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Last updated 11-Sep-2024 (be sure to refresh your browser)
For many of our most devoted young fans Cool Science Carnival Day for Kids IS the festival! Carnival Day at UCCS (even though it wasn't called that yet) actually began in 2009, and was such a huge hit that it was a no-brainer when we decided to expand it the following year to create the multi-day celebration of all things STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) that we all enjoy now. Cool Science Carnival Day for Kids at UCCS is truly STEAM on steroids! As always there will be several exciting demonstration shows, including our own USAFA Professor Emeritus and Cool Science co-founder Dr. Ron Furstenau performing his popular Chemistry Magic show with lots of color changing "potions" and explosions! 
Chemistry Magic Show with Dr. Ron
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If You're Going
What: Cool Science Carnival Day for Kids When: Saturday, Sep. 28, 2024 10am-4pm Where: Univ of Colorado- Colo Spgs 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy., Colorado Springs (map) Who: Primarily for kids K-8th (fun for all!) Why: Because STEAM Rocks! How: With your help, please donate below |
But there's a lot more than just shows on Carnival Day! We'll have dozens of hands-on STEAM activity stations featuring rockets, lots of robots, race cars, virtual and augmented reality stations, telescopes, and much, much more! Our lineup will begin to take shape later this summer, but in the meantime you can check out last year's Carnival Day activities and photos for an idea of what to expect.
All of this is presented by Cool Science and dozens of participating companies, schools, museums, clubs, nonprofits and other organizations from throughout eastern Colorado. Best of all, it's FREE (including parking) and fun for all ages!
Don't forget that Carnival Day is just one of dozens of great Colorado Springs Cool Science Festival events for all ages. Check out the full 16+ day schedule for more information.
You can also join our mailing list to keep updated on the festival and Carnival Day.
We still need lots of help to pull this off. Ask about volunteer opportunities for groups and individuals.
Don't forget that Carnival Day is just one of dozens of great Colorado Springs Cool Science Festival events for all ages. Check out the full 16+ day schedule for more information.
You can also join our mailing list to keep updated on the festival and Carnival Day.
We still need lots of help to pull this off. Ask about volunteer opportunities for groups and individuals.
Help us promote Carnival Day
Cool Science Carnival Day Save-the-Date Flyer (640KB JPG)
Planning Your Visit
- Pre-Registration: Carnival Day is FREE, but please pre-register online to help us to know how many people are coming, kid's ages and how you found out about the event. It only takes a couple minutes.
- Pre-Arrival: If you like to prepare for big events in advance, you can download a copy of our Carnival Day Map/Flyer (coming soon) to plan your route through all the fun activities.
- Best Time to Come: We expect about 7,000 people to attend throughout the day, so it's always best to arrive earlier.
- Parking: All campus parking lots are FREE on Carnival Day, but fill up quickly. Note that you may want to park in Lots 471, 571 and 572 on the West campus (off Nevada Ave.) and catch our shuttle to the central campus. Check the campus parking map for more information.
- Shuttle: We are planning to provide a shuttle between the activities on the Central and West campus areas. More information coming soon.
- Arrival/Information: Our activities will be spread across much of the UCCS Central (main) campus, inside and outside the University Center (UCTR), Centennial Hall (CENT), Gallogly Events Center (GEC), Osborne Center (OCSE), and the new Anschutz Engineering Center (AEC). We will have maps and volunteers to assist you at the main entrances to each of these buildings, but a good place to start is the University Center Lower Plaza Information Table (just to the right of "KFL" on this campus map).
- Food: We expect the University Center food court, Cafe 65, will be open until 2pm as well as the coffee shop, also in the University Center. The variety and quantity of food available may be limited, however, so you may want to bring your own snacks.
- Weather: We'll go rain or shine. If it is raining, snowing or extremely cold we will move most of the outside activities indoors, and of course the majority of our activity stations are already indoors.
- Social Media: Help us spread the word. Please share this page with your friends (Facebook "Like" and "Share" buttons above) and share your comments and photos with us on our Carnival Day Facebook event page (and be sure to Like us on our Facebook page too). We're also on Instagram and TikTok. Use the hashtag #CSCSF. BTW we post a cool STEAM activity that we like from the internet every day on our Facebook page- check it out and give us a Like!
