The Choo Choo Barn has announced its Student Design Challenge, an opportunity for sixth- to eighth-grade students to showcase their creativity and engineering skills. The competition invites students to design an original, animated display concept that could become part of the Choo Choo Barn model train layout.

The challenge will allow young minds to explore mechanical design, engineering and animation principles, all while competing for prizes. The first-place winner will receive $300 and have his or her animation brought to life by the Choo Choo Barn's staff. The winner's creation will be permanently added to the display, complete with his or her name featured alongside it. The second-place winner will receive $200, and $100 will be awarded to the third-place winner.

Additionally, all top three winners will be awarded four complimentary tickets to experience the Choo Choo Barn firsthand.

Students are asked to design and draw their own animated scene or feature; show how it will move using motors and linkages; provide scale dimensions for an O-scale (1:48) display; and submit drawings, descriptions and any additional ideas on how it would work.

The submission deadline is Sunday, June 1. The judging criteria includes the following: creativity and originality; functionality and engineering feasibility; accuracy of scale and clarity of drawings; and quality of explanation.

Students interested in participating should submit their detailed sketches, mechanical movement plans and a written explanation of their animation. These items must be submitted through a school or teacher representative.

One participant is allowed per submission; this is not a group project. For additional information or to submit entries, contact Rae at Rae@ChooChooBarn.com.