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Imagination Fair

Home Groups Imagination Fair

Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Imagination Fair 2020

Saturday, April 4, 2020 — 10am-12:30pm

Fantasy Flight Games Center

1½ blocks west of Rosedale Center.
1975 County Road B2 W, Roseville, MN 55113

Imagination Fair 5-Minute Mentors

2020 mentors | 2019 mentors | 2018 mentors | 2017 mentors | 2016 mentors | 2015 mentors | 2014 mentors | About Button Stickers | About Exhibit Catalog | About Advertisements | On the Day of the Fair | Sign Up to Mentor!

 

About the Imagination Fair

The Imagination Fair is the most amazing event ever! It’s more than an art show! More than a science fair! More than a tech fest! The Imagination Fair is a space for homeschooled children of all ages to display, demonstrate, and discuss the products of their creativity. The Imagination Fair was created to accommodate those products of the imagination that fall outside conventional categories of the traditional science fairs, tech fests, and art shows. It’s the perfect place for kids to showcase their “outside the box” creativity!

mentor button stickers

Kids get to present ANYTHING — and the amazing amazingness that the kids create each year always surprise, delight, and inspire — their passions, their hobbies, their interests, and their ideas get showcased in their exhibit! The possibilities are endless. Discover all the past incredible exhibits: 2020, 2018, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.

And then on the day of the event, the thing that makes the Imagination Fair awesomely awesome for the 5-Minute Mentors — the “5 Minute Talks” — that’s when the Mentors get to sit down with the kids and learn all about their big ideas — what they created, how they created it, why they created it, what they learned creating it, what they love about what they created, what they hate about it, what they’re going to create next. These mind-blowing short talks will leave you gobsmacked by all the astonishingly inventive ingenuity and resourceful innovations of the exhibitors.

But there’s more! After that wonderfully magnificent conversation, each 5-Minute Mentor places a colorful and unique “button sticker” on the Exhibitor’s participation certificate, creating a frame-worthy keepsake unique for each child.

And that’s not all! There’s the Exhibit Catalog! Yet another keepsake to showcase all the incredible big ideas! There’s a photo of each Exhibitor or of their project with a bio or a description of their project — or both! Plus there’s a photo and bio of each of all the wonderful 5-Minute Mentors so the kids can discover what inspires all the amazing people who sat down to learn all about what inspired them!

Expect to have a great time! You get to talk to kids about what they love! You’ll be inspired, excited, amazed and energized!

About Mentors and Mentoring

5-Minute Mentors are members of the community who have signed up to come and talk to Exhibitors about the products of their imaginations. These are homeschooling parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, homeschool teachers and tutors, and other interested members of the community.

Qualifications: The only requirement to volunteer as a 5-Minute Mentor is that you be comfortable with talking to children about their big ideas.

We are aware that Mentor is not quite the right word for this, but we couldn’t come up with a better one.

3D Printers

How do I sign up to be a 5-Minute Mentor?

Lightning Boat | IF2018

To volunteer to participate as a 5-Minute Mentor, you can either ....

  1. Sign up via email
    1. Send an email telling us of your interest.
    2. We’ll get back to you with the details we need for the Exhibit Catalog and your “Mentor Button Sticker”
  2. Sign up online
    1. Sign up by completing the online form.
    2. You’ll be able to come back and add to or edit your entry — up until the Exhibit Catalog goes to the printers.

Deadline dates

  • To allow time for formatting, proofing and printing, please plan to have your Exhibit Catalog information to the Volunteer Event Organizers at least 2 weeks prior to the Imagination Fair, but 5-Minute Mentor registration remains open until the Exhibit Catalog goes to the printers. It’s never too late to ask!
  • The deadline for submitting image suggestions, optional logos or custom “button sticker” designs is at least 1 week prior to the Imagination Fair,

Our goal is to sign up at least half as many 5-Minute Mentors as exhibitors. Please encourage your friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues to volunteer as well.