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Some T-shirts from previous years may be available for a reduced donation.
* Please help us keep this event admission FREE *
Suggested donation $2/child ($5/family)
Donate at Information Tables (cash only) or online through ColoradoGives
Suggested donation $2/child ($5/family)
Donate at Information Tables (cash only) or online through ColoradoGives
Demonstration Shows, Labs, Tours and Workshops:
* More coming soon *
Cool Science and the U.S. Air Force Academy: Chemistry Magic Show
Show Times: coming soon (~50 minutes)
Always a fan favorite, experience the wonders of chemistry with our own Dr. Ron Furstenau performing his signature magic show for all ages. "Potions" will change colors, explode and even freeze right before your eyes (all ages, Centennial 203).
Black's Magic Productions: The Science of Magic / The Magic of Science!!
Show Times: coming soon (~50 minutes)
Master Magician Bruce Black will present a fun, educational magic show that demonstrates scientific principles AND actually teaches a few magic tricks by looking at the scientific principles behind some famous magic illusions. (all ages, location TBD).
UCCS Chemistry and Biochemistry Dept.: Chemical Illusions (A Chemistry Magic Show)
Performance Times: coming soon (~50 minutes)
Dr. Elise Naughton and her students from the UCCS Chemistry Dept. demonstrates her own take on the magic of chemistry, including rainbow fire, flaming gummy bears, an electric pickle, a genie in a bottle and of course, Elephant's Toothpaste, all while spotlighting very special elements from the Periodic Table! (all ages, Centennial 203).
U.S. Air Force Academy Physics: Physics is Phun!
Show Times: coming soon (~45 minutes)
Watch- and experience- the amazing power of physics with a variety of static electricity and magnetic fields demonstrations. Between shows you can try out some of the equipment yourself! (all ages, location TBD).
Pitch Peak Acapella Club: Pitch Peak Acapella Performance
Performance Time: coming soon (~45 minutes)
Enjoy an acapella performance from Pitch Peak, the official competing acapella club of University of Colorado Colorado Springs, working to foster friendship through singing (all ages, location TBD).
UCCS Computer Science Bioinformatics Lab: Artificial Intelligence in the World of Biology
Presentation Times: 11:00 am; 12:00 and 1:00 pm (~40 minutes)
The Future is Now: Super Smart Computers Meet Super Cool Biology. This workshop will explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in computational genomics and unveil how advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques are being harnessed to decode complex biological data, offer insights into genetic structures and functions, enhance our understanding of genetic diseases and pave the way for personalized medicine. (best for high school students and adults, OCSE - A210).
Show Times: coming soon (~50 minutes)
Always a fan favorite, experience the wonders of chemistry with our own Dr. Ron Furstenau performing his signature magic show for all ages. "Potions" will change colors, explode and even freeze right before your eyes (all ages, Centennial 203).
Black's Magic Productions: The Science of Magic / The Magic of Science!!
Show Times: coming soon (~50 minutes)
Master Magician Bruce Black will present a fun, educational magic show that demonstrates scientific principles AND actually teaches a few magic tricks by looking at the scientific principles behind some famous magic illusions. (all ages, location TBD).
UCCS Chemistry and Biochemistry Dept.: Chemical Illusions (A Chemistry Magic Show)
Performance Times: coming soon (~50 minutes)
Dr. Elise Naughton and her students from the UCCS Chemistry Dept. demonstrates her own take on the magic of chemistry, including rainbow fire, flaming gummy bears, an electric pickle, a genie in a bottle and of course, Elephant's Toothpaste, all while spotlighting very special elements from the Periodic Table! (all ages, Centennial 203).
U.S. Air Force Academy Physics: Physics is Phun!
Show Times: coming soon (~45 minutes)
Watch- and experience- the amazing power of physics with a variety of static electricity and magnetic fields demonstrations. Between shows you can try out some of the equipment yourself! (all ages, location TBD).
