Minecraft Mania

Minecraft Mania is coming to MOSI on Saturday, October 24, as part of the museum's Kids STEAM Workshops. It's a drop-off program for ages 7 to 12, so you can leave the kids there for a couple of hours while you get something else done. The session runs from 1 PM to 3 PM, and since it's a drop-off, you're not stuck hanging around the lobby.

Inside, the workshop takes place in a computer lab using Minecraft Education Edition. It's not just free-building; the kids work through individual, small-group, and full-team challenges, building computer skills and refining strategies along the way. They'll enchant armor and even learn basic coding, all while defending their city from an alien invasion. Each week brings a different focus, moving from basic survival skills to team-building and an introduction to coding, so it's less about one big project and more about picking up a few different things over the course of the session.

Minecraft Mania is one of several Kids STEAM Workshops at MOSI, a series of hands-on programs for students in grades K-6. The museum describes them as programs that spark curiosity and build confidence through doing science rather than just watching it. They're led by educators, and the sessions cover a range of STEAM topics: solving mysteries through forensics, experimenting with reactions and materials, and designing, building, and testing their own creations. Most of the programs align with Cub Scout and Girl Scout badge requirements, which is a nice bonus if your kids are in either.

Registration is required in advance, and it costs $15 for members and $20 for non-members. One of the best parts is that the registered child gets same-day museum admission included, so after the workshop, they can spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the interactive STEM exhibits. If you're looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon, this is a solid way to get them into a computer lab and then around the museum.