Fairy Awesome Slideshow

“Mentor Button Stickers”

2020 buttons | 2019 buttons | 2018 buttons | 2017 buttons | 2016 buttons | 2015 buttons | 2014 buttons

Imagination Fair Participation Certificate

The Imagination Fair does not rank projects or award ribbons.

Instead, exhibitors receive a colorful button sticker on their participation certificates from every 5-Minute Mentor who talks to them.

  • You are encouraged to use your own original design!
    • Designs must fits on an Avery 5293 1⅔-inch round label.
    • If you use a background color, make the background a bit larger to be sure there’s no white edge.
    • You may use (just about) any image file format that works for you (bpg, gif, jpg, pdf, png, psd, pxm, svg, tif, etc.).
  • You may also submit just an image suggestion or a logo or other image and Nic will design your button sticker for you.

mentor button stickers

The “standard” button sticker design includes:

1. Your name.

2. The phrase “I talked with … about my ideas!”

3. An image that represents YOU.

4. Your title (educator, mom, philosopher, scientist, engineer, etc.). Titles are entirely optional but well-chosen titles are a handy way to let the Exhibitors know a bit about who their 5-Minute Mentors are.

mentor button stickers

Our goal for the button stickers is to twofold: to create button stickers that are visually interesting while giving the kids a sense of who their 5-Minute Mentors are.

The Imagination Fair will provide you with a sheet of 24 button stickers to use at the Imagination Fair.

To allow time for formatting and printing, please plan to submit your original button sticker designs or images at least 1 week prior to the Imagination Fair.

2020 mentors | 2019 mentors | 2018 mentors | 2016 mentors | 2015 mentors | 2014 mentors

Exhibit Catalog

Exhibit Catalogs

  • All 5-Minute Mentors receive a quarter-page listing in the Exhibit Catalog for a photo and brief bio about themselves.
    • A quarter page is 5-inches wide by 1¾-inches high.
       
  • To allow time for formatting, proofing and printing the Exhibit Catalog, please plan to have your information to the Volunteer Event Organizers at least 2 weeks prior to the Imagination Fair, or by Saturday, March 21, 2020.
     
  • 5-Minute Mentors are asked to submit the following information:
     
    1. Your name:
       
    2. A brief bio:
      • No longer than 300 characters (which is about 60 words or about 3 sentences).
      • If you just need to add a couple more words, it’s probably okay. If you need to add ten more words, it just won’t fit but feel free to ask the Volunteer Event Organizers for help with editing.
      • Please write your bio in the first person. (That is, say “I do this” instead of “Jamie does that” or “S/he does that”).
         
    3. Your title, if desired:
      • Titles are entirely optional but well-chosen titles are a handy way to let the Exhibitors know a bit about who their 5-Minute Mentors are.
      • Your title can be anything that is important to you. Maybe that's your job — you're the artistic director of a local theater or an instructor at a martial arts studio or a tutor for a reading program. Maybe that's your hobby — you're a rocketeer or a photographer or a seamstress. Maybe it's your passion — you're a philosopher or a homeschool parent or a field trip organizer. It doesn't matter what title you choose, as long as it's something that matters to you!
         
    4. Your organization’s name, if desired:
    5. Your organization’s contact, if desired:
      • If you want to give a shout out to your business, organization, club, etc., this is your chance to do that.
      • You can help people find out more about your organization by including contact information such as a website, phone number, email address, mailing and/or physical address.
         
    6. Photoa print-quality digital photo of you!
      • To ensure print quality, please send a larger image file rather than a smaller one.
      • Images will be printed at about 1¾-inches high.
        • Wider images will reduce the amount of space available for text!
           
    7. Your phone number, if you haven’t sent it previously — unlikely we’ll use it, but just in case we need to get ahold of you and email isn’t working as expected. This won’t be included in the Exhibit Catalog or otherwise shared. It’s just so we can reach you if email fails.
       