Pitch Peak Acapella Club: Pitch Peak Acapella Performance
Performance Time: coming soon (~45 minutes)
Enjoy an acapella performance from Pitch Peak, the official competing acapella club of University of Colorado Colorado Springs, working to foster friendship through singing (all ages, location TBD).
UCCS Computer Science Bioinformatics Lab: Artificial Intelligence in the World of Biology
Presentation Times: 11:00 am; 12:00 and 1:00 pm (~40 minutes)
The Future is Now: Super Smart Computers Meet Super Cool Biology. This workshop will explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in computational genomics and unveil how advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques are being harnessed to decode complex biological data, offer insights into genetic structures and functions, enhance our understanding of genetic diseases and pave the way for personalized medicine. (best for high school students and adults, OCSE - A210).
Special Sensory-Friendly Cooling Station:
Need a break from the excitement? The Kraemer Family Library provides sensory-friendly spaces for families to use. This is not actually an activity station, we just want to make families aware that they are welcome to use the library space during the festival. (And after too!)
The second floor is our collaborative area- no shushing here. Grab a snack and a fidget toy at the circulation desk (by the El Pomar Plaza entrance.) Relax anywhere in the library- there are modular furniture options around this floor as well as two soundproof pods in our Learning Commons (by the University Center entrance.) On this floor we have children, teen, comics, and board game collections which attendees are welcome to browse and use while attending the festival.
The third floor is our quiet space. There are two reflection rooms which can accommodate 1 - 4 people with dim lighting, comfortable chairs, and gentle activities on the eastern side of the library, one flight up from the University Center entrance.
The second floor is our collaborative area- no shushing here. Grab a snack and a fidget toy at the circulation desk (by the El Pomar Plaza entrance.) Relax anywhere in the library- there are modular furniture options around this floor as well as two soundproof pods in our Learning Commons (by the University Center entrance.) On this floor we have children, teen, comics, and board game collections which attendees are welcome to browse and use while attending the festival.
The third floor is our quiet space. There are two reflection rooms which can accommodate 1 - 4 people with dim lighting, comfortable chairs, and gentle activities on the eastern side of the library, one flight up from the University Center entrance.
Hands-on Activity Stations:
* More coming soon *
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Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning: Build and launch your own straw rocket, then use additional materials to improve your rocket’s propulsion. AIAA Rocky Mountain Section: Learn about rocketry as engineers from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) help you experiment launching foam rockets. American Numismatic Association - The Money Museum: Learn how money has taken many forms through the ages and play a fun, interactive game to guess the quantity of "money" in various containers. Beth-El/Johnson Simulation Learning Center (UCCS) : Meet a robotic patient and use a simulated stethoscope to solve the case of the mysterious illness, then make simulated wounds. Boy Scouts of America Pathway to the Rockies Council: Build a LEGO racer to test on our racetrack, and learn how to leave no trace in the woods. Cave of the Winds: Learn how some caves and rocks form with our Geology Lab, and some of the critters you might find in a cave. Challenger Colorado: We'll engage the next generation of explorers with Micro Explorations activities from the IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe). Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: [10am to 2pm only] Interact with live animals and touchable biofacts from the ZOOMobile. You might meet snakes, hedgehogs, lizards, or who knows what else. City of Colorado Springs - Archeology: Learn about early history in some of the artifacts and archeology of Colorado Springs and Garden of the Gods. Civil Air Patrol - Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron: Cadets will help you build your own paper rocket and launch it with compressed air to fly 300 feet down range- or it may blow up on the launch pad! Civil Air Patrol - Pikes Peak Composite Squadron: Learn how airplanes fly, Bernoulli's Principle and the Coanda Effect with Bournoulli Bags, hair dryers and fun demonstrations. Club for the Future: Write or draw a postcard to send into space on Blue Origin's New Shepherd rocket. When it lands your postcard will be stamped "Flown to Space" and mailed to you as a space souvenir. Colorado Melanoma Foundation - The Sun Bus: Check your skin health with a UV camera and learn about sun safety while you make your own UV bracelet. Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Experience why the wildlife and fish native to Colorado are so important at this hands-on activity station with live fish. Colorado Springs Astronomical Society: Safely observe the sun's surface and its atmosphere using our special filtered telescopes. We'll also hand out free solar viewers and UV bead bracelets. Colorado Springs Fire Department: [10am to noon only] Get up close and personal as CSFD firefighters demonstrate the equipment and capabilities of their fire engine. Colorado Springs Utilities: You're a cathodic protection engineer for the day to determine which metal is the best sacrificial anode to protect pipes from rusting. Concrete Couch: Do you know how your bicycle works? Learn the physics and engineering behind gears, derailleurs, brakes and other mechanical components to keep your bike in tip-top shape. Cool Science: Learn about various types of bridges and how they work and handle heavy loads, then try to build your own. Cougars Gone Wired (D11 FIRST Robotics Team): Play robot soccer with Vex IQ robots while the team demonstrates their full-size 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition robot that shoots foam rings to play "catch" with guests. Crew Concept, Inc.: We'll demonstrate Drone Soccer- similar Quidditch except pilots operate remote-controlled aircraft. As the only full-contact flying sport, competitions are fast-paced and spectator friendly! Donor Alliance: Play with Charlie, a life-size operation game to learn about transplantable organs, hold real human organs, examine eye specimens, and so much more! Eagleview Middle School Robotics: Team members will demonstrate their Spike Prime Robot for the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Innovation project. El Paso County Nature Centers: Use magnifying glasses and microscopes to examine some of the unique tiny creatures often overlooked in our ponds and streams. El Pomar Foundation's Penrose Heritage Museum: Experience earlier forms of writing and communication with ink dip pens and a typewriter that you can use to add to our ongoing story throughout the day. Emerge Aquaponics: Come see the amazing adventure of aquaponics- fish, plants and microorganisms working together to create sustainability in Colorado and around the world. Exploration Summit: Find out what's coming to Colorado Springs at Exploration Summit! Explore the microscopic world with our digital microscope and create a DIY Music Box Girl Scouts of Colorado: Experiment with static electricity using balloons. GO TEAM Therapy, Airport and Crisis Dogs: Visit with our very special dogs. Henry Elementary School (D-11): Try your hand at programming Ozobots and Sphero Indis using color codes. You will also observe a 3D printer making objects designed by students at Henry Elementary. iFLY Colorado Springs: Learn about the forces that make indoor skydiving possible with our mini wind tunnel! You’ll see lightweight balls floating effortlessly, demonstrating the physics of how skydivers can hover, move, and perform tricks in mid-air. Inventa Academy: Come play with real mechanical components in vehicles- build and examine gear boxes, take apart a motor head and see how all the pieces fit together to make cars run. Keysight Technologies: * Festival Sponsor * Experience and build electrical engineering-based activities such as electronic circuit games, solar panels, an oscilloscope demonstration with musical instruments, an LED light show with digital signals and programming, hand-held microscopes, and more! |
League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region: Rock the Vote! Learn about the importance of voting for STEAM education while you paint a rock. Lockheed Martin: Put on a special headset to space based virtual reality scenes, then experience forces and acceleration by taking a ride on a rocket sled powered by you! Manitou Springs High School Robotics: The team will demonstrate their FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge robots, and even let you drive some. Mathnasium Rockrimmon: Learn how physics and math come into play as you experiment building a rocket with film canisters and Alka-Seltzer tablets. Missile Defense Agency: Learn about controlled flight while designing, building and launching your own inflatable missile, hoop glider or gyrocopter. National Museum of World War II Aviation: Build and test-fly a foam plane that showcases the physics of flight, then take it with you for more fun at home! Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center: Explore our skins and skulls touch table, learn about our resident raptors and even meet and greet with some live birds of prey (OCSE B213). Pikes Peak Library District: Join in an exploration of force, motion, and visual effects as you create an optical illusion Penny Spinner, and even take a spin yourself. Pikes Peak Mycological Society: Examine several types of Colorado mushrooms and learn how to find them in the wild. We'll also demonstrate how fungi are farmed in our fungus habitat. Pikes Peak Regional Science and Engineering Fair: Middle and high school science fair participants will present their projects and explain the difference between a science demonstration and an experiment. Pikes Peak Soap Box Derby: See the internal workings of a Soap Box Derby car cut in half then take a gravity-propelled ride in a real derby car to get the feel of racing. Pikes Peak State College Engineering: Play with ping pong launchers and mouse trap cars. Come by and try to launch the ball to hit the target! Polly Hollyoke (Disney Children's Author): Learn to echolocate like a dolphin while blindfolded- wind your way through various sea creatures to get to your salmon dinner. Rebecca Boyle (Science Journalist and Author): Learn about Earth's biggest satellite- our Moon- from a science journalist who wrote a whole book about it, then turn Oreo cookies into moon phases. Rocky Mountain Robotics: Meet the students from ASD-20's robotics team as they demonstrate this year's FIRST Robotics competition robot and show you how they built it. Schriever SFB School Liaison Program: Use iPads to navigate a Sphero robot around ramps on our obstacle course. Southeast Colorado Renewable Energy Society (SECRES): Use the sun's energy to cook S'Mores, and learn about solar thermal, photovoltaic (PV) and other renewable energy technologies. Space Foundation Discovery Center: Explore bubbles like you've never seen before! Hold one of these mind-blowing, smoke-filled, bouncing bubbles in your hand as you learn about the science of sublimation! That Science Fairy: 3 simple pre-K math activities to encourage counting and fractions - Walk Clock, Halves to Sleep, and Muffin Tins. Trailblazer Elementary School: Participate in a scavenger hunt for local flora and fauna to practice your map reading and making skills, and discover the importance of the community organizations and members that live in this environment. U.S. Air Force Academy 94th Flying Training Squadron: Climb into a real USAF glider just like the ones Academy cadets use to learn the basic principles of flying at the largest glider operation in the world. U.S. Air Force Academy Biotechnology: Cadets will teach about biocementation basics and provide hands on exploration and activities with bioengineering. U.S Air Force Academy Computer and Cyber Sciences: Learn how to crack codes and transmit secret messages; sing along with an AI humanoid robot; and program simple computer animations and Arduino robots. U.S. Army 1-41IN, Fort Carson: Soldiers from Ft. Carson will demonstrate some of their armored vehicles, mortar systems, and protective gear. U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Play some fun games to learn about protecting our environment. UC Health: Learn about the cardiovascular system and how your heart pumps blood through your body. UCCS American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics:
UCCS Cyber Security Programs Office: Learn about Cybersecurity- what it is, and the jobs it offers- through games, activities, career guidance, prizes, and several VR (virtual reality) stations. UCCS Data Driven Modeling Lab: Create a Sorting Hat and use it to train a machine learning model to recognize language and quotes from various Harry Potter characters. UCCS MAE Machine Shop: Take a tour of the Engineering Machine Shop- see lathes, mills, 3D printers, and have fun with penny catapults. UCCS Natural History Museum: See more than 800 skeletons, skulls, and preserved specimens ranging from hippos to a saber-toothed tiger, and hands-on activities including owl pellet dissections, track and skull identification games and more! (Osborne OCSE B402). We're Cookin' Now! presented by Chef's Kitchen: Watch our expert's culinary demonstrations then become a young chef and try some kitchen chemistry of your own. Zometool: The Heart of STEAM Zometool turns quantum math into child’s play. Learn about space, the infinitely dimensional universe and how time does not exist - or just build incredibly beautiful models! |
Colorado Springs Cool Science Carnival Day Sponsors
Colorado Springs Cool Science Carnival Day Partners
Thanks to all of our Cool Science volunteers and the participating organizations that make Carnival Day possible!
Disclaimer: Please be aware that by attending this event, you consent to your likeness being used, without compensation, in photography for use in any and all media, whether known or subsequent. You release Cool Science, its successors, assigns and licensees from any liability whatsoever of any nature.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that by attending this event, you consent to your likeness being used, without compensation, in photography for use in any and all media, whether known or subsequent. You release Cool Science, its successors, assigns and licensees from any liability whatsoever of any nature.
