YMCA THINGAMAJIG INVENTION CONVENTION

The first THINGAMAJIG was held in 1994, when 138 Y Sci-Tech summer campers at the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington presented science projects to a small team of judges. Over the following 30 years, the annual event grew to become an important touchstone for area youth to experience hands-on science and technology. In July 2019, Thingamajig was the largest STEM-related convention in the D.C. area, drawing 4,500+ youth and hundreds of volunteer judges and activity leaders. THINGAMAJIG is successfully designed to help motivate young people to “think outside the box” and explore science, technology, engineering and math in a manner that is highly engaging with lasting positive effects, most notably for the many participants who come from underserved communities and low income environments.

The concept of THINGAMAJIG went national in 2015, when the YMCA of the USA Youth Development STEM Initiative recognized it as a successful model to begin implementing at an additional 17 YMCA associations around the USA.

When the novel coronavirus disrupted everyone’s lives in 2020, the Y had to cancel the large in-person event, but recognized that keeping youth engaged and learning was more important than ever. Using the THINGAMAJIG concepts of thinking creatively and embracing technology, a virtual version of this important event was created for 2020 and 2021. In 2022, a hybrid version was introduced, combining opportunities for youth to create inventions at home or at day camps, and hosting a smaller-scale in-person THINGAMAJIG day that was also live-streamed.  In

For THINGAMAJIG 2023, the Y was delighted to be able to return in-person with a fun-filled event held at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) in Alexandria, Virginia.  THINGAMAJIG 2025 celebrates 31 years of innovative opportunties to spark STEM excitement for young people.  Please join us at the USPTO on Thursday, July 31, 2025 for a day filled with hands-on exhibits, challenges and workshops. The 31st Annual THINGAMAJIG Invention Convention will inspire children to utilize their creativity and strategic thinking skills with exciting opportunities to learn, play and be inspired through STEM. Connecting Today … for Tomorrow!

Most inventions follow the same formula for success by being:

• Original
• Effective
• Practical
• Needed
• Carefully recorded in a log or journal (Young children may use pictures or dictate information to someone)

Use the Thingamajig Judging Rubric to record scores and comments about each inventor as they present their invention idea.  For each category, consider questions such as these:

ORIGINALITY:

• Did the inventor find a unique, unusual, or clever solution to the Thingamajig challenge?
• Did the inventor research the challenge? (This should yield an age-appropriate response a young child might ask a number of people; an older child might explore catalogs, stores and related companies, search the internet or even a patent database.  Ask to see a record of what the inventor researched.)

INVENTION EFFECTIVENESS:

• Does the invention solve the challenge?
• Does it do what it is supposed to?
• Does it work even better than the inventor expected?
• Does it solve other problems, too?

PRACTICALITY OF THE INVENTION:

• What advantages and disadvantages does this invention have as compared to other similar inventions?
• How much thought was given to safety, ease to use, and choice of mate

NEED FOR THE INVENTION:

• How important is the challenge solved by the invention?
• Who benefits from it, many, few, or only the inventor?
• Does it serve a disadvantaged group, like the handicapped, the elderly, or animals?
• Is the invention more or less friendly to the environment than currently available products?

RECORDING THE INVENTING PROCESS:

• How well did the inventor explain the steps taken from beginning idea to invention?
• Did the inventor date and list the steps in the inventor’s log book?
• Did the inventor include resources used, problems they ran into, reasons for choice of materials, final design and testing?
• Was credit given to those who helped?

THINGAMAJIG RULES:

1. Young people can enter the competition as an individual or in a team of no more than 3 individuals.
2. All participants must be between the ages of 5–14.
3. You must enter an original invention/project (no manufactured kits accepted).
4. Use of recycled materials is strongly encouraged.
5. No more than $20 can be spent on materials for your invention/project.
6. A log must be created and submitted/uploaded with your final entry.
7. A display board must be created to illustrate the steps to your invention design.
8. All Inventions, fashions and talents must be registered to be judged.
9. Thingamajig Registration Deadline: FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2025 by midnight.
10. A series of workshops designed to help understand the invention process and preparation for competition will be offered throughout the month of June-July.  Look out for announced events on the website.