Young inventors show creations this weekend

COEUR d'ALENE - Young inventors will be showing off their creations during the North Idaho Regional Invent Idaho competition, happening today and Sunday in the Silver Lake Mall in Coeur d'Alene.

More than 200 student inventions from Moscow and Coeur d'Alene Charter schools, Coeur d'Alene School District, Post Falls, North Idaho STEM Charter, Forrest Bird Charter School, Lakeland and homeschools will be featured, including titles such as "Holographic Jump Rope," "Glycemic Management App" and "The Dog Toilet."

The inventors will be judged in five categories: Working Models, Non-working Models, Adaptations, Games and Jules Verne.

Awards will be announced at 4 p.m. Sunday. Winners will represent North Idaho at the Invent Idaho State Finals at the University of Idaho in March. Members of the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite inventions between noon and 9 p.m. today and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Between 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday, mall visitors will be able to drive LEGO NXT miniature robots.

Invent Idaho has provided a forum for thousands of young inventors in grades one through eight since its inception in 1989. The Silver Lake Mall has been the host site for more than 17 years. Info: www.inventidaho.com.