Youth Expo Builds a Bridge to Knowledge

The two girls knelt in front of boards, determined to drive in the nails with their heavy hammers.

Leticia Hercules, 9, was faring better than her friend. She had pounded her nail nearly all the way through while her schoolmate worked to extract a bent nail.

Leticia removed her protective glasses. “My eyes are getting sweaty,” she said, wiping the not-quite sweat off her brow.

The third-graders were being helped Friday by Katella High School students, whose construction skills were on display along with the scientific, artistic and athletic leanings of thousands of Orange County students from all grades at the Youth Expo. The three-day annual event, showcasing 10,000 projects, is expected to draw 25,000 people to the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, said Joan Hamill, director of community relations for the Orange County Fair.

The crowd of mostly elementary-aged children, their parents and teachers moved eagerly from the dozens of booths and exhibits -- from the fluffy, brown bunny in the farm area that munched contentedly on a carrot provided by a thoughtful student to the young girl happily screaming as she swung from a bungee-like carnival ride.

According to expo regular Denise Perez, the happenings are much better this year.

“Last year it was boring but now there’s more rides and you can do more things,” the third-grader said. As she spoke, Denise waited her turn to climb the ladder to the top of the castle for a better look of the expo so she could decide where to go next.

In Wild Science, students created bubbles as big as themselves, played with giant Lego blocks and tested their arms in the softball toss. The experience met with 10-year-old Kahla Freeman’s approval: “I love it here because you learn so many things and experience things you never saw.”

Her only complaint was having to pay for face-painting. “All of us should be able to get our faces painted,” Kahla said. “Some people can’t afford it and it’s not much work to have everyone painted.”

Bryant Trinh, 13, and his pal Richard Vu, 12, hung out by the obstacle course, watching skateboarders maneuver the ramps and rails. Skater Renato Moraes, 23, was happy about the uncritical attention. He said the kids clap easily and they “don’t care if you’re known or not.”

At the Radio Disney booth, Kimberly Esquivel and Karina Pasillas, both 10, shook like mini music video stars in the dance contest. Karina, who said Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez inspire her, demurely accepted her winner’s T-shirt.

Music continued at the Heritage Stage, where about half of the 25 high school jazz bands competing at the expo played Friday. The remaining bands will perform today. The winning band, chosen by local professionals, will receive $500.

Across the walkway, the Science & Engineering Fair attracted small crowds, but the area was among the most impressive. Seventh-grader Melinda Baker was attempting to solve a decades-old mystery: “The Effect of Rope Moisture on the Ignition of the Hindenburg.” She concluded that the line, which touched down first during the airship’s attempted landing in 1937 in Lakehurst, N.J., might have created the spark that led to the explosion that killed 36 people.

Senior Tom Yang’s project tackled “The Effect of Temperature on the Voltage of Potassium Sodium Tartrate [Rochelle Salt] Capitals by the Piezoelectric Effect.”

For those interested in learning what Yang concluded -- or to try your hand at hammering -- the expo continues today and Sunday.