Hundreds of free Remake Learning Days events are coming May 2-22. Here’s how you can join the fun.

Imagine exploring the aquatic and animal habitats along the edges of the Allegheny on a warm spring day with your kids. Or what if your family could dance in a ballet workshop before watching a performance by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater? Or maybe you and your child could dive into the world of video game design together?

Kids and parents will be doing all that and much more during this year’s Remake Learning Days festival, which runs from May 2 through May 22 throughout the Pittsburgh region. Local families can choose from among 350+ in-person and virtual events, nearly all of them free.

“We’re excited this year to have our biggest festival yet, with a diverse range of organizations,” says Ariel Beach-Westmoreland, Remake Learning Days’ festival manager for southwestern PA. “We’ll be seeing fun and engaging learning opportunities for families to build their own maker, science and tech knowledge through building ziplines and tech for animals, or learn about their community and environment through bike rides, stair exploration and nature hikes.”

Whether you’re looking for events related to science, technology, the arts, hands-on maker work, the environment or helping young people use their voices to make the world a better place, searching for events is easy. Click here to search the Remake Learning Days website for in-person and virtual events for kids of all ages. You can narrow your search by choosing a particular learning theme, date, age group or other variables.

In the Pittsburgh region, events for younger kids and their families will include the Ultimate Play Day, cohosted by Playful Pittsburgh, Trying Together and CitiParks. Little ones and their grownups can also check out Little STEM Stars!, Kids Club – Seeds and Gardens, Preschool Storytime and many other events. 

If the arts are popular in your household, you won’t want to miss the Pittsburgh Glass Center Glass Open House and Gallery Opening, Dancing Through the Decades, Teen Time – Embroidering Photos and so many other arts-focused events. During the No Sew DIY class, you’ll be able to upcycle an old t-shirt into something new and gorgeous with help from Knotzland founder Nisha Blackwell. 

Families with an interest in cooking can check out events including Cooking Up a Spring Garden, Gyozas Galore: The Art of Dumpling Making and Play with your Food!. And science fans will want to try 3D Printing Droids and explore a Drone Obstacle Course. 

LEARNING (AND LAUGHING) TOGETHER

These shared experiences between adults and kids help families discover local learning resources in their communities. They also help kids get inspired while having fun with their parents and caregivers.

After surveying hundreds of attendees at past Remake Learning Days events in the Pittsburgh region, the Global Family Research Project (GFRP) found that family engagement in STEAM learning makes students more likely to succeed academically, more likely to take advanced STEAM courses, and more likely to pursue STEAM-related careers. 

“Remake Learning Days is a great opportunity to connect with your kids and your community network,” says Beach-Westmoreland.

Another bonus: Many of the events help kids become “career ready.” This year, Remake Learning Days will be hosting more than 150 events that are designated as “career-ready events” by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students who attend one of these events will earn a digital badge on behalf of their school. Schools that gather enough digital badges will earn a career-ready banner to display in their school buildings.

This year, Remake Learning Days events will also be happening in 16 regions around the U.S., as well as in Uruguay, the U.K. and New Zealand.