S.T.R.E.A.M. has a place at the Oregon State Fair.

The FIRST LEGO League will debut the 2017-2018 Global Challenge at the 2017 Oregon State Fair.

Tuesday, August 29th

Every year, FIRST® LEGO League releases a Challenge, which is based on a real-world scientific topic. The 2017 Challenge will make it’s premier at our very own Oregon State Fair, in Columbia Hall—The home of our Creative Living Department—on Tuesday, August 29th. Things get started at 10:00 am and run throughout the day until 7:00 pm. Importantly, there will be a special presentation at noon that day on the Explore Oregon Stage to introduce the Global Challenge.

Each Challenge has three parts: the Robot Game, the Project, and the Core Values. Teams of up to ten children, with at least two adult coaches, participate in the Challenge by programming an autonomous robot to score points on a themed playing field (Robot Game), developing a solution to a problem they have identified (Project), all guided by the FIRST LEGO League Core Values. Teams may then attend an official tournament, hosted by our FIRST LEGO League Partners.

It’s the FIRST Tech Challenge for 2017-2018.

Wednesday, August 30

This robot competition goes way beyond building robots for students ranging in age from the 7th grade to the 12th grade. Participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have!” The fun begins at 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 30 and concludes with a presentation on the Explore Oregon Stage at 6:00 pm.

Guided by adult Coaches and Mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles (like keeping an engineering notebook), while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and sharing ideas. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and can be programmed using a variety of languages, including Java. Teams also must raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach for which they can win awards. Participants have access to tens of millions of dollars in college scholarships. Each season concludes with Super-Regional Championships and an exciting FIRST Championship.

Don’t miss the FIRST Robotics Competition for 2017.

It spans three days: August 25 – 28

The 2016 Oregon State Fair is proud to welcome K12 as sponsor of our awesome S.T.R.E.A.M. exhibition, which includes such features as: Google Cardboard, Lego Challenge, Robotics with Cubelets, and Germination Station. The K12 booth at the Oregon State Fair brings “The Fun” to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math with activities for all ages.

K12 offers two tuition-free, online public charter schools open to all Oregon families. Oregon Virtual Academy teaches Kindergarten – 12th grade. Insight School of Oregon/Painted Hills teaches grades 7-12 and offers focused tracks for students wanting to get a head start on careers in business or healthcare.

Think of this as the ultimate sport for the mind, because the FIRST Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sports with the rigors of science and technology. The action goes from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm for three fun-filled days in Columbia Hall.

High school student participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.” Under strict rules, limited resources, and an intense six-week time limit, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship.

If you love gizmos, you have to see this.

Glen’s Gizmos is a hands-on wonderland.

Glen’s Gizmos is a traveling museum composed of well over 60 hands-on learning stations that bring science, technology, engineering, art and math to schools and venues like the Oregon State Fair. Creator Glen Mills has spent the last 50 years making gizmos and exhibits for such notable venues as the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and the Gilbert House in Salem. Glen has collected more than 200 working puzzles, exhibits and gizmos…many of which inspired the learning stations in the Oregon State Fair’s Creative Living department in Columbia Hall. This hands-on collection will engage the minds and imaginations of all who draw near.

All about the Cascadia Earthquake.

A fascinating presentation by the Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals.

Make plans to find a seat in the audience at the Explore Oregon Stage to hear insights on the Cascadia Earthquake from the curator of the Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals. Leslie Moclock will share the earth-shaking truth about this wonder of seismology.  This presentation takes place from 4:00 to 5:00 pm on Thursday, August 31.

Also, don’t miss the museum’s earth science projects in our Science Demonstration Area on that same day, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Good news for people who love rocks.

The Willamette Agate & Mineral Society tells all when it comes to rockhounding.

Rockhounding is a passion for the folks at the Willamette Agate & Mineral Society, and they’re prepared to share their secrets at their exhibit in our Science Demonstration Area. It’s a super opportunity to learn more about rocks, minerals, fossils, agates, and various related specimens. Check out their exhibit in Columbia Hall from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Friday, September 1.

A chance to win prizes playing Pokémon at the Fair.

Head to the Science Demonstration Area in Columbia Hall.

Fans of the Pokémon franchise are in luck! This is the place to find tables full of everything Pokémon on the weekend of September 2 and 3 from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Whether you favor card games or video games, you’ll have the opportunity to compete in tournaments and possibly win prizes. By the way, if you’re new to this extremely popular pursuit, this exhibit is a great way to learn everything you need to know. Join us!