Field Trips:
Hands On Learning Happens Here

Curated STEAM Education by the North Little Rock Public Library System.

How can you ensure students receive quality, curated STEAM education?

It’s easy! Schedule a Field Trip to The North Little Rock Public Library System's Innovation Hub.

Located at 204 E. 4th St., North Little Rock, Arkansas, in the heart of the Argenta Arts District

The Innovation Hub is the NLR Public Library System's third and newest branch, devoted to STEAM Education and Makerspace Activities!

Book a Trip to the NLRPLS's Innovation Hub

Introduce your students to the unique experience of Arkansas’s first makerspace at the Innovation Hub! Here, they will delve into the fascinating world of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, and discover how these subjects converge and encourage problem-solving in their day-to-day lives.

Students don’t just learn – they engage!

The curriculum for each STEAM field trip is meticulously crafted by our team of expert educators, igniting a never-ending spark of curiosity. Through field trip activities at The Hub, students are encouraged to investigate and explore!

Schedule a Single Field Trip Activity

Designed for groups of 25 or less, STEAM Education Activities last for one hour, scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Hub.

Request Your Field Trip Activity

Schedule an Immersion Experience

Designed for groups of 60 or less, the Hub curates a series of three activities across three hours scheduled on Wednesdays at the Hub.

Reserve Your Immersion Experience

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR STEAM ACTIVITIES

ADVENTURES IN CLAY

Join us in creating custom ceramic forms using hand-building techniques! In this field trip, students will learn the art and science of ceramics. They will be guided on incorporating decorative and functional elements into their forms, resulting in unique creations. *Teachers can take the clay pieces with them to fire locally or allow the students to continue experimenting with their raw clay at home.

CRITTER BOTS

Embark on an exhilarating adventure with Critterbots, where students dive into life science concepts like habitats and environmental adaptations by crafting buzzing robotic animals! This thrilling field trip not only blends the wonders of ecosystems with hands-on robotics and circuitry but also allows kids to see how animals thrive in their environments, engaging them in the practical application of their new knowledge. Prepare for an unforgettable experience!!

Students learn to turn images and fonts into vector images that can then be used for lasers, engravers, cnc machines, and digital art.

DIGITAL DESIGN WITH VECTOR

Jump-start their graphic design skills! Vector art is composed of computer-generated points, lines, and shapes used to create logos and artwork. On this field trip, students will turn their ideas into artwork that can be used for a variety of purposes, including laser engraving on wood or even screen printing onto t-shirts.

DIGITAL PAINTING

Do you have students who enjoy expressing their creativity through digital resources? Witness your students as they learn to draw, paint, and layer intriguing digital images using a variety of brushes and textures to create their own custom digital paintings. Students will utilize the same technology that professional graphic artists and designers use in the real world to create their work. The digital files they create can be saved and printed to be enjoyed for years to come!

LEGO SPIKE ROBOTICS

Did someone say robots??? Legos are an amazing classroom learning tool, especially when paired with gears and motors! Get ready to watch your students have a blast exploring how to create their own robot and code it to DO things through Scratch! We will be their guide as they walk through designing and constructing their robot. The fun includes sensors, motors, LEDs, gears, and more! Just go ahead and book this – your students will thank you!

PAPER CIRCUITS

Let’s explore electricity! During this field trip, students will learn how a basic circuit works. They will begin by creating a colorful drawing of their own design and plan to incorporate a light. They will build a functional paper circuit using copper tape, batteries, and LED lights. It will be a fun and educational experience as they explore the creative potential of illuminating their artwork!

PRINTMAKING

Learn the magic of creating prints by exploring new takes on traditional block stamping! In this field trip activity, students will make custom stamps by thinking through and creating relief artwork that will be used to transfer images to paper. We’ll focus on easy printmaking techniques using materials that can be found at home!

Local middle school students screen print art on tote bags in this field trip.  Then they use acrylic markers to paint inside their designs.

SCREENPRINTING

Let’s learn how to transfer artwork onto a T-shirt or tote bag! Students will enjoy watching designs come to life as they learn the steps involved in screen printing. They will get hands-on experience and take-home wearable art. This field trip experience may inspire them to become creative entrepreneurs!

SCRIBBLE BOTS

Watch your students unleash their creativity as they learn about circuitry, electricity, and the art of creating their own robots. Each Scribblebot, with its unique movement and art-making capabilities, will be a canvas for their imagination. This process of tinkering, optimizing, and problem-solving will not only foster their interest in science and technology but also make learning a fun and engaging experience.

SHADOW AND LIGHT THEATER

Inspired by the total solar eclipse experienced on April 8th, The Innovation Hub is thrilled to share the science and sheer awe behind that natural phenomenon through shadow play! Students will experiment with the relationship and movement between light and shadow using our custom-built light and shadow theaters. Participants of all ages will enjoy arranging props with different opacities on turntables to make their own imaginative stories to share with their peers!

