This class centers on city planning, civil engineering and good old-fashioned design. Face the LEGO challenge by replicating tall towers, a pagoda roof and an ancient building. After learning about earthquakes and how to construct buildings to withstand them, we’ll team up to build the world’s strongest city, visiting OMSI’s Turbine Hall for information and inspiration.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 8-12 OMSI $275/$325

Part art, science and invention, this class explores Leonardo da Vinci’s ideas and machines. We’ll use LEGO bricks to create a printing press, a rotating bridge and a chariot. Then, using skill and imagination, we’ll make improvements on these important da Vinci creations. We’ll also attempt to solve the “Gear Study,” a da Vinci puzzle that remains unsolved to this day.

Date Location Member/Nonmember June 24-28 OMSI $275/$325

Take your LEGO building knowledge, experience and imagination to the extreme as we build statues, make a working abacus and erect the tallest or strongest structure using the fewest bricks. We’ll use gear trains, simple machines and power transfers to build working motorized carnival rides and visit OMSI’s Turbine Hall for ideas.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 15-19 OMSI $275/$325

Spend a week learning how to design and program a LEGO robot using Mindstorms software. At the end of the week, you can show off your programming skills to your family and friends.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 1-3 (Mon. thru Wed.) OMSI $165/$195 July 15-19 OMSI $275/$325

This advanced class will build on techniques learned in our popular LEGO Robotics class. Students will delve deeper into the world of robotics and become masters of their own LEGO creation. Programming from the new Arduino platform will be incorporated using interactive objects. Note: This advanced class is for students who have completed LEGO Robotics.

Date Location Member/Nonmember Aug 12-16 OMSI $275/$325

Combine structural design concepts with practical engineering to create models of working machines. Face the LEGO engineering challenges of building a functional sumo wrestling robot and constructing a creeping crane.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 1-3 (Mon. thru Wed.) OMSI $165/$195

Join OMSI and the Community Cycling Center to learn how to navigate the city by bike. Students will build on riding skills and learn basic bicycle maintenance and repair. Community Cycling Center instructors will lead students on fun rides to neighborhood parks, supporting the group as they build confidence and skills on the road. Students should know the basics including starting, stopping and riding in a straight line. Ride distances will vary from 4 to 15+ miles, depending on the skill level of the group. A bicycle safety inspection is required prior to the start of class and a multi-gear bike is highly recommended. Participants will receive an email from the Community Cycling Center with more details prior to the class.

Date Location Member/Nonmember June 24-28 OMSI $285/$335

In this digital exploration, girls will design and animate e-cards, create characters for their own web cartoons and music videos. They’ll also use computers, creativity and imagination to design their own worlds and creatures. Note: This class is for students in grades 4-8.

Date Location Member/Nonmember Aug 5-9 OMSI $275/$325 Aug 26-30 OMSI $275/$325

Create your own interactive and animated life story to take home. We’ll check out the coolest cartoons and websites for inspiration and use Flash software on PCs, as we develop the skills to create projects — from an online diary to a silly cartoon.

Date Location Member/Nonmember Aug 12-16 PCC $275/$325

Learn how modern forensic techniques are used to solve crimes. Analyze physical evidence left at a crime scene, learn how to “roll and lift” hidden fingerprints, take shoesole impressions, perform ink chromatography, examine DNA and more. Includes field trips to the Hillsboro Police Department and the Portland Police Museum.

Date Location Member/Nonmember June 24-28 PCC $275/$325 July 15-19 Jesuit High School $275/$325 July 29-Aug 2 Jesuit High School $275/$325 Aug 5-9 PCC $275/$325

Students will design their own original video games, while exploring the world of computers, digital graphics and more. Then, they’ll bring their creations to life with characters that move and interact using Logo-based software on PCs.

Date Location Member/Nonmember June 24-28 OMSI $275/$325 July 15-19 OMSI $275/$325 July 29-Aug 2 OMSI $275/$325

Building on skills learned in Games Galore, students will challenge themselves to learn how computers and keyboards interact to control programs. Using programming tools to add running scores, life meters and other features, students will be able to make their games even more interactive. Note: This advanced class is for students in grades 4–8 who have completed Games Galore.

