Children and families from the rural communities such as New Holstein, Gillette, and Hurley, Wisconsin, all with populations less than 2,000, will take part in one of the state’s largest celebrations of discovery this fall.
The Wisconsin Science Festival (WSF), now in its 15th year, returns Oct. 16-26 with more than 600 events across 56 counties—breaking its previous record of 52 counties. What began in 2011 as a three-day, Madison-only gathering has grown into a 10-day, statewide celebration of science, technology, engineering, art and math for people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests.
A centerpiece of this festival is Science in a Bag — an initiative that will deliver 3,000 drawstring backpacks, each filled with ten to twelve hands-on experiments and activities designed to spark curiosity, plus access to an online portal for more ways to engage with STEAM. Examples range from coding secret messages and experimenting with shape memory wire, reading a graphic novel, making an “earth bracelet,” and dabbling in chemistry and physics by churning butter and shaking ice cream. The goal is simple: put real, approachable science within reach for every family, whether they’re visiting a library, attending an after-school program, or exploring at home.
Science in a Bag was born of necessity.
“In 2021, since we could not gather, and WiSciFest is all about having events to expose people to science, we rallied partners to put together hands-on science kits and, thanks to the generosity of the South Central Library System, were able to share them through libraries across Wisconsin for kids and families to explore,” says Jo Withers, corporate partnership manager for the Morgridge Institute for Research, a producing partner of the festival.
That pandemic pivot has since become a signature festival offering that has continued to expand the festival’s presence in the state.
Since then, the enthusiastic support of participating libraries has kept the program growing and helped anchor the festival’s mission to make science accessible to all. The kits are designed to meet families where they are and help see themselves as scientists. The high-quality, simple, and fun activities encourage caregivers to become co-learners with young people, especially those in historically underrepresented STEM areas. More than anything, it strengthens connections among communities statewide and includes them in this celebration of curiosity.
Behind the scenes, the effort is a true community lift. Assembling thousands of just one of the activities recently took more than 70 hours of volunteer time. Multiply that by about ten activities per bag, add the final assembly, packing, and pickup coordinated with the South Central Library System, and the result is a labor of love from organizers, sponsors, volunteers, and library staff statewide. “I value that the festival focuses on community engagement—especially now, when science can feel under attack,” said volunteer Jill Walder. “Anything we can do to keep people engaged is important for developing the next generation of scientists.”
Libraries report strong demand. “We love getting the Science in a Bag kits to hand out,” said Tena Gnewuch of the TB Scott Free Library in Merrill, Wisconsin. “Families look forward to them each year, and we usually run out within hours of opening.” More than 75 libraries are participating this year, with 120 boxes slated to be delivered in the days leading up to the science festival. The program is so popular it generates an annual waitlist, with requested slots filling within weeks. When space is tight, organizers give extra consideration to rural communities and to libraries that waited the prior year.
Content for the bags comes from festival partners across campus and the state who design activities using a few simple guardrails: materials should fit in a quart-size paper bag, minimize plastic, include clear instructions students can follow on their own, and be safe and self-explanatory. Adult guidance is encouraged. For groups or families who miss out on a physical kit, or who want to build their own, the festival hosts a web portal with how-to videos, additional content, and printable instructions using easily sourced materials.
Whether a child is twisting wire into a tiny machine, decoding a cipher, or tasting the science of emulsions with homemade butter, the message is the same: science is something you can do. That idea, carried by thousands of volunteers and dozens of libraries, powers the Wisconsin Science Festival’s growth and reach—and helps ensure that curiosity has no ZIP code.
“It’s been inspiring to see the continued buy-in from participating organizations and libraries,” says Morgridge Institute for Research Community and Engagement Manager Jerrod Buckner.” Their enthusiasm to participate and spread hands-on science in their communities keeps the program moving forward. It’s become a statewide initiative we’re proud of because it opens doors to science for more people in more Wisconsin communities.”
Science in a Bag complements the Wisconsin Science Festival’s broader effort to make curiosity a shared habit, pairing take-home kits with hundreds of events throughout the state. Marking its 15th year in 2025, the festival spotlights Rock & Roll, uniting music, motion, and Wisconsin’s geology to turn physics and earth science into interactive moments for kids, families, and lifelong learners. To find out how you can get involved, pick up a kit, or find events near you, visit wiscifest.org.