TIE-DYE COLOR MIXING

Twists, turns, patterns, and knots, how will each shirt turn out? Students will enjoy learning the science of color play and pattern making through dye application as they transform a t-shirt or bandana with experimental tie-dying techniques. Each student will leave with their own colorful, wearable art.

VEX ROBOTS

Bring on the robots! This activity integrates technology with foundational math skills in a fun and interactive way! Our STEAM educators will lead students through the process of programming robots to perform various tasks while reinforcing concepts such as counting, telling time, place value, and basic multiplication. This experience enhances students’ coding abilities and strengthens their understanding of grade-level math through practical application.

WATERCOLOR CHEMISTRY

Get ready for a unique watercolor experience! In this field trip activity, students will explore the blend of art and science by creating watercolor paint using natural materials. They will then have the chance to mix their own custom color palette and leave with a painting that reflects their newfound skills. This hands-on art and science activity offers a perfect opportunity for some makerspace-style fun!

Book A Field Trip Activity

CAN'T DECIDE? TRY AN IMMERSION

Having trouble choosing just one field trip activity? Problem solved! We have combined our most popular field trips into one incredible Hub experience for large groups. Students will participate in various STEAM activities at the Innovation Hub and will complete at least one make-and-take element to take home. This experience is available for up to 60 students, requires at least four chaperones, and spans 3 hours.

Book the Immersion Experience

Need us to come to you?

Our Mobile Makerspace, the Innovation Hub on Wheels, Brings Educational and Life-Enriching STEAM Programs to Communities Across Arkansas!

Mobile Field Trips

By focusing on combined STEAM activities, educators aim to nurture students’ abilities to think critically, solve problems creatively, and engage in innovative thinking. We can bring those activities right to your school!

Community Event Activities

Elevate your event or conference with an extra layer of excitement and educational value. Whether it’s robotics, art projects, screen-printing, or themed engineering challenges, we help foster innovation and learning in a fun and accessible way, making your event memorable and meaningful.

Our Educational Impact Across the State

Thanks to NLRPLS's Mobile Makerspace - The Innovation Hub on Wheels, we've been able to deliver hands-on STEAM activities to over 60% of the counties in Arkansas. Since the Library System is supported by local tax payers, all Mobile Makerspace visits are free of charge within North Little Rock, but we can also travel across the state for a fee.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Different activities can accommodate different numbers of students, most with a cap of 25 students. We can accommodate up to 60 children with our Immersion Field Trip offering. Students will be rotated across three activities across 3-hours.

The Innovation Hub offers Individual Field Trip Activities on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Immersions are offered on Wednesdays only.

Bookings for our individual field trip activities are $10 per student and Immersions are $15 per student.

We only offer multiple activities with the booking of the Immersion Experience.

Individual activities are reserved for 1 hour. Immersions are reserved for 3 hours.

We need at least four weeks to prepare materials and staffing, but we are known to be fully booked several months in advance. Reserve your spot early!

Due to limited space and other ongoing activities inside our Makerspace, field trips are limited to students and teachers/chaperones only. Extra people can make it difficult for our STEAM educators to lead the field trip activities.

With advance notice, we can make space for students to take a lunch break within our facility.  Please be sure to let us know on the inquiry form.

This varies by activity.  Some of our activities include a take home project. Others are exposure and experience-based and do not have a take-home element. All are amazing!

To accommodate buses, we have a parking lot behind our building adjacent to Broadway Street. There is also free street-side parking around the building and a public parking lot at the corner of Poplar and 4th Streets (but buses cannot park in this lot.)  Parking downtown North Little Rock is free except directly next to the Thrive Apartment Complex. See parking map below. The Innovation Hub is # 12 on the map.

NLR Downtown Parking Map

Click for Parking Map

Meet Our Youth Educators and STEAM Experts

Megan Trout - Youth Services Manager

mtrout@nlrlibrary.org

Lauren Bradley - Community Educator

lbradley@nlrlibrary.org

Kendle Carter - Community Educator

kcarter@nlrlibrary.org

Aaron Campbell - MMS Community Educator

acampbell@nlrlibrary.org

Praise From Our Schools

★★★★★

"Thank you to Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub for hosting our microschool group today. We thoroughly enjoyed making animals and creatures out of clay with Lauren and Aaron. Thank you for the tour as well!"

Gilmer Learning Solutions, LLC
★★★★★

"Our LISA North K-5 GT students made clay creations with the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. Together, we are "Igniting Minds, Illuminating Futures" with every step, ensuring that today’s learners become tomorrow’s leaders."

Lisa Academy
★★★★★

"Thank you so much for the wonderful experience! We love the Innovation Hub!"

Christ the King
★★★★★

"A jewel in the crown of North Little Rock! This huge facility is equipped with all sorts of tools and technology, as well as classes on various types of art endeavours."

Anne-Marie L.

Click Map to Expand

204 E. 4th St., NLR AR 72114

Mon/Wed/Fri, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Tues/Thurs, 9:00am - 8:00pm
1st & 3rd Saturday, 10:00am - 2:00pm

Get directions

Need More Information? Contact us!

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.