Photos and report by Patric Hedlund

“It floats on water and drives on land,” said Alex Rodrigues, 8 of his “Car Boat,” designed to use wind instead of gasoline.

The Frazier Park School 2012 Invention Convention was churning with bright young inventors on March 29. Name a problem, and there was a solution, all invented and prototyped by the school’s second graders and their families.

Alex Banon-Cline tells a classic inventor’s tale: “I woke up at midnight with the idea.” He said he wrote out the display card and created his “Extendable Fingers” to reach that elusive itch, get things that are hiding under the couch, or to flick a light switch that is just a little too high for a second grader—all before his mom got up in the morning.

Alondra Diaz recalls a rainy day when she was playing outside and her socks got wet. “It felt like mud in my shoes, so my dad and I invented this sock dryer.”

Arlo Cox and his dad created the “Drink Saver,” explaining that “we had a problem with camping water…no cups…so my family made this.”

Daniela Ochoa said her baby sister “was messing up our entire house, so I decided to make my invention, the ‘Toy Picker.’” It has a bin for toys and one for trash, fit onto a stroller.

“I like to play with my dog, but I don’t like to touch his slobbery ball,” said Madalin Bierer, so she created the “Ball Launcher,” to scoop the ball up and throw it to her pooch while still keeping her hands clean.

Dogs were also on Jordan Thomasin’s mind. “Lazy Dog Run and Fun” is his invention. It requires a remote control truck loaded with dog biscuits to keep his pooch actively chasing the toy truck.

Katelyn Bernards was frustrated at the beach. She couldn’t watch sand crabs for more than a minute before they burrowed to escape. “I will make an invention to solve it,” she said, creating a kit with shovel, bucket and crab castle with windows through which she could watch the creatures. Laci White, made a “Chore Bucket” to solve family squabbles, and Sarah Ramirez’ “Laundry Spinner” chooses who is to be next to do the wash.

Sarah Milburn made a pillow puffer when herpil-lows went flat. Daniela Garrido made “Helpful Crutches” with pockets to carry water, snacks and toys when she saw her father unable to hold things while he was using crutches for a bad foot. Bryson Argulo made the “Rip StIck Night Light” for his skateboard. Tony Rias made a careful design for sending coded messages that reveals words only when held at an angle to the eyes of his friends.

Invention Convention is an invigorating display of creativity and fun at Frazier Park School.

This is part of the April 06, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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