    8. Your mailing address, if you haven’t sent it previously — so we can send you a thank you card! Again, this won’t be included in the Exhibit Catalog or otherwise shared.
       
    • The only thing that is “required” for the Exhibit Catalog is your name. Everything else is optional — although a brief bio and a photo are greatly appreciated!

The intent is to give the Exhibitors a better sense of who the 5-Minute Mentors are. The hope is that when they look at their Participation Certificates and Exhibit Catalogs, both now and years later, they won’t wonder, “Who on earth is Nic Rosenau?” Instead, they’ll say, “Oh, I remember Nic Rosenau, she was that mom who organized all those events.”

Entries may be edited for space considerations, as well as for spelling, grammar, and point-of-view — so let the Volunteer Event Organizers know if you intended to use a non-standard spelling or grammatical structure.

Please proofread your entry and email any corrections or changes promptly.

The Exhibit Catalog will be printed in grey-scale, but you may upload a full color image — the full color image will be shown on this website.

Example of a 2016 Exhibit Catalog Mentor entry:
Dana Kernik

Examples of Exhibit Catalog pages featuring 2016 5-Minute Mentors

Imagination Fair Mentors Imagination Fair Mentors Imagination Fair Mentors Imagination Fair Mentors

2020 mentors | 2019 mentors | 2018 mentors | 2017 mentors | 2016 mentors | 2015 mentors | 2014 mentors


name badge

Name Badges

Your lanyard name badge will include the following information from your Exhibit Catalog entry:

  1. Your Name
  2. Your Title, if applicable
  3. Your Organization, if applicable
  4. A smaller version of your button sticker

Your may keep your name badge! They make great scrapbook additions.


2020 ads | 2019 ads | 2018 ads | 2017 ads | 2016 ads | 2015 ads | 2014 ads

2015 Exhibit Catalog Advertisers

Exhibit Catalog Advertisement Mentor Discount

Because creating all the amazingness that goes into the Imagination Fair cost money, there are ads in the Exhibit Catalog. These are a great way for homeschool groups, homeschool teachers, homeschool tutors, homeschool destinations, and others in the community to connect with area homeschoolers.

Discount pricing for 5-Minute Mentors starts at just $5, and includes website, Twitter, and Facebook exposure!

5-Minute Mentor prices for Exhibit Catalog Advertisements:

  • eighth-page — $5
    2¼-inches wide by 1¾-inches high
  • quarter-page – $9
    5-inches wide by 1¾-inches high
  • half-page – $17
    5-inches wide by 3½-inches high
  • three-quarter-page – $25
    5-inches wide by 5½-inches high
  • full-page – $33
    5-inches wide by 7½-inches high

You can help the Volunteer Event Organizers defray the costs of the Imagination Fair by purchasing an Exhibit Catalog Advertisement or by asking your friends, families, colleagues and neighbors to consider this unique opportunity to promote their organizations to homeschoolers and their friends and families. The Exhibit Catalog is designed to be a quality keepsake item!

To allow time for formatting, proofing and printing, please plan to have your Exhibit Catalog advertisement to the Volunteer Event Organizers at least 2 weeks prior to the Imagination Fair.


On the Day of the Fair

Schedule for the day of the Imagination Fair

9:00am – 9:30am Set Up Period for Volunteer Event Organizers
9:30am – 10:00am Set Up Period for Exhibitors
9:45am – 10:00am 5-Minute Mentor Check-In Period*
9:55am – 10:00am 5-Minute Mentor Quick Tips Talk
10:00am – 12:30pm IMAGINATION FAIR — Display! Demonstrate! Discuss!
12:15pm – 12:30pm Exhibitor End-of-Fair Announcements
12:30pm – 1:00pm Clean Up Period for both Exhibitors and Volunteer Event Organizers
Exhibits

5-Minute Mentor Check-In starts at 9:45 AM

The Volunteer Event Organizers recommend that you plan to arrive at 9:45 AM so that you have time to address any unexpected difficulties and are ready to start talking to Exhibitors at 10 AM.

