Engineering Camp, Dog Costume Contest and Family Friendly Activities Tomorrow at Kids On The Green

Bridgefest is more than just a parade and fireworks- it brings the community together for a variety of fun activities, including kid-friendly events.

The brand-new Kids on the Green event starts at 11am and runs until 6 in the evening, taking place on Quincy Green.

See below for the exciting new events: 

Engineering Camp (beginning at 11a.m. Friday): 

• Earthquake Experiment — Kids get to build a tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows and place the structure on 4 different soil types (jello, brownie, kinetic sand. and marbles). Then they get to shake it to see the strength of their tower.
• Windy Tower — Kids are given four pieces of paper with a set amount of masking tape. They will then place a set of washers on top of their paper tower 14″ from the ground. They will then test their towers against a fan that will determine the strength of their paper tower.
• Leonardi di Vinci Bridge —Build a bridge out of popsicle sticks and then test the strength of their bridge with matchbox cars, monster trucks, and dinosaurs. 
• Surveying Experiment — Kids work with MTU surveyors and survey equipment (Total Station). They pace off a set distance and compare that data with their calculated distance. 
• Water Table (or Stream Table) — Kids build a stream and test their stream when obstructions are added like boulders, damns, etc.  
• Cup Tower — how tall can the Kids make a tower of cups?

There will be an offer for a scholarship for kids who complete all the experiments. They can fill out a form to be eligible for a drawing for a free scholarship for one of Michigan Tech’s Summer Youth Program’s. 

The Engineering Camp is sponsored by OHM Advisors, Michigan Tech Civil Engineering, Michigan Tech Geospatial Engineering Department, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the City of Hancock.

More family-friendly events begin at 2 pm. 

Hot Diggity Dog (Beginning at 2pm on Friday) 

• The costume Dog Parade starts at 2:00 p.m. 
• Treats for all dogs, with awards (crowns, “medals,” and/or City of Hancock dog kerchiefs) for categories.
• Tentative categories include: Funniest, Cutest, Most Original, Best Homemade, “Top Dog of Bridgefest” receives a special prize

Kaleidoscope

• Lego volcanoes: kids will be able to use Lego bricks to build any version of volcanoes that they would like. They will then use baking soda and vinegar to set off their volcanoes. It’s a fun, messy activity with the added puzzle of how to build a successful volcano shape! Kids are welcome to repeat the activity multiple times. We will also have bins of Lego bricks for anyone who wants to just creatively build. While this is an event for kids, we know that adults love Legos too and they are welcome to join in!

The Keweenaw Family Resource Center

• the Copper Country Great Start Parent Coalition will have a booth featuring a planting event, and story walk for the youngsters.

Keweenaw Learning Center

• Dino Dig – kids use digging tools to find buried dinosaurs.
• Michigan Maps – kids practice making topographical maps of Michigan, the UP, or the Keweenaw.
• Rosetta Names – kids make nametags translating their names into Egyptian hieroglyphics, Ancient Greek, and Phoenician alphabets.
• Try Origami – kids can try making different origami animals.

Keweenaw C.A.P.E.

• There will be an Athletics Area where people of all ages can play volleyball, and soccer. You can also test your skills on an obstacle course.
• Learn how to make sidewalk chalk paint at another booth. Once they make their paint, they are welcome to use it to fill in a square that will be part of a large public sidewalk mural.
• Kids/families can also learn to fold various types of paper airplanes and then compete to see whose plane flies the farthest in our Fly Zone!
• Keweenaw C.A.P.E would like to recognize their staff and their AmeriCorps Summer Associates. C.A.P.E and the Make It UP! Makerspace will have flyers and information available about their upcoming summer events and workshops.

There will be hot dots, chips, and pop available for purchase to keep you going.