A few months ago, I wrote a post about a new contest from PBS Kids called Trash to Treasure that challenges kids to recycle, reuse and re-engineer everyday materials into new inventions. Well, I don't know about you but with school, spring soccer, and the general craziness of Earth Day activities in the spring, I was a little busy. So I was happy to hear that the contest is still going on and it might just be the cure for many kids' summertime boredom blues. Here are the details.

 

PBS wants kids aged 5-19 to spend their summer vacation recycling, reusing, and re-engineering everyday materials to create the next great green invention — and they want to see the results. Their nationwide Trash to Treasure competition will send three young innovators on a trip to Boston to see their designs built, and the kids may even get an opportunity to appear on the "Design Squad" show.

 

The rules are simple. The invention should fit within one of  three categories: move things or people (Mobility), protect the environment (Environmental), or be used for indoor or outdoor play (Play). The invention also needs to be made of at least two repurposed materials (such as fabric, paper, plastic, small electronics, wheels, clamps, springs, batteries, hardware, wood, bike parts, string, rubber bands, cardboard, kitchen gadgets, etc.) Kids will be given online tools to sketch out their ideas or upload a photo. (Kids don't need to actually build their inventions to enter.)

 

Entries are due on Sept. 5, 2010.  Check out PBS Kids Trash to Treasure Competition for more details.