STEM Spaces
local spaces for learning & Making
Have an STEM event to share?
Bonneville Dam & Hatchery
Rangers and volunteer staff at the visitor centers offer tours and answer questions about hydroelectric power, dam construction, life-cycles of salmon, and more. There are also park ranger maintained educational geocaches on the Oregon and Washington side. Website
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
Interpretive museum featuring cultural and natural history exhibits, native plant nature walks, and a live raptor program.
Four Rivers Family Play & Learn @ Home
Free Activity Boxes and Child-Directed Playgroups available to all 0-5’s and their grown-ups in Wasco, Hood River, Sherman, Gilliam & Wheeler Counties of Oregon.
Fruit Loops Art Center
An art hub for kids (and their adults) in Hood River and surrounding areas. The center offers art clubs, classes, events, camps and open studio time.
Goldendale Observatory
Free presentations include outdoor telescope viewing and indoor classroom sessions at Maryhill Stonehenge Visitor Center. Live web-streams are also avaliable.
Gorge Makerspace
Several topic-specific summer camps. Also runs in-school programs. Open studio time on pause during the summer, but check back soon for fall hours. Located in White Salmon.
Hood River County Library
Makerspace is open on Saturdays & STEM Family Kits are available for checkout. Creativebug, is also available, an online resources for 1000+ DIY & Maker videos taught by artists and designers.
National Forests
Mt. Hood National Forest (Hood River County) and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Klickitat, Skamania). Go camping, hiking, or visit a ranger station to learn more about nature and science.
Sherman Kids Zone
Sherman Kids Zone is a chidlren's play space located upstairs in the Wasco School Events Center. Lego Nights take place on the First Thursday of the month from 5-7 pm. STEAM Nights also happen on Thursdays from 5-7pm. Check their Facebook page for the latest updates.
The Dalles Dam
Visitor center features a variety of interactive displays, a short film on the benefits and impacts of the dam, a sneak peak of fish migrating up the fish ladder, and more.
The Dalles-Wasco County Library
Makerspace with digital fabrication tools including: laser printer, laser etcher, heat press, vinyl cutter and more. Hands-on activities for young children, Maker Bar for teens and STEM programs for every age. Make & Take STEM Kits for all ages and technology resources for educators & families.
WAAAM
Museum in Hood River featuring one of the largest collections of still-flying antique aeroplanes and still-driving antique automobiles.
Wonderworks Children's Museum
Exhibits, classes, and creative play spaces geared towards kids ages 0-8, but open to all ages. Located in The Dalles.