đź› Inventor 1: Hands-On Makerspace Adventures
Description:
This beginner-friendly class invites young makers to explore creativity through hands-on building. Students will work on a series of small projects using a variety of materials from our 15,000-piece Maker Cart, motorized toy kits, and basic electronics. They’ll learn safe tool use, simple mechanical concepts, and how to take an idea from sketch to finished product.
AI Tie-In:
Students use AI to brainstorm build ideas (“Make a toy car that runs without batteries”), create illustrated step-by-step plans, and problem-solve design challenges. AI becomes a partner in ideation, helping them turn vague ideas into practical, buildable projects.
Progression Notes:
Most students repeat this class with new projects before moving to Inventor 2.
Recommended for: Ages 7–10 (no prior building experience needed)
đź•’ Duration: 6 weeks
📅 Dates: September 7 – October 19 (no class October 12), 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
đź’µ Price: $180
đź› Inventor 2: Mechanical Marvels
Description:
Students dive deeper into mechanical design and engineering basics. Using motorized kits, gears, pulleys, and levers, they’ll create functional devices like drawbridges, marble runs, or spinning art machines. The focus is on prototyping, testing, and refining designs.
AI Tie-In:
Students use AI to model “what if” scenarios (e.g., “What happens if my gear ratio is 1:4 instead of 1:2?”), generate design diagrams, and troubleshoot mechanical issues before building.
Progression Notes:
Completion of Inventor 1 recommended; strong builders may jump in directly. Leads into Inventor 3 for electronics integration.
Recommended for: Ages 8–12 (comfortable with simple tools and following build instructions)
đź•’ Duration: 6 weeks
📅 Dates: September 7 – October 19 (no class October 12), 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
đź’µ Price: $180
đź› Inventor 3: Circuits & Smart Builds
Description:
Students combine mechanical builds with basic electronics. They’ll wire up LEDs, motors, and sensors to bring projects to life — think light-up signs, moving creatures, or simple alarms. Introduction to Arduino kits may be included for older or faster-paced groups.
AI Tie-In:
Students prompt AI for simple circuit diagrams, code snippets for Arduino (if used), and creative ideas for integrating electronics into builds. AI also helps them interpret wiring diagrams and troubleshoot logic errors.
Progression Notes:
Students ready for more complex coding/electronics move to Inventor 4.
Recommended for: Ages 9–13 (some prior building experience recommended; no coding required)
đź•’ Duration: 6 weeks
📅 Dates: October 26 – December 7 (no class November 30), 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
đź’µ Price: $180
đź› Inventor 4: Prototyping with 3D & CNC Tools
Description:
Students learn to design and produce custom parts using our 3D printers, 3D scanner, CNC carving machine, and Glowforge laser cutter. They’ll create parts for functional prototypes — such as custom gears, puzzle boxes, or decorative elements — and integrate them into complete builds.
AI Tie-In:
Students use AI to generate or refine 3D model concepts, optimize designs for manufacturing (“Make this hinge stronger without adding too much weight”), and convert sketches into vector files for laser cutting.
Progression Notes:
Completion of Inventor 3 or equivalent electronics/3D design experience recommended. Leads to Inventor 5 capstone.
Recommended for: Ages 11–16 (comfortable with computers; some prior maker experience required)
đź•’ Duration: 8 weeks
đź“… Dates: tba
đź’µ Price: $240
đź› Inventor 5: Innovation Capstone
Description:
This is the ultimate maker challenge. Students conceptualize, design, and build a complete invention — mechanical, electronic, and/or digital. They’ll document their process, produce a final prototype, and present it in a showcase. Projects can range from automated pet feeders to interactive art installations.
AI Tie-In:
AI acts as a full design partner — brainstorming features, refining technical drawings, generating Arduino or Raspberry Pi code, suggesting material choices, and even producing a marketing plan for the invention. Students also learn to critically evaluate AI-generated solutions.
Progression Notes:
Graduates can present their inventions at local maker fairs or use them for high school/college portfolios.
Recommended for: Ages 12–17 (must have completed Inventor 4 or have equivalent experience)
đź•’ Duration: 8 weeks
đź“… Dates: tba
đź’µ Price: $240