Most uses of digital technologies pull young people away from hands-on experimentation with the physical world. The Playful Invention and Exploration (PIE) Network has bridged that divide, integrating digital technologies and hands-on experimentation in a new generation of science and engineering education activities that have proven very engaging for young people and their families. PIE activities have been developed by a network of six museums around the country, using Cricket technology developed at the Media Lab (with research support from NSF). Science museums around the country are now incorporating Crickets and PIE activities into their public programs.