Ooblecks, aliens, and 3D printers—oh my!
Over 70 youth showed up at the 2017 event to learn about and explore the world through NASA's Space Apps Toronto Youth Program. Sign up for the newsletter below to get advance notice and more info on next year's event, and other fun activities!
We'll be ready for youth from 12pm, and going until 4pm! The event is like a choose-your-own-adventure: we encourage youth and parents to explore the different organizations' activities and find out more information on them. Here're some of the activities that'll be showcased:
NASA uses parachutes to safely bring their space craft back to Earth. You will be using your engineering skills and learning about gravity and drag to make your own parachute!
A dry Ice comet is the closest thing to a real comet you can make here on Earth! Join Astronomy in Action to make our very own 'dirty snowball' to see what a real comet in outer space looks like, and how comets could be responsible for all life on Earth.
Several times in Earth's history, giant meteors have wiped out a significant portion of life on Earth. How does this happen? How do we know? Join Astronomy in Action to test out how meteors impact planets, why craters are tough to find on Earth, and how we can use meteors to reveal what the solar system is made of.
Craters are seen on every rocky body in the solar system, but understanding their characteristics and how they form continues to be a challenging task for planetary scientists. Come check out the formation of craters using our new apparatus in slow motion, create your own impact crater and then, examine the (real) Earth rocks that have been created or modified by the impact of a meteorite (called 'Impactites').
Travel across the solar system and visit our neighbouring planets without ever leaving Earth! In this interactive 3D Google Cardboard experience you can learn about the planets and moons that call our solar system home.
Who needs a keyboard or mouse when you’ve got bananas! With the Makey Makey you will be able to play video games with a variety of conductive materials from tin foil to you favourite fruit.
Have you ever wanted to be a super hero? Well now you can: we'll show you how to hack the Marvel super heroes website so you can dream up your own heroes...or villains!
Train to be a meteorite hunter by exploring space rocks from the ROM's spectacular meteorite collection. You'll have the rare opportunity to touch a piece of the MOON and MARS.
So you want to be an Astronaut? Build some rockets, see a rover in action, learn how a radio telescope works, and play with aliens.
Get ready to map out various star formations with our constellation sensory bag! Even though the stars are lightyears away, this hands on activity will bring space right to your fingertips.
Did you know Jupiter is the fifth planet out from the sun? Discover more fun facts about our solar system by putting together planetary puzzles!
Help make your very own space themed button.
An astronaut must be good in mathematics. In this workshop, come to construct a rocket ship and train you to calculate his trajectory with a protractor. Or just come to learn for visualizing algebra (yes algebra can be fun!).
Immerse yourself in every angle of outer space using virtual reality technologies: from training with NASA astronauts in Houston, flying above the Earth's surface, and viewing our tiny planet from the International Space Station. But beware... meteorites have been forecast!
Learn about user interface and experience through designing a “space-themed” app! Get creative with paper prototyping and an online user interface design program!
It's not Rocket Science.... or is it? Visit Hatch Canada for the chance to design and launch your own paper rockets! Compete to see which rocket designs will shoot straight to the moon and which will land among the stars!
Rockets aren't the only way to get something into orbit, they're just the only ones we've built so far! Visit the STEAMLabs area to prototype a new launcher with popsicle sticks, elastic bands, duct tape and more to launch your capsule onto the target.
James Costa is the Founder and CEO of Phuse, a digital user experience agency. In his spare time, James organizes the Toronto Agency Owner Meetup, co-founded Positive Gear, an organization that speaks and works with youth to empower them towards positive change, and is on the Board of Directors for the Trek for Teens Foundation, an organization that raises funds and awareness for youth homelessness in Toronto. When James isn't in Starbucks trying to catch up on his ever-growing to do list, he can be found playing XBOX with his son.
Oksana is the Community Engagement Coordinator at TWG, a Toronto based software development agency. She also helps manage Toronto Community Builders, a group dedicated to codify best practices in community management. Oksana was on the organizing team for TechStars Startup Next, a pre-accelerator program for early stage technology companies. Oksana and Kevin partnered to launch a weather balloon into near space armed with a GoPro. Oksana gets out of bed everyday excited to foster a strong tech community and geek out on space hacking projects.
Kevin is an iOS and TVOS development team lead at Quickplay Media. He has lead design and development of live and video-on-demand streaming applications for Rogers, Bell, AT&T;, Telus, SingTel, and many more for iPhone, iPad, and even AppleTV. In his spare time, he builds his own apps independently, plays with any tech he can get his hands on, hangs out in the 5000-ball ball-pit on his balcony, and works on the CubeSat he plans on sending to space.
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