun science challenge!

Block, Bowl & Roll

Step up to the lane and put your physics skills to the test! Choose foam blocks of different shapes and sizes to knock down the pins and see how force, motion, and friction come into play. Which shapes will give you a strike every time, and which ones will make you rethink your strategy?

Get Tickets Now!
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Winter Break at the Science Mill
Dec
20
to Jan 2

Winter Break at the Science Mill

December 20- January 2
(closed December 24-25 and January 1)

Bundle up for a cool adventure at the Science Mill for December's event, Wild Arctic Animals! Learn how animals survive in some of the coldest places on Earth using clever adaptations like blubber and teamwork. Explore frosty habitats, take part in chilly STEM challenges, and learn about some of nature’s coolest creatures. Come chill with us and uncover the science behind life at the top of the world!

Activities

Imagination Unboxed: Arctic Animals
Bring your imagination and creativity to the Science Mill! Use your engineering skills to build and create unique items using only cardboard, all inspired by our monthly themes. This month’s theme is Wild Arctic Animals. Guests will put their skills to the test by building Arctic animals or their habitats, including polar bears, seals, snowy owls, Arctic foxes, and other creatures from the Arctic.


Polar Protection
Test how animals survive in the coldest places on Earth! Many Arctic and Antarctic creatures have a secret survival tool: blubber. You’ll explore how this natural layer of fat keeps animals warm by creating your own “blubber” experiment. Try your hands (and fingers!) at feeling the difference between insulated and unprotected, and discover why this adaptation is so important for life in icy habitats. Can you stay warm like a polar animal?

Capture the Herd
Step into the role of an Arctic scientist! Use real aerial-style photos to estimate the size of migrating herds across the tundra. Count animals in a few squares, calculate an average, and make your best population estimate, just like researchers using aerial photography to track Arctic migrations and protect wildlife.

Arctic Explorer Field Journal
Grab your very own Arctic Explorer Field Notebook and embark on a frosty adventure through the museum! Track cool facts about polar bears, seals, and snowy owls, solve icy animal puzzles, sketch your favorite Arctic creatures, and record your observations to create your very own Arctic animal journal.

Free with Admission Get your admission tickets today!

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Homeschool Day: Wild Wonders
Oct
8
10:00 AM10:00

Homeschool Day: Wild Wonders

Join us as we explore the amazing world of nature’s engineers at Homeschool Day: Wild Wonders! Discover how animals survive and thrive in their unique habitats. From the design of bird beaks to the power of camouflage, we’ll uncover the science behind their extraordinary abilities. Through hands-on activities and engaging learning labs, you’ll explore animal adaptations and the interesting ways different species interact with their environments.

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Mini Makers: Float the Boat
Sep
25
9:30 AM09:30

Mini Makers: Float the Boat

What floats and what sinks? Let’s find out together!

Perfect for children ages 5 and under, this playful hands-on STEM activity invites young explorers to test everyday objects in floating boats and observe what makes them sink. Inspired by the classic story Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen, children and their grown-ups will giggle, guess, and investigate through water-based experiments that spark curiosity, build language, and encourage discovery.

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Labor Day Weekend: Physics of Flight
Aug
30
to Sep 1

Labor Day Weekend: Physics of Flight

Scientists have always been fascinated by flight and have spent centuries creating solutions for launching stones, jets, and even humans into the air. From August 30 to September 1, step into the shoes of a physicist by exploring the forces of flight through fun, special activities like quadcopter demonstrations, exploring aerofoils, launching Pitsco rockets, and more!

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Sips + STEM: Shibori Dyeing Workshop for Adults
Aug
16
4:30 PM16:30

Sips + STEM: Shibori Dyeing Workshop for Adults

Join us this August for our special adults-only event series, Sips & STEM, where science meets creativity over a glass of Texas Hill Country’s finest wine.

This month, we are diving into the ancient art (and science!) of shibori dyeing, a Japanese technique that uses folding, twisting, and binding fabric to create unique indigo patterns.

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Back to School STEMFest
Aug
2
10:00 AM10:00

Back to School STEMFest

Kick off the school year with a fun-filled day at the Science Mill! Join us for hands-on STEAM activities where kids, parents, and educators can explore new ideas to bring home or into the classroom. Plus, there will be a Teacher’s Lounge and giveaways to show extra appreciation to our hardworking educators before they dive back into the school year.

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Imagination Unboxed: Whose Bones Are They Anyway?
May
10
10:00 AM10:00

Imagination Unboxed: Whose Bones Are They Anyway?

This month's theme is Mysteries of Science! Guests will put their forensic anthropology skills to the test, using clues from images of skeletal remains of various animals to determine which creature the bones once belonged to. Then, using nothing but cardboard, some colorful tape, and their imaginations, they'll recreate the mystery animal in 3D.

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Pollinator Palooza
Apr
26
to Apr 27

Pollinator Palooza

Can you hear that buzz? It’s Pollinator Palooza at the Science Mill!

Join us on April 26 & 27 to celebrate the incredible role of pollinators in our ecosystem. Dive into family-friendly hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and unforgettable encounters that highlight why these pollinators are essential to our planet!

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