Learn and Play at the Free NASA Youth Space Challenge
The Youth Space Challenge, a space-themed event for kids ages 7–15, takes place this weekend, April 11th, from 1–5pm at The Lab in downtown Toronto. Attendance is free. Participants will have the opportunity to spend an afternoon bringing their space-related dreams to life, and no registration is required.
A few of the activities will include:
- Hotpop Robot: Stars are very far away, but astronomers can learn a lot about them from their light. Kids will be able to make their own spectroscope from simple materials and study the light spectrums of different bright objects.
- Making Space Badges: Kids will create space-themed images using the web-based Pixlr program and craft supplies. They will then bring them to life, making a pin-on badge with a button-press!
- Learn to Code: Using Tumblr, a popular blogging platform, kids will craft a short post about “what they love about technology and space” within an HTML template. The blogs will be published on a rolling basis throughout the day, resulting in an exciting demonstration of the kids’ perceptions of technology and space.
- 3D Printers: 3D printers will also be set up on site so that kids can see them first hand.
In 2013 and 2014, the NASA Youth Space Challenge attracted on average 130 kids per year to the event. To quote Laura Plant Hasanbegovic, Co-Executive Director of event hosts Ladies Learning Code:
“Our mission is to help youth experience technology as a medium for self-expression, and as a means for changing the world in an accessible way.”
The Lab is also the home of Kids Learning Code, an organization dedicated to teaching kids how to get the most out of modern technology, and giving them life-skills they’ll need for a technological future.
You can learn more about the event, which is part of the International Space Apps Challenge hackathon that runs throughout the weekend, by visiting the youth event page on SpaceAppsToronto.com.
