Pumping it up
<p>Kids use the Pumponator to fill water balloons outside Figpickels in Coeur d'Alene on Sunday.</p>
<p>Kids use the Pumponator to fill water balloons Sunday in front of Figpickels in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>Kids and big kids alike use the Pumponator to fill water balloons Sunday in front of Figpickels in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>A water balloon toss turned into an all-out water balloon fight on The Resort lawn Sunday afternoon.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - It was a great day for a water balloon fight.
Invent Idaho teamed up with Figpickels Toy Emporium to present two water balloon competitions in front of the toy store and on The Resort lawn Sunday afternoon. About 50 people competed in a water balloon pumping contest followed by a water balloon tossing tournament.
And then a water balloon battle.
"There wasn't supposed to be a fight but it degenerated into that, but that was still way fun," Figpickels owner Brett Sommer said with a laugh. "There was a bunch of water balloons left over and they started throwing. Of course, what are you going to do?"
As an Invent Idaho awareness event, the water balloons were filled using the Pumponator, a device that was created by South Carolina 14-year-old Lexi Glenn, who was also on site to meet local kids and discuss her invention. Invent Idaho co-founder and president Beth Brubaker said Lexi's invention was a natural choice to feature at an Invent Idaho event.
"Her gadget for entertainment, the Pumponator, tied in perfectly," Brubaker said.
All proceeds from Pumponator sales and the raffle drawing were donated to Invent Idaho, which is a student invention program that celebrates student innovation and creativity.
Winners of the balloon toss were Michael Paul and his son, Jacob Paul, 12, of Saskatchewan. They were the last team standing about 40 feet apart, and had fun getting soaked in the process.
"The staff that put it on were wonderful," he said. "They were very inviting and very hospitable. It was excellent."
The duo won a $100 gift certificate to Figpickels for their balloon-tossing abilities.
"I'm happy to spend it quick," Jacob said.
Sommer said the water balloon competitions in conjunction with a real student invention and Invent Idaho were a great way to get kids excited about inventing and show them how fun it can be.
"If we can continue down this path and get everybody involved, and really push this kind of an educational initiative, over a period of time we could make North Idaho more competitive than it is with the rest of the country," he said. "It's all about learning how to solve problems and being curious. If we can get our kids to do that here, we're home free."