Staff photo / Bob Coupland
Elliana Repko, 7, of Cortland, sees how her sailboat moves in the water at the 15th annual Silly Science Sunday at Wean Park in Youngstown.

The 15th annual Silly Science Sunday hosted by the OH WOW! Children’s Center for Science and Technology took place so children and their families could learn about robotics, machine trades, trains, drones, circuitry, butterflies and slime.

Sunny skies and warm weather allowed all activities to take place outdoors.

Katie DeToro, executive director for the children’s center, has been part of 14 of the Silly Science Sunday events. This is the second year the event took place at Wean Park after taking place in downtown Youngstown for 13 years.

“Moving to Wean Park turned out to be a great decision. There is more room, which opens us up for additional opportunities. Having the grassy area for the kids is great,” DeToro said.

She said the event allows families to learn about the many local STEM organizations and different careers in those fields.

“This allows families to have a fun day in downtown Youngstown. It is a good experience for families,” DeToro said.

She said activities were all hands-on and interactive.

“We ask all 40 participants and exhibitors to have some form of hands-on activities,” DeToro said.

She said the STREAM includes science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and math.

“We offer STEM education opportunities through hands-on programming. We want to build a curiosity culture here in Youngstown and beyond. Curiosity is at the core of learning about science,” DeToro said.

She said over the years, the event has expanded into a larger scale event.

DeToro said the six-hour event had 1,000 children pre-registered with 3,000 total expected to attend.

Children were seen running throughout the park with a long line of children waiting to run barefoot through a sticky white “oobleck.”

Event organizers said Oobleck, which is also known as “magic mud,” is an example of a non-Newtonian fluid that can be liquid when held gently in your hand, and can act like a solid if it is hit more violently. The name comes from Dr. Seuss’s 1949 children’s book, “Bartholomew and the Oobleck,” which is about a king who is so bored with the weather in his kingdom that he wants something new to fall from the sky.

Claudia Kovach, corporate secretary for City Machine Technologies, led an activity station where children learn about bolt and nut fitting and how machinists can get trained at a career center and work in different fields.

Dani Casey, a mother who helps with the Austintown Robotics Falcon Team 3193, said team members were catapulting rolled-up t-shirts out of a small cannon called “Raptor” into a field for children to run and get.

Robotics teams from Girard, Howland, Austintown and Canfield took part at the event, allowing children to interact with different size robots.

Elliana Repko, 7, of Cortland, came to the event with her parents, Corey and Samantha Repko.

“It was fun to get to make so many things, I liked the oobleck. It was cool,” Elliana said.

Samantha said she was with her daughter last summer and wanted to return with her this year.

Brother and sister Cormac, 9, and Madigan Bendersmith, 7, of Youngstown, were amazed at all there was to do.

They said they liked the astronaut exhibit from the Armstrong Air and Space Museum from Wapakoneta.

DeToro said those who attended the event received free passes to OH WOW!