Event Details
Dates: May 29 – June 4
Daily Time: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Participants: ~ 300 6th and 7th grade students
Location: Myrtle Grove Middle School
Daily Breakdown
May 29: The Kick-Off
We are starting with a series of STEM challenges in the gym to get the energy high and the creative juices flowing! Grades will rotate between the gym for an intro to the hackathon and their assigned breakout rooms.
June 1 – June 3: Project Work
Students will be stationed in the 6th and 7th-grade rooms (1–2 project teams per room).
Coding projects will happen in the media center along with a lab station set up for any group’s use
June 4th: Open House
Students will present their projects in an open house format - time is TBA!
Daily Time: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Participants: ~ 300 6th and 7th grade students
Location: Myrtle Grove Middle School
Daily Breakdown
May 29: The Kick-Off
We are starting with a series of STEM challenges in the gym to get the energy high and the creative juices flowing! Grades will rotate between the gym for an intro to the hackathon and their assigned breakout rooms.
- Breakout Session Goals:
- Review project expectations.
- Facilitate team-building activities.
- Assign specific roles within student groups.
- Launch an initial "Fun Challenge" to spark creativity.
June 1 – June 3: Project Work
Students will be stationed in the 6th and 7th-grade rooms (1–2 project teams per room).
Coding projects will happen in the media center along with a lab station set up for any group’s use
June 4th: Open House
Students will present their projects in an open house format - time is TBA!
Explore the Projects
Clean Energy
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Ionic Thruster
Students design a design a craft that uses positively charged ions as a form of propulsion (think "The Millennium Falcon"!) This project investigates the future of clean space travel! |
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Solar Car
In this project, you will combine solar cells, DC motors, and LEGO components to build a functional vehicle. You’ll explore how light energy is converted into electricity and experiment with gear ratios to see if you can make your car the fastest on the track using nothing but sunlight.
In this project, you will combine solar cells, DC motors, and LEGO components to build a functional vehicle. You’ll explore how light energy is converted into electricity and experiment with gear ratios to see if you can make your car the fastest on the track using nothing but sunlight.
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Pressure Water Pump
You will design and assemble a manual water pump capable of lifting water uphill. By mastering the concepts of air pressure, valves, and mechanical force, you’ll create a tool that can solve real-world hydration problems in off-grid locations. |
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Wind Turbine
In this project, you’ll engineer a wind turbine to generate your own clean electricity. You’ll experiment with different blade shapes and angles to catch the wind efficiently, learning exactly how a spinning turbine can power up a lightbulb or charge a battery. |
Environmental Science
Composting and Food Waste
In this project, you will design and build composting system to recycle organic waste into nutrient-rich soil. You’ll explore the biology of decomposition, manage a living ecosystem of microbes, and create a sustainable cycle that helps a garden thrive while keeping waste out of landfills.
In this project, you will design and build composting system to recycle organic waste into nutrient-rich soil. You’ll explore the biology of decomposition, manage a living ecosystem of microbes, and create a sustainable cycle that helps a garden thrive while keeping waste out of landfills.
Water Quality
Using professional chemistry lab equipment, you will analyze water samples collected from all over the county. You’ll test for pH levels, minerals, and potential pollutants, learning how to interpret data like an environmental scientist to ensure our local ecosystem stays healthy and safe.
Using professional chemistry lab equipment, you will analyze water samples collected from all over the county. You’ll test for pH levels, minerals, and potential pollutants, learning how to interpret data like an environmental scientist to ensure our local ecosystem stays healthy and safe.
Fast Fashion
In this project you will investigate the indigo dyeing process and use chemical analysis to identify what our clothes are actually made of, synthetic plastic fibers or natural materials. You’ll also run experiments to see how much microplastic shedding happens in a single wash, discovering how the "fast fashion" industry impacts our oceans and our health.
In this project you will investigate the indigo dyeing process and use chemical analysis to identify what our clothes are actually made of, synthetic plastic fibers or natural materials. You’ll also run experiments to see how much microplastic shedding happens in a single wash, discovering how the "fast fashion" industry impacts our oceans and our health.
MArine Science
Plankton Identification
Using handheld microscopes, you’ll zoom into a world that is usually invisible to the naked eye. You will act as a marine biologist, identifying and counting various plankton species to determine the health of our local water sources.
Using handheld microscopes, you’ll zoom into a world that is usually invisible to the naked eye. You will act as a marine biologist, identifying and counting various plankton species to determine the health of our local water sources.
Jellyfish Aquarium
Standard fish tanks have a major flaw for jellyfish: corners! Because jellyfish are mostly water and can’t swim against currents, they easily get stuck. In this project, you will use 3D design tools to engineer a specialty "kreisel" tank that keeps water moving in a constant, gentle circle. You’ll need to balance fluid dynamics and physics to create a safe, futuristic environment where these jellyfish can thrive.
Standard fish tanks have a major flaw for jellyfish: corners! Because jellyfish are mostly water and can’t swim against currents, they easily get stuck. In this project, you will use 3D design tools to engineer a specialty "kreisel" tank that keeps water moving in a constant, gentle circle. You’ll need to balance fluid dynamics and physics to create a safe, futuristic environment where these jellyfish can thrive.
Computer Engineering
Air Quality Station
In this project, you’ll combine high-tech coding with classic lab science. You will program Raspberry Pi computers to act as digital sentinels, tracking invisible factors like CO2 levels and temperature in real-time. But we won't stop at digital data, you'll also use hands-on chemistry techniques to capture and count pollen grains and measure ozone levels. By the end, you’ll have a complete chemical "fingerprint" of your local environment to see how healthy your air really is.
