News Updates:

Feb. 17, 2008-

Last chance to see TechFest 2008
Already 1500 students and their families have participated in the 2008 program. Every one has had a blast, like this one from the DP&L exhibit on electricity in the Building 13 AIM center. You definately wont want to miss this opportunity to come out and discover and explore the exibits and presentations! We are looking forward to seeing you here.

Feb. 15, 2008-

Time to get Excited!
TechFest's Opening Ceremony is tomorrow morning at 10:00!

Weather forecast: Looks like tomorrow will be mostly entertainment and scattered learning all day with a 100% chance of fun!

70+ exhibitors and dozens of different speaker presentations are lined up for you to enjoy. We are looking forward to an awesome weekend and seeing you there!

Feb. 12, 2008-

Notice: One day only - Astronaut Bonnie Dunbar!
Retired NASA Astronaut Bonnie Dunbar will be speaking at TechFest 2008 one day only, on Saturday afternoon. Come to hear her presentation "My Life as an Astronaut"

Feb. 10, 2008-

Online student pre-registration extension...
The deadline for student pre-registration has been extended by 4 more days. You now have until midnight on Thursday night, 14 February 2008 to submit the online registration form.

Visit the Student registration page to fill out the online form and then click submit. You will receive a confirmation email to print out and bring with you to the special pre-registered table at TechFest 2008.

Feb. 09, 2008-

Final Exhibitor Layouts
The interactive Sinclair campus map is now loaded with the most current TechFest exhibitor layout. Visit the Exhibitor's page to browse through the TechFest 2008 program!

Teacher Workshops Full!
We are delighted that you would like to join us, but unfortunately all workshops are full at this time.

The Educators' Action Team will be offering another free teachers workshop April 12, 2008 in conjunction with the Air Force Association's State Meeting. If you would like to receive information about this next workshop, please send an email to afateacher@fuse.net to be included on the mailing list..

Feb. 06, 2008-

T-minus 4 days and counting:
to register online for TechFest 2008. The Student & Teacher Registrations will remain open for 4 more days. Teacher workshop registration will close at midnight on 10 February and will not reopen. Student registration will be available on-site or print the student registration form to bring with you.

Don't miss your chance to skip to the front of the line by pre-registering! Send us a message from the comments page if you need any additional information.

Feb. 03, 2008-

Coming soon ...
... to a TechFest web page near you!
Check out what we've got planned for additions to the TechFest web site in the near future. We're always thinking of new ideas and ways to improve. If you have any suggestions of what you'd like to see on-line here, you can email the webmaster from the comments page.

Streaming Video - We'll be adding some video clips from previous year's programs. Also, look for real-time updates throughout the TechFest weekend too (and see if you can spot yourself in the crowd)! <coming soon!>

Discussion Boards - Do you have a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (S.T.E.M.) related question? Post it, and see what the TechFest community thinks... <coming soon!>

Links Pages - You'll be able to find lots of S.T.E.M. links to all kinds of cool information. Use it for research, or just to surf around to find interesting sites. This will be a great resource for kids of all ages. <coming soon!>

Jan. 26, 2008-

Request for volunteers!
To make this year's TechFest a huge success, we're requesting your help. It takes many hours on the part of the committee to coordinate and plan such a great event, and now it's your turn! During the TechFest weekend we're looking for help manning the student registration tables, help with data entry, and another "runner" between buildings (no running necessary).

If you're available for a few hours on 16-17 February please visit our Volunteer registration page and let us know when you're available.

Jan. 20, 2008-

Uploaded list of exhibiting organizations
You can now download the (draft) list of organizations who have signed up to put together a hands-on exhibit for the TechFest 2008 program.

New Speakers page!
Visit the newly updated Featured Speakers page to see who's coming this year. Final schedule will be released shortly.

FYI, Saturday's schedule is different from Sunday's schedule so plan to see new events each day! There will be plenty to see and do to keep you busy the whole weekend. Food available on-site.

Jan. 17, 2008-

Online student registration New for 2008!
Sign up online at the Student Registration Page and skip the long lines when you get to TechFest! The online registration form will close at midnight on Feb. 10, 2008. On-site registration available at the door.

To take advantage of this new feature, make sure you bring the confirmation email with you when you come because that will be your door prize coupon. If you have any problems, contact the webmaster.

Jan. 15, 2008-

President’s Day Week end Get-Away 2008
Saturday, February 16, 10 AM – 6 PM, TechFest & More
Sunday, February 17. 11 AM – 5 PM, TechFest & More
Monday, February 18 More aviation

<download points of interest list>
Come to Dayton for the week-end to see TechFest 2008 and stay to see aviation history first hand!

After spending a day at TechFest having FAMILY FUN with hands-on exhibits where you can learn FUNdamental science, technology, engineering, and math. Then spend the next day exploring how that “stuff” was used in aviation. 

• What did the Wright Brothers do in Dayton to develop the first powered & controlled flying machines? 
• Why did they go to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina? 
• What did they do that was important to flying when they came back to Dayton, Ohio?  What do these dates represent in the history of aviation?  1900, 1903, 1905, 1908? What was happening between these dates?
• What fundamental scientific principles did the Wright Brothers depend upon as they invented the flying machine?

Here are some places to visit to have fun learning the answers to these and other questions you will develop.   

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park http://www.nps.gov/daav/planyourvisit/index.htm
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park consists of four units that tell the stories of Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright, and Paul Laurence Dunbar. At the various units you have the opportunity to experience the historically refurnished Wright brothers' printing office, walk through an original Wright brothers' bicycle shop, see the Wright brothers' third airplane, follow Wilbur and Orville's footsteps at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field, and experience Paul Laurence Dunbar's last home. All of these sites are National Historic Landmarks or are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  There are hands-on experiences in aviation science. 

Dayton History at Carillon Park
http://www.carillonpark.org/index.html
Carillon Historical Park includes historical buildings and interacting with hundreds of artifacts and exhibits among them is the 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world's first practical airplane.  

National Museum of the United States Air Force
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
The National Museum of the United States Air Force galleries present military aviation history, boasting more than 400 aerospace vehicles -- many rare and one-of-a-kind -- along with thousands of historical items and powerful sensory exhibits that bring history to life and connect the Wright brothers' legacy with today's stealth and precision technology. 

This will not only be a fun week-end, but you can collect lots of information about aviation and take your own pictures for special project reports for school.