Yesterday I took part in the Maker Space’s Maker Camp. This is our first time offering something like this. The camp started in Monday with 8 youths participating. The first day was Orientation, designing name tags, woodcarving and metal work. I have a few pictures, but I’m only posting those without faces as I have not gotten permission from the parents or teacher to show them.

Tuesday’s activities were an introduction to stained glass soldering, sewing, and ceramics. My part was showing the students how use a sewing machine. I showed them the different parts and how to wind a bobbin, and thread the machine. I had previously cut 1-yard pieces of different fabrics for them to use for sewing either a pillowcase or a drawstring bag.

Most of the students had no problems. There were two who did not catch on as fast as the others but in spite of a few stitching errors, completed their projects first. Everyone was so proud of their work. I did have one who forgot to sew the bottom of his bag so he put it on like a skirt and walked around wearing it until his group went to their next project. The rest of the week is filled with more ceramics, screen printing, bike maintenance, graphics design, woodworking, and laser cutting.

It was a lot of fun working with those kids and I plan to do it the next time we have an event like this. The camp continues for the rest of the week and ends with the kids learning to screen print after creating a design to go on their shirts. We adults get to have a shirt made as well.

For the next camp, I may suggest adding paper-making and book binding – two things I like to teach. Both are suitable if we decide to host younger kids. Another thing they could do would be would be weaving on a cardboard frame. I have a lot of ideas for the craftier young people.