Geekcon 2006

You may remember that, back in February, my youngest son was awarded the Grand Champion prize for his Science Fair project. It was a proud moment for us.

One of the perks of being Grand Champion is an all expense paid invitation to the PSTA Annual Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania. My son and I enjoyed the two night say at the Hershey Lodge, free food, and of course an abundance of chocolate. In return, my son had to present his project to convention goers for two hours each day. A small price to pay.

My son was amazed by the exhibit hall. It housed over a hundred companies demonstrating their latest and greatest gadgets science teachers could employ to enrich the educational experience. Ensuring that no child gets left behind. My son stared at me in amazement as the exhibitors gave him all kinds of free stuff. The novelty of being the youngest person there got him more attention than the other convention attendees.

One exhibitor gave him four large (four inches long) millipedes. Luckily, they weren't the poisonous kind.

Another exhibitor asked him to hang out at their booth because he was drawing a large crowd. I guess 4 foot tall kid with a 6 foot long Boa Constrictor wrapped around his neck is interesting to most people.

But the give away that takes the cake occurred on the last day. One of the guys involved with PSTA asked my son what he was interested in. "Anything about animals!" He took my son to an exhibitor who gave him microscope. We were shocked.

As soon as we got home my son and I started experimenting with the microscope. My son was transfixed as he gazed at various things though 400x magnification. Human hair, dog hair, paper, mold, human saliva, toilet water, aquarium water. The aquarium water yielded the coolest images. He was giddy when he got to see a Euchlanis munching on microscopic plants.