Robots Spark Learning at Thurston County Fair and Beyond

ESD 113’s Digital Innovation program engaged 150 children in hands-on robotics at the 2025 Thurston County Fair on August 3. Young participants built Bristle Bots and Solar Bugs at the organization's STEM learning booth, watching their creations vibrate across tables and respond to light.

The fair experience connects directly to ESD 113's Robot Lending Library, which extends that excitement into classrooms across the region. Teachers can borrow Bee-Bot, Sphero BOLT+, indi, and Edison robots for eight-week periods, bringing computer science learning into every subject and grade level.

"Seeing 150 kids light up during hands-on robotics at the Thurston County Fair reminded me exactly why we created our Robot Lending Library," said Dr. Shannon Thissen, administrator of Digital Innovation at ESD 113. "That day at the fair drove it home: every kid deserves to see what they can create with technology in their hands."

The lending library removes financial barriers for schools, allowing educators to try robotics without upfront investment. ESD 113 continues this program even after computer science grant funding ended, ensuring students who might not otherwise access these tools can explore technology and creative problem-solving.

This year's fair booth demonstrated how simple and accessible activities can demystify technology and build student confidence in STEM fields. Children and parents responded enthusiastically to the demonstrations, asking questions and experimenting with their solar-powered and motion-based creations.

Participant enthusiasm at the Thurston County Fair shows what's possible when students interact with technology. Educators can create similar moments in their classrooms by borrowing robots from ESD 113's robot lending library.