It's finally here! 
 This is the information you've been waiting for.
Information for Inventors
in Grades K to 3
First Update - 2016 
If you are the PARENT of a student in grades K to 3 going to the CIC Finals on April 30, please print and read this information, including this Photo/Video Permission Form.  

If you are a TEACHER of that student, please print this email and the Photo/Video Permission Form and send them home with the student.  

SPECIAL REQUEST- WE NEED YOUR HELP:   We have been sending emails to all the parents and teachers of all registered students, but we know that due to spam filters, not all of our messages are getting through. So, If you know of a student who has been registered for the CIC Finals, please ask them if they have gotten this information. If they haven't, then please give them a copy of this message and the Photo/Video Permission Form
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Hello 2016 Connecticut Invention Convention Inventor! 

Congratulations on being selected to participate in the 33rd Annual Connecticut Invention Convention! We can't wait to welcome you and hundreds of other student inventors in grades K-8 to the University of Connecticut in Storrs, on Saturday, April 30, 2016, starting with Check-In at 7:30 am at the Student Union, UConn, Storrs. 

Keep this email for your reference. 

SCHEDULE 
Here are the highlights of the day.     
  7:30 -   9:00 am   Inventor Check-In and display set-up 
10:00 - 11:15 am   Opening Ceremony in the Grand Ballroom and 
   then the Judging Circles begin in room 304
11:15 - 12:15 pm   Public Viewing of inventions   
12:15 -   1:15 pm   Awards Ceremony   

FOOD AND LUNCH

PICNIC LUNCH:   You can bring your own packed lunch into the Student Union and eat it there.

STUDENT UNION:   The Student Union has a wide variety quick-serve restaurants in the first floor Food Court. 

FOOD TRUCKS:   Some food trucks will be parked outside of the Student Union that will offer a limited variety of foods for sale.

CO-OP CAFE:   There is a small cafe in the Co-Op building next to Gampel that has food for sale.

GAMPEL:  According to Gampel policy, outside food and water are NOT allowed inside of the building.  This rule will be enforced by UConn staff and you will not be allowed to bring any outside food or water into the Gampel building.

DIRECTIONS

UNLOADING AND PARKING
UConn policy forbids the unloading of cars or buses in front of the Student Union on Hillside Road. Click here for campus map

CARS:  If you are coming by car, the best thing to do would be to  park in Lot 9 and walk up Hillside Road to the Student Union. Or you can drive past the Student Union on Hillside Road, take the first right on to Calhoun Way and turn left into the South Parking Garage, where you can park for $5. (cash only, payable on entry). When in doubt, ask the CIC Volunteers in yellow shirts for help.

BUS:  There is a special place for buses to unload. All buses should drive down Hillside Road, go past Gampel and take a right on Calhoun Way.  Look for the signs and the CIC volunteers in yellow shirts, who will direct the buses where to go to unload.

SPECIAL NEEDS:  There are ADA compliant parking spaces in front of the Student Union and within the South Garage.

If you truly have trouble walking or you have a very heavy invention, you can unload in the coned area at the side of Gampel Pavilion on Calhoun Way. But you can NOT park or even spend any small length of time idling there. All you will be allowed to do is unload the car and then drive away to park.


INVENTOR CHECK-IN   
  1. Arrive between 7:30 and 9:00 am 
  2. Please remember to bring your invention, display board, invention logbook and photo/video permission form.    
  3. Once you get to Student Union with your invention, find the Check-In table labeled with the first letter of your last name. 
  4. Look for the signs indicating which table to go to. Your Check-In materials are at the table designated by the first letter of your last name.
  5. Once you have checked in, you will be given a Check-In envelope containing a program book, the location of your Judging Circle, and further directions. 
All students attending the CIC Finals must turn in this filled out and signed Photo/Video Permission form when they Check-In on the event day. This form is their admittance ticket and without it, they will NOT be admitted to the event or allowed to compete in the program. Please print out this form and make sure that all parents/guardians get it and understand that that their students must have it with them when they come to the CIC Finals. 

