In the Workshop
Workshop Time
The Build It! experience is the fun of building in the workshop. Teachers, interns and the project manager mentor small groups through the steps of the project. All campers get empowering opportunities to safely use drills, saws, PVC cutters and soldering irons (lead free).
Like School But Better (and the kids think it is all for fun)
In the Workshop your child will learn to use mathematical tricks that are commonly used by engineers, craftspersons, and waiters. In a uniquely low pressure environment your child will see the usefulness of measuring and calculating using fractions and decimals. They will also get a chance to learn simpler, more logical methods than are commonly taught in classrooms.
Journal keeping and mechanical drawing give your child a chance to learn more deeply as they build their kid brained contraptions.
Learning From One Another
Build It! is community of campers, helpers, interns, and teachers all of whom are learners, program developers, and teachers. Each workshop is run by a team (6:1 student/teacher ratio) who help each child build their project. Projects are organized into work steps and work stations. Younger campers move from station to station where they complete each step.
The projects are in fact inventions created by older students who function as helpers and project managers during the school year. Each step of the process from the creation of instruction manuals (20 of them in 2008) to the purchasing of materials ($25,000 worth in 2008) is completed under the mentorship of the director.