Day 7 - Public Viewing & Packing Up!

This morning started a little earlier than usual because we had to be up and fed by 7:45am to participate in the "Team Ontario" group meeting. Youth Science Ontario sponsors Science-based learning as well as providing support to Regional Science Fairs such as BASEF, and this is their chance to thank their sponsors and get a big "group picture" taken.


Our final "Full Day" Breakfast

After that it was off to the final hours of Public and VIP Viewing. This also gave a chance for parents, the Delegates, and also some others (including BASEF Committee members, as well as teachers) to come and see the great work of our students and the rest of the Fair.



Unfortunately three hours is not enough to see over 460 projects, though for the students it was the end of a long week when the "Project Viewing is Now Closed" announcement came at noon!

After that was lunch, and into the Project Exhibit Hall one last time for project take-down.



The take-down process was relatively easy (and always seems to go very much faster than project setup!) Unfortunately we have to store all the projects in our fourth-floor residence rooms, which are sure to create some interesting elevator issues when hundreds of students start to leave on Saturday morning.

But for now, once the projects were packed up, it was time for some free-time fun... The hint of warmth and sun brought out all sorts into the sports fields - many Team BASEF members were drawn to an impromptu soccer game behind the residence, which went on for over an hour until a short rain-burst drove us inside.



Calvin found an unsual game of beachball vollyball that continued maybe a bit too long in the rain...



The fun continued inside as many Team BASEF members gathered in the lounge - some snacking, some foosball, some improvisation on the piano, and some general chillin'. Catharine and Alex in particular made the lounge piano sound good considering it was badly out of tune and many keys no longer worked, including middle C...



The afternoon went quick, and we soon headed to dinner, which was BBQ hamburgers or hotdogs with a side order of freezies... and best of all, we could finally eat outside in the sun !!!



After dinner we headed off to some of the "Farewell Festivities", which included music, busking, and an activity-filled carnival.


Alex in the Dunk Tank - those looking for pictures of me (George) will need to visit facebook or flickr...

The team had lots of fun, and before long it was 11pm and time to wander back for one last sleep before our final early-morning wakeup call. Though we're all tired and running on the last of our energy, there were also a few comments of sadness that these were the final events of the 2011 Canada-Wide Science Fair...

Check back tomorrow for the final blog entry for 2011, as we wrap up and head home.