In 1973, Dr. Ralph R. Nash, a NASA scientist, began to work with neighbourhood children to give them a hands-on opportunity to explore science. When more children became interested than could fit into his basement, the program expanded into the National Bureau of Standards (later renamed the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST) and a not-for-profit organization of volunteers was incorporated, named Adventure in Science (AIS).

In the decades since, AIS has expanded into more meeting spaces hosted by government agencies, local companies, and schools. The teaching is done by parents and other volunteers (including scientists from the meeting sites) with an interest in teaching their scientific expertise or hobby.” (Since we do not want to imply the site organizations are supplying the teachers.)