Events | Gift Shop Top Ten Picks

Laser Pegs

These national award winning toys use a high quality LED that will run about 100,000 hours, which is equivalent to keeping them illuminated non-stop for 11 years.  They are the first building toy that combines learning concepts of structure and electric circuits.

Keva Contraptions

These simple stacking planks are completely powered by imagination.  Their simplicity creates no limit to the creative things that can be done via stacking, modeling, or aligning. Two balls and an 18-page book full of ideas are included to guide your entire family through hours of fun just like in our popular exhibit.

Crocodile Creek Box Puzzles

From one of our favorite Durham companies, these beautifully illustrated floor puzzles come in a contoured storage box with a recessed lid so little fingers to easily open.  Rugged and over-sized pieces have a variety of educational themes.

Plan Toys

Made with environmentally-considerate wood, these toys capture the spirit of our Play to Learn kitchen and Ellerbe Train exhibits.  Sturdy and easy to grasp, our componential train and track sets allows your engineer to keep the train moving.

Science Kits

John and Erin Jurek
Jewelry and Decor

Husband and wife team John and Erin have a passion for conservation and art, recreating the beauty of natural flight through their sterling silver jewelry and airtight acrylic wall art. These hand made pieces of art symbolize transformation, emergence, and new life.

Yikerz

Whether you are flying to see grandma, driving to the mall, or just waiting in front of the tree; Yikerz neoprene 4 panel game board and travel pouch allow this game to go with you.  A combination of strategy and precision, these magnets will attract middle schoolers and adults alike.

Sandboxes

As cold weather approaches, your days in the sandbox don’t have to stop.  In a variety of themes such as space landing, construction vehicles, and even mermaids, these games are at home on your desk as they are in the playroom.

Engino Kits

These award-winning kits stimulate creation and ingenuity with core engineering concepts such as pulleys, wheels, levers, and linkages.  As simple or complex as you want them to get, their building manuals will guide you to success until you are ready to start engineering your own contraptions.

Rock and Fossil Collections

When you have exhausted all of your ideas for the person who has everything, come find a variety of natural gifts that are literally one of kind.  With amethysts, pyrite, quartz, celestite, fossils, and more; we have the texture, luster, and color to fit your every need.