To allow all Exhibitors time and focus to set their Exhibits up on time, we ask that 5-Minute Mentors resist the urge to engage Exhibitors until 10 AM.

Folder

5-Minute Mentor Folder

Pick up your 5-Minute Mentor Folder as soon as you arrive at the Imagination Fair.

Folders will be filed alphabetically by last name in a file box by the entrance to the Event Space and there will also be a Volunteer Event Organizer or two at the door to help you find your folder and to review the contents with you.

Inside the folder, you’ll find your Name Badge and lanyard and your “Assigned First Exhibit” number, along with a map of the Exhibit Hall so you can find your first Exhibit space, an Exhibit Catalog for you to reference and keep, and an Exhibit Bingo card for your own use.

Exhibits

Quick Tips Talk

There will be a short “Quick Tips” at 9:55 AM to make sure all 5-Minute Mentors have the most essential information they need to have a successful and enjoyable experience at the Imagination Fair.

If you are also the parent of an Exhibitor, you are encouraged to join the other 5-Minute Mentors at 9:55 AM. An announcement will be made in the Event Space right before the talk begins.

Exhibits

Button Sticker Stash

You’ll be given more “button stickers” than you can use!

Specifically, you’ll receive a sheet of 24 “button stickers,” and you’ll most likely have time to talk to between 15 and 20 Exhibitors. The Volunteer Event Organizers would prefer you have a few extra “button stickers” at the end of the Imagination Fair than to find yourself short a couple of “button sticker” or two!

In the unlikely event you do run out of “button stickers,” find Nic Rosenau for a solution! She’ll have a plan.

You may keep your extra “button stickers” and have some fun with them after the Fair!

ExhibitsStart here! — Your Assigned First Exhibit

Each 5-Minute Mentor will be assigned a starting Exhibit. This is to help prevent clumping and jams by spreading the Mentors out evenly around the room at the start of the Imagination Fair.

Your Assigned First Exhibit will be clearly marked on your Mentor Folder and on the Exhibit Hall map inside your Folder. If you can’t find your first Exhibit, ask a Volunteer Event Organizers for help — or just choose a likely place to start.

Exhibits

About Exhibits

Exhibits can be anything! The Imagination Fair was created to accommodate those creations that fall outside conventional categories of the traditional science fairs, tech fests, and art shows, including ideas that either don’t fit into the traditional art show categories or must be distorted to qualify as a traditional science fair project. Board games and video games, animations, novels, short stories and comic books, contraptions, electronics, robots, rockets and go-karts, models, architecture, dioramas and cardboard creations, clothing and costumes, LEGO® masterpieces and MINDSTORMS® marvels, and other products of the imagination. The Imagination Fair is the perfect place to showcase your “outside the box” creativity! Of course, the Imagination Fair also welcomes traditional artistic endeavors and scientific explorations!

2020 exhibits | 2019 exhibits | 2018 exhibits | 2017 exhibits | 2016 exhibits | 2015 exhibits | 2014 exhibits |

Exhibits

5-Minute Talks

Most Mentors spend about 5 minutes with each Exhibitor they meet. You do not need to time your talks! Having a general sense of the time you are spending with each Exhibitor is enough.

Mentors are asked to visit as many exhibits as time allows. Based on past Imagination Fairs, most mentors can expect to visit about 20 exhibits.

Mentors are asked to be aware of which Exhibitors are in need of more visits so that no Exhibitor feels ignored.

The focus of the Imagination Fair is on the process of creation rather than the products, but you may connect with Exhibitors in any way that feels right for that particular conversation.

Common conversation starters are What did you make? How did you make it? Why did you make it? What challenges did you need to overcome in your creation process? What challenges do you still need to solve? What might you do differently next time? What will you definitely keep the same? Did you learn something surprising (or silly or fascinating or …) while creating this Exhibit? What do you think you’ll do next?

