Arisia's Kids' program, known as Fast Track, is designed as a con-within-a-con for children in the 6-12 age range. We offer a wide variety of program items, including crafts, costuming, magic shows, science, song, discussions, demonstrations, storytelling, and games. For more information, to make suggestions for program items or to volunteer to help, contact us at fasttrack@arisia.org.

This year we will run 4 days:
Friday: 7pm - 9pm
Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: noon - 6pm
Monday: 10am - 3pm

There will be unstructured supervised play before programming begins on Saturday 9-10 am, Sunday 9-noon and Monday 9-10 am. If you are a morning person and wish to volunteer time to oversee these non-structured periods, please send e-mail to Persis at fasttrack@arisia.org.

Kids-in-Tow are welcome to attend Fast Track panels, but do keep in mind that the programming will be geared towards ages 6-9 and 9-12, and parents of younger children need to keep close watch of their littles when they are underage and may not have the manual dexterity, knowledge or attention span for a particular panel.

Children's Policies

You can read about the Children's Policies here. If you do not read the policies, we are not responsible for what happens to your children after they have been sold to the aliens.

Kamikaze Costuming panel

Here is a chance for kids to show off their costumes! After the huge success of the past 3 years of Kamikaze entries in the Masquerade, we are please to offer once again the Fast Track Kamikaze Costuming panel (Saturday morning, 2 hours). Any one is welcome, feel free to add to your costume collection with a new design! Come dig through our bins of fabric, trim, and notions to create your own costume for the Masquerade. Sewing machines and experienced costumers will be available to help you make your creation.

Do-it-Yourself Costuming will be available throughout the con for additional construction time, but you will have to run the sewing machines yourself or make a no-sew costume.

Show off your costume in a parade across the Stage as the first entry in the Arisia Masquerade on Saturday night!

All children who are not otherwise entered as Masquerade contestants are welcome to participate in the Masquerade as part of the Kamikaze Entry. Ideally they will wear costumes made in Fast Track. A parent or guardian must sign the entrance paperwork in advance and bring their child to the Alternate Masquerade Green Room at 6:30 pm for an 8 pm stage appearance. Den Moms will be staffing the Green Room. Talk with Persis in Fast Track to learn more and get the paperwork.

Young Fen at the Masquerade: Please read about our Alternate Green Room and this years' policies here: Young Fans at the Masquerade.

Persis' Bio:

Internationally-known Persis Thorndike has been running Children's programming at science fiction conventions, home schooling, and gifted and talented conferences, and has assisted in the activities room at the New England Folk Festival. Mother of a home-schooled 12-year-old, Persis draws from a broad range of interests to plan captivating and entertaining children's activities to keep kids in the 6-12 age range happy and occupied at conferences and conventions.

Children's programs designed and overseen:
ConCertino 1999, 2003, 2006
Noreascon 4, 2004 (World Science Fiction Convention)
Arisia 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Boskone 2005, 2006, 2007
Learning In Our Own Way home schooling conference, August 2005
Beyond IQ conference May 2006, 2007

Assisted with:
Torcon 3, 2003 (World Science Fiction Convention)
Beyond IQ conference May 2004
NEFFA children's activities room, 1996-2007
Maryland Fairy Festival May 2005, May 2006
LA Con IV, September 2006