SET UP 
  1. Set up your invention at your assigned Circle, which is printed on the label of your Check-In envelope. A floor diagram showing the locations of all the Circles is in the program book in the envelope. 
  2. Keep your invention size and weight reasonable because there are stairs. There is an elevator, but it's slow. Make a smaller model, if needed.   
  3. Students will share table space with 8 fellow inventors. Please be courteous with spacing by placing large inventions on the floor. DURING YOUR JUDGING TIME, YOU MAY OPEN UP YOUR DISPLAY FOR BETTER VIEWING. After your invention is judged, allow your neighbor the same privilege.   
  4. Electrical outlets will be available only at selected locations. If your invention requires electricity, please bring a long extension cord (at least 10' long or longer) and power strip, just in case.   
  5. Inventions relating to animals may NOT include live animals. You may bring a TOY animal to demonstrate the use, if you wish.  
  6. Liquids are not permitted. If your invention involves liquids, then just pretend that the liquid is there or take a picture or video before hand to show the judges.
  7. Once your invention and display is set up, you can also use your free time to visit all the other inventions and other displays in the Student Union. 
OPENING CEREMONY in Grand Ballroom
The Opening Ceremony in the Grand Ballroom begins promptly at 10 am. Please reserve the first 3 rows of seats for the Judges.
 
JUDGING CIRCLE PERIOD 

PARENTS AND TEACHERS:   Judging Circles will start shortly after 10:00 am and go until 11:15 am. Parents may remain in the Student Union, but can not be in the Judging Circle room. Call us by Wednesday 4/27 to discuss any special arrangements that may be necessary.  For security reasons, we do not allow students to leave the J udging Circles unless escorted by one of our volunteers. So, please have students use "the facilities" before judging. After the Judging period is over, students must be picked up at their Judging Circles by parents or chaperones.   

INVENTORS:   Judging at CIC is very interactive. The entire group of inventors and judges will look at and discuss each invention together. Be ready to tell how you got your idea, how you developed the invention, and any problems you had along the way. This period is really a "sharing of ideas", rather than a "judging."
 
SPECTATORS
The CIC Finals is free for anyone to attend as a spectator. Parents, siblings, relatives, friends and teachers are all welcome. Bring everyone to share in the fun and excitement. 

AWARDS CEREMONY
At 12:15 pm, the Awards Ceremony will begin in the Grand Ballroom. Recognized Inventors from each Judging Circle are announced. Remember, the top inventors of local conventions are selected to attend this convention, so all of the students are already winners in our eyes and will each will leave the event with a T-shirt and hat, which they can wear proudly back at school!

INVENTORS, PARENTS, FAMILIES AND TEACHERS:   Sit in any of the Ballroom seats. Please do NOT move the seats.

INVENTORS:   Please come to the podium quickly, if your name is called. We are looking forward to meeting all of you and hope that your experience will be rewarding and valuable.  

NEED TO LEAVE EARLY?
If you need to leave early, you can take your invention anytime after the Judging Circles are over at 11:15 am.

VISITING GAMPEL  
Everyone is invited to visit Gampel where the inventors in grades 4 to 8 are displaying their inventions. You can look at their inventions during their Public Viewing period from 12 noon to 1:30 pm and you can also visit the many exciting engineering exhibits and demonstrations at any time.

AWARDS CEREMONY:  You are also welcome to attend the Gampel Awards Ceremony for grades 4 to 8, which will begin at 1:30 pm.

NOTE:  Please remember that you will NOT be allowed to bring any outside food or drink into the Gampel building.


QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS 
If you have any questions,  call our CIC voice mailbox at  860-793-5299 and leave a message with your day and evening phone numbers. (Please say the numbers slowly and clearly.)  
 
Or you can email us at     [email protected]
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Connecticut Invention Convention
P. O. Box 230311
Hartford, Connecticut 06123-0311
Connecticut Invention Convention
(860) 793-5299