Date Location Member/Nonmember Aug 12-16 OMSI $275/$325 Aug 19-23 OMSI $275/$325

Experience OMSI’s most popular field trips during a week of action-packed adventure. Each day we’ll “go mobile” with OMSI naturalists as we explore the most fascinating areas around Portland and beyond. An overnight stay at Newport South Beach is included. Our itinerary may require that students leave OMSI by 8 a.m. and return to OMSI later than 4 p.m. Parents will receive the week’s schedule two weeks prior to the first day of class. Each grade range will participate in separate activities each day.

Date Location Member/Nonmember June 17-21 OMSI $300/$350 Aug 26-30 OMSI $300/$350

Explore aviation and then take an amazing glider ride. Learn about the history of volcanoes, then swoop down the alpine slides on Mt Hood. Discuss how lava caves are formed, then venture through the Ape Cave. This class includes an overnight stay at Wildlife Safari in Winston. Our itinerary may require that students leave OMSI by 8 a.m. and return to OMSI later than 4 p.m. Parents will receive the week’s schedule two weeks prior to the first day of class.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 15-19 OMSI $395/$445 July 22-26 OMSI $395/$445

Explore reactions that produce heat and cold, brilliant colors, and spontaneous combustion. Make superballs and learn how to control the amazing power of chemistry. We’ll visit OMSI’s Chemistry Lab to conduct some of our experiments. Safety and proper laboratory techniques will be emphasized.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 8-12 OMSI $275/$325 July 22-26 Jesuit High School $275/$325

Create a working telegraph, personal website, blog and more. We’ll experiment with computer graphics and secret codes, and trace the history of communications from cuneiform to computers.

Date Location Member/Nonmember Aug 5-9 PCC $275/$325

Team up with OMSI marine biologists for an up-close look at our oceans. We’ll travel to the Oregon coast for a personalized whale-watching expedition and spend the night in Newport. There, we’ll observe marine mammals on the shore, and investigate tide pool species to learn how they are specially adapted to life in this dynamic environment.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 29-Aug 2 PCC $300/$350

Animation brings math, science and the creative arts together in extraordinary ways. Experience this expressive medium as we investigate stop-motion techniques and motion picture perspectives. We’ll use digital video cameras, clay sculptures, drawn characters, cutout scenes, found objects and time-lapse portraits during this class. Students will develop ideas, design storyboards, create sets and characters, and produce mini-movies to take home on DVD.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 8-12 OMSI $300/$350 July 29-Aug 2 OMSI $300/$350 Aug 19-23 OMSI $300/$350

Bring your stop-motion ideas and animated designs to this class. Continue a mini-movie or start with a fresh, new project. We’ll sample advanced techniques, develop familiar practices, and continue to welcome all types of skill levels, knowledge and creative styles. Note: This advanced class is for students in grades 4-8 who have completed OMSI Animation.

Do you want to be an astronaut? This class will take you through many of the different training activities that astronauts have conducted for decades. Learn about the history of the space program and what the future holds. Teamwork, mathematics, rocket propulsion and an academy graduation will top off the week’s activities.

Join OMSI and the Community Cycling Center for a bicycle tour adventure. During the first three days of class, students will explore Portland by bike on 15 to 25+ mile rides. On Thursday, we will embark on a 30-mile ride to Stub Stewart State Park to enjoy camping, stories and s’mores by the campfire. We will return to OMSI on Friday. A multi-gear bike, helmet and bicycle safety inspection are required prior to the start of class. Participants will receive an email from the Community Cycling Center with more details prior to the class.

Date Location Member/Nonmember Aug 12-16 OMSI $300/$350

Walk in the footsteps of NASA scientists as we explore our solar system, build rockets and learn about the powerful dynamics of the massive machines that lift the space shuttle into orbit. Investigate the world’s first International Space Station and examine the effects of space travel on the human body. The class includes an overnight trip to the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle for a simulated space mission at the Challenger Learning Center.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 22-26 OMSI $375/$425

Learn how to create your own web page, blog, photo gallery and more. By learning simple, cutting-edge languages and codes that link to computers all over the world, we’ll design web pages where pictures move and stories are told.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 22-26 PCC $275/$325

Create a story on a computer, complete with moving pictures and sounds. Learn to storyboard and design your own dynamic book. Then, using Logo-based software on PCs, we’ll work individually or with partners to draw unique worlds filled with characters that move and do silly, scary or funny things. Note: This class is for students in grades 4-8.

Date Location Member/Nonmember July 8-12 OMSI $275/$325