The fun in learning

Marisa O’Neil

Giant slides, king-sized bubbles, science projects and lots of

freebies greeted the thousands of students and teachers who flocked

to the first day of this year’s Youth Expo at the fairgrounds Friday.

Now in its 25th year, the expo is meant to celebrate education,

and students’ and teachers’ accomplishments. The fair continues

throughout the weekend with games, exhibitions, performances and

interactive exhibits. On Friday, students taking field trips from 50

area schools got the first look at what it had to offer.

“I liked making candy and getting free stuff,” said 10-year-old

Brandon Kingsley, visiting from California Elementary School. “I got

an eraser, paper, crayons, notebook, crayons, coloring books,

flashlight ... “

Brandon stopped by the Costa Mesa Police Department’s booth, and

after a struggle managed to hoist a heavy ballistic shield -- used by

SWAT officers -- almost as big as he was. Other students gathered

around a police helicopter and a booth with body armor, a canine

officer and SWAT officers.

At the Newport Beach Lifeguards’ booth, eight Sonora Elementary

School students tested the strength of a personal watercraft

outfitted for rescues. They climbed on top, hung off the back and

rocked the craft back and forth as they giggled with delight.

Children got to take out their frustration and test their handyman

skills with the Building Industry Assn. of Southern California. While

high school students worked to build a small barn, their younger

counterparts grabbed a hammer, nails and safety goggles and headed to

some wooden blocks, already ridden with nails -- some twisted and

bent, some properly hammered.

Edwin Salazar, a 7-year-old College Park Elementary School

student, hammered his first nail ever, and didn’t even bang his

thumb. But better than that, he said, was seeing his blue

ribbon-winning artwork displayed in the school projects showcase.

“They love to come see their projects,” said Joan Hamill, director

of community relations for the fairgrounds. “It’s exciting to see

them run over and see if they got a ribbon.”

The expo still has animal exhibits -- a nod to its genesis as a

4-H event -- as well as a jazz festival, rock climbing, pony rides,

inflatable bouncers and slides and interactive science displays.

Teachers can pick up free materials at the education resource center.

Student science projects are also on display, such as a scooter

that converts into a rolling backpack and an automated toilet paper

dispenser.

“I love coming here,” California Elementary parent chaperon Julene

DeArakal said. “I love to see how creative [the students] are.”

But all the sliding, riding, lifting and hammering, is enough to

make anyone hungry. Food like kettle corn, nachos and hot dogs are

available for sale from local nonprofit groups.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.