Children in the tri-county area will get a chance to experience science hands-on Nov. 4 at the Elementary Science Olympiad, hosted by Lansing Community College.

Unlike Science Olympiad competitions for children in older grades, the event isn’t competitive but just a chance for students to learn more about science, said Mary Brown, a biology professor at LCC and a Science Olympiad co-director at the college.

“It’s an opportunity to get kids involved in science,” she said. “Being noncompetitive, it removes that absolute necessity to do well. It takes away that risk factor.”

Brown said there are 30 to 40 events the students can participate in, including reptiles provided by the college’s Herpetology Society, a mini-beast zooseum presented by the Young Entomologist Society and the Channel 10 Weather Van.

Students will also have a chance to make a paper rocket, play with a rubber band catapult and work at a tree and leaf identification station.

Brown said they are expecting a large turnout from area schools, including those in Grand Ledge, Mason, The Islamic Center of East Lansing and some area charter schools. LCC has hosted the event for the past 12 years.

“I have a student now in my college class that