Exhibits

Missing Exhibitors

Sometimes an Exhibitor needs to take a short break. If you arrive at an Exhibit without an Exhibitor, simply move to the next Exhibit. You can trust that the next available Mentor will talk to any missing Exhibitors as soon as they returns to the Exhibit. You may even find that you circle back around to that Exhibit!

Exhibits

Busy Exhibitors

In the same vein, if you find that the next Exhibitor is already engaged in a conversation with a Mentor, simply move to the next Exhibit. You can trust that the next Mentor in line will pick up that Exhibitors when the current Mentor finishes. This keeps the Mentors moving and prevents pile ups. Again, you may find that you circle back around to that Exhibit!

BingoExhibit Bingo

Exhibit Bingo is an original Exhibitor idea to help younger kids get involved — but we also use it to help Mentors keep track of which Exhibits they’ve visited! Exhibitors you visit will stamp your Bingo Card in the space for their Exhibit number.

You can even show your Bingo card at the Prize table and receive a small prize for every five Exhibits you visit!

Bingo Prizes
Bingo Prize Donations

If you have any small prizes to donate for Exhibit Bingo use, let the Volunteer Event Organizers know via email. You may arrange to drop the prizes off in advance or just bring them along with you to the Imagination Fair.

Exhibits

Internet Access

Fantasy Flight Games Center does have public WiFi (but it may get a bit slow if it gets overwhelmed).

Exhibits

Everyone welcome!

The Imagination Fair is serious about inclusivity and welcomes neurodiversity, all genders, LGBTQ+ attendees, people of all races and ethnicities, and recent immigrants. The Imagination Fair is a secular event and welcomes people of all faiths and people of no faith, however they choose to identify (but no proselytizing, please).

The Imagination Fair does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or handicap, neurodiversity, veteran status, economic status, religion, or homeschooling philosophy or style.

We do discriminate on the basis of age since exhibitors must be children (or recently minted adults still in high school or just graduated). However, mentors, guests, and parents of all ages are welcome!

Exhibits

Make-It-Happen: Volunteer

Mentors are not expected to participate in event organizing, but those who are interested are welcome to help out further!

The Imagination Fair is an all-volunteer zero-profit event entirely organized by Volunteer Event Organizers — homeschool parents, homeschool kids, and interested community members! Volunteering is a great way to meet other homeschoolers and build friendships within the homeschool community.

While Nic Rosenau does the bulk of the organizing work (and loves every minute of it), she does need assistance to make sure this amazing event happens year after year — especially with spreading the word about this amazing event and raising money to cover expenses.

Other ways to connect!

FacebookLike the Imagination Fair on Facebook!
  • Invite your Facebook friends to the Facebook Event!
TwitterFollow the Imagination Fair on Twitter!
FlickrDownload, print and share the flyer!
  • Download and share an invitation via email and more!

 

Groups:
  • Imagination Fair
Imagination Fair

f t fr y w in

  • About
  • Schedule for Apr 4
  • Location
  • Info for Exhibitors
    • Register
    • About exhibits
    • Participation certificates
    • Exhibit Catalog
    • Exhibit Bingo
      • 2020 Exhibits
      • 2019 Exhibits
      • 2018 Exhibits
      • 2017 Exhibits
      • 2016 Exhibits
      • 2015 Exhibits
      • 2014 Exhibits
  • Mentors
    • About
    • Button Stickers
    • Exhibit Catalog
    • Advertising
    • Sign up!
      • 2020 Mentors
      • 2019 Mentors
      • 2018 Mentors
      • 2017 Mentors
      • 2016 Mentors
      • 2015 Mentors
      • 2014 Mentors
  • Volunteers
    • About
    • Greeters
    • 2021 Location Search
  • Guests
    • About
    • Exhibit Bingo
  • Sponsor the Imagination Fair!
  • Advertise in the Exhibit Catalog
    • 2020 Ads
    • 2019 Ads
    • 2018 Ads
    • 2017 Ads
    • 2016 Ads
    • 2015 Ads
    • 2014 Ads
  • FAQ

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