In this project, you’ll combine high-tech coding with classic lab science. You will program Raspberry Pi computers to act as digital sentinels, tracking invisible factors like CO2 levels and temperature in real-time. But we won't stop at digital data, you'll also use hands-on chemistry techniques to capture and count pollen grains and measure ozone levels. By the end, you’ll have a complete chemical "fingerprint" of your local environment to see how healthy your air really is.
Turtle Nest Monitor
Sea turtle nests are often hidden and at risk from predators or human interference. In this project, you will engineer a remote monitoring system to keep a watchful eye on these nests without disturbing the turtles. Using Raspberry Pi computers, you’ll build a custom rig featuring a motion-detecting camera that triggers whenever there’s activity.
Sea turtle nests are often hidden and at risk from predators or human interference. In this project, you will engineer a remote monitoring system to keep a watchful eye on these nests without disturbing the turtles. Using Raspberry Pi computers, you’ll build a custom rig featuring a motion-detecting camera that triggers whenever there’s activity.
Coding
Coding Games in Python
Wilmington temperature analysis maps
Basketball free throw tracker and analysis tool
Machine learning and facial recognition
Create a messaging app
DIY avatars app
Language translator app
Food Science
Food Science
In this project, you’ll step into the role of a food scientist. Using hands-on lab techniques, you will break down everyday foods and beverages to reveal their hidden chemical secrets. You’ll measure exact levels of sugar, starch, and acidity, and more to learn all about what's going on with your favorite snacks.
In this project, you’ll step into the role of a food scientist. Using hands-on lab techniques, you will break down everyday foods and beverages to reveal their hidden chemical secrets. You’ll measure exact levels of sugar, starch, and acidity, and more to learn all about what's going on with your favorite snacks.
Engineering and Design
The Mystery Box
In this project, you’ll step into the shoes of a product designer with a catch: you don’t get to choose your materials! After unboxing a mystery collection of random supplies, your mission is to identify a problem and solve it by "upcycling" those parts into a useful, brand-new product.
It’s part engineering, part art, and a total test of your imagination. You'll learn to look past what an object is to see what it could be, all while keeping waste out of the landfill through creative reuse.
In this project, you’ll step into the shoes of a product designer with a catch: you don’t get to choose your materials! After unboxing a mystery collection of random supplies, your mission is to identify a problem and solve it by "upcycling" those parts into a useful, brand-new product.
It’s part engineering, part art, and a total test of your imagination. You'll learn to look past what an object is to see what it could be, all while keeping waste out of the landfill through creative reuse.
STEAM
UnMondrian
In this project, you will analyze maps of Wilmington to identify the balance between urban development and nature. By mapping out the "green spaces" (parks and forests) versus the "gray spaces" (buildings and roads), you will create an abstract Mondrian-style painting. It’s part geography and part fine art, using a classic aesthetic to show exactly how much room our city makes for nature.
In this project, you will analyze maps of Wilmington to identify the balance between urban development and nature. By mapping out the "green spaces" (parks and forests) versus the "gray spaces" (buildings and roads), you will create an abstract Mondrian-style painting. It’s part geography and part fine art, using a classic aesthetic to show exactly how much room our city makes for nature.
Aero Solar Museum
In collaboration with the Cameron Art Museum, you will help construct a section of a "solar balloon", a giant, lighter-than-air sculpture made entirely of recycled plastic bags. You’ll learn the science of thermodynamics, seeing how the sun's heat can lift a massive structure into the sky without any fuel or engines. This isn't just an engineering project; it's a collective piece of "aerosolar" art that proves how we can use clean energy and "waste" materials to achieve incredible things.
In collaboration with the Cameron Art Museum, you will help construct a section of a "solar balloon", a giant, lighter-than-air sculpture made entirely of recycled plastic bags. You’ll learn the science of thermodynamics, seeing how the sun's heat can lift a massive structure into the sky without any fuel or engines. This isn't just an engineering project; it's a collective piece of "aerosolar" art that proves how we can use clean energy and "waste" materials to achieve incredible things.
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SPace Science
Space Farming
Since we can't haul thousands of bags of potting soil into space, we have to use what’s already there: regolith (space dirt). In this project, you will act as an astro-botanist, planting seeds in simulated Martian and Lunar soil. You’ll monitor their growth over a week to see if these alien environments can actually support life, or if we need to get creative with fertilizers and hydroponics to survive on another world.
Since we can't haul thousands of bags of potting soil into space, we have to use what’s already there: regolith (space dirt). In this project, you will act as an astro-botanist, planting seeds in simulated Martian and Lunar soil. You’ll monitor their growth over a week to see if these alien environments can actually support life, or if we need to get creative with fertilizers and hydroponics to survive on another world.
Martian Atmosphere Chamber
The air on Mars is 95% carbon dioxide and incredibly thin, nothing like the oxygen-rich atmosphere we enjoy on Earth. You will design and construct a CO2 chamber that mimics these harsh conditions. By sealing this environment and controlling the gas levels, you can test how different materials or even plants react to the carbon-heavy air of our neighbor planet.
The air on Mars is 95% carbon dioxide and incredibly thin, nothing like the oxygen-rich atmosphere we enjoy on Earth. You will design and construct a CO2 chamber that mimics these harsh conditions. By sealing this environment and controlling the gas levels, you can test how different materials or even plants react to the carbon-heavy air of our neighbor planet.
Weather Balloon Satellite
You will use Raspberry Pi computers and various sensors to build a high-altitude data logger. Your mission is to program the device to survive the journey and record altitude, barometric pressure, and temperature in real-time. It’s a crash course in coding and aerospace engineering and your final product will be launched into near space this summer!
You will use Raspberry Pi computers and various sensors to build a high-altitude data logger. Your mission is to program the device to survive the journey and record altitude, barometric pressure, and temperature in real-time. It’s a crash course in coding and aerospace engineering and your final product will be launched into near space this summer!
