USA Science and Engineering Festival

The weekend after we went to the USA Science and Engineering Festival in DC.  This is a totally free huge multi-day event that fills the entire convention center.  I will say that we only skimmed two of the five halls while we were there.  It was that huge!
Our first adventure was with the Lockheed Martin Mars landing exhibit.  The girls got to try to construct a "helmet shield" that would allow light in but keep heat out.  Then they got to see what the designs and models were for a future Mars lander and base.  And I noticed that the booths were "manned" by women.  Double cool.

We also happened to walk by when Karen Nyberg was giving a talk.  She was an astronaut on the International Space Station team.  It was so cool to hear her in person sharing some of her experiences and also advice for students wanting to pursue careers in space technology. 

There was a helicopter simulator that took the pilot on a flight over and around DC.  The girls each got to try out being the navigator and the pilot.

The winners of the various robotics competitions were there with their robots.  These girls had made and programmed Lego robots to complete tasks.  There were also larger robots made by high-schoolers that had to be able to shoot basketballs.  I think this got my girls really excited about a possible engineering project for the Fall!

We found the Animal Jam booth finally.  It was closed down already because we didn't find it until the fair was about to close down, but Animal Jam is pretty popular in our house so we had to get a picture.  We also found the Magic School Bus.  I think Lyla was protesting something at the moment, so no picture of her, but Gwyn and Celee obliged.  I think I need one of these in my yard.  ;)

These grad students from South Dakota were manning a booth about 3D printing and the girls got to make a charm with their initials on it our of "silver."  I thought it was a creative way to show the process to kids.

There was a Marvel exhibit about the science behind the super heroes. 

I'm not sure Celee and Lyla really understood what they were doing in this game - It was supposed to replicate electrons hitting a target and how to determine the position of the target based on the number of hits.  Yeah, it was more like skeet ball to them.  Well, it gives me ideas for the future!
We spent a good bit of time at an insect exhibit.  Celee is holding a hissing coackroach in her hands. That circle on the paper has two termites going Nascar around it.  Apparently the ink in Bic pens mimicks the pheromones that termites use to leave trails.  So they will go round and round for hours on that circle.  They also had tent catepillars and the girls got to test how tough the silk it that they spin.  They could not tear it!

My little zombies!

And my little boogers!

We had an awesome time!  I definitely want to go next year, and for more than one day.  It was worth it!