Mt. Pleasant Classical Academy

Today we spent walking across the Indiana University campus. IU is a beautiful campus with stone buildings, immense trees, and all set on rolling hills. On Thursday and Friday before the competition, the various departments roll out the red carpet for the 5000 students and ‘teachers’ with lectures, demonstrations, and tours of their facilities. It is a unique experience for both camps. Like last year’s visit to U of IL ScienceKid finally found other people who passionately discussed science-intense topics with him such as salt-solubility and its affect on freezing points. He loves discussing these topics in-depth and often cannot understand why others do not share his passion. At least at the National Science Olympiad he meets others who do share his science passion.

We also checked-out each of his competition sites. Storm the Castle will be held in a huge pavilion with 72′ high ceilings. Wheeled Vehicle is taking place on a basketball court, in a room with 5 basketball courts, in a building that has dozen and dozen of basketball courts. Did you know that IU is a basketball power-house? We did, but I was still surprised by all the basketball courts. Mission Possible (Rube Goldberg device) is being held in the same building as Wheeled Vehicle and of course in a room with a basketball court. Finally Meteorology is in a classroom, in the Chemistry building which we will check out on Friday.

After the tours all the NSO students were invited to a Pizza Party on one of the many open grassy areas on the IU campus. The party was hindered at the start by a typical mid-west thunderstorm, but when the sun emerged the pizza eating kids turned to the enjoy the various inflatable fun toys the IU folks provided. Kids did Bungi Runs, or enjoyed the Moon Bounce or wrestling toys. Of course there were Freesbies, and ball games, and all sorts of fun going on across the field.

The fun didn’t end there. In the evening we enjoyed 2 more lectures; one on Andredoids, and the other on Planetary Protection by NASA. Finally we headed back to the hotel where the kids played in the pool while I relaxed in a chair.

One day to go! We’ll spend it visiting the Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Astronomy Departments, and end the day participating in Opening Ceremonies.