UWs CSIC Makerspace to Offer Several Summer Camps

Young people across Wyoming will receive the opportunity to construct their own creations in the Coe Student Innovation Center (CSIC) makerspace during seven separate camps being offered this summer in the University of Wyoming’s Coe Library.

“The Coe Student Innovation Center is pleased to announce over seven weeks of 4-H summer camps in the Coe makerspace for youth ages 8 (before Oct. 1, 2021) up to 15 years old,” says Jane Crayton, CSIC makerspace coordinator. “Our summer camps focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning through project-based arts, where we engage youth in a variety of projects including computational making and machine learning.”

Marissa Murr, a MakeHER Scholar from this year’s cohort and a UW master’s student from Boerne, Texas, majoring in geology and geophysics, created and will host the 4-H Wyoming Earth and Water Science camp, which takes place twice this summer. The MakeHER Scholar Program is funded by the Wyoming Afterschool Alliance and STEM Next Foundation as part of an effort to engage 1 million girls in STEM learning.

“This summer, the Coe Student Innovation Center has two camps just for girls, one of which is 4-H Wyoming Earth and Water Science, and the other is the TinkHER Camp,” Crayton says. “Both support this effort to engage girls in STEM, computational making and machine learning through art.”

The makerspace summer camps are:

-- June 6-10, 9 a.m.-noon: 4-H Wyoming Earth and Water Science is a hands-on maker and geology education summer camp aimed at youth ages 8-14. Students will participate in maker projects in person at the CSIC and UW Geological Museum, where they learn by doing. Projects include a geology push box; a lit, 3D printed map of Wyoming; construction of mini-bridges to go across rivers; water filters; and an interactive water table with fossils. Students must enroll in the Albany County 4-H Makerspace Club to participate. To register, go to https://uwyo.libcal.com/event/9123279.

-- June 13-17, 9 a.m.-noon: 4-H Makerspace Summer Camp Session 1 is a hands-on maker education program aimed at youth ages 8-14. Youth can participate in maker projects in person at the CSIC. Projects include a felt bracelet e-textile LED; a motorboat float challenge; a pin loom; a balsa wood laser-cut puzzle; and a vinyl-cut camp T-shirt. Students must enroll in the Albany County 4-H Makerspace Club to participate. To register, go to https://uwyo.libcal.com/event/8955247.

-- June 20-24, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Pokes Making the Future: Computational Making With E-Textiles and Vinyl Designs will provide youth ages 10-15 access to 21st century STEM skills including computational making and machine learning. The camp introduces Arduino programming with e-textile circuits, embroidery and vinyl cutting. Campers will make an LED-illuminated e-textile mask and LED vinyl bag. For the second part of the camp, students will make an e-textile and vinyl-designed baseball hat or beanie using the LilyPad ProtoSnap board. Students will receive this board and a custom-designed garment. To register, go to https://uwyo.libcal.com/event/8955234.

-- June 27-July 1, 9 a.m.-noon: 4-H Wyoming Earth and Water Science is a hands-on maker and geology education summer camp aimed at girls ages 8-14. Girls can participate in maker projects in person at the CSIC and UW Geological Museum. Projects include a geology push box; a lit, 3D printed map of Wyoming; construction of mini-bridges to go across rivers; water filters; and an interactive water table with fossils. Students must enroll in the Albany County 4-H Makerspace Club to participate. To register, go to https://uwyo.libcal.com/event/9123403.

-- July 11-15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Pokes Making the Future: Computational Making With Circuits, Lasers and CNC is a program that will provide youth ages 10-15 access to 21st century STEM skills including computational making. Youth will be introduced to programming computer numerical control (CNC) mills, laser cutters and circuit boards. Campers will make an LED-illuminated circuit board keychain, laser-cut tags and a CNC-milled LED sign. To register, go to https://uwyo.libcal.com/event/8955283.

-- July 18-22, 9 a.m.-noon.: TinkHER: Girls STEAM Day Camp is designed for girls ages 8-15. Participants will gain experience in problem-solving, design thinking, machine learning, computational making and fabrication. Students must enroll in Albany County 4-H to participate. Enrollment in 4-H is free. To register, go to https://uwyo.libcal.com/event/8955388.

-- July 25-29, 9 a.m.-noon.: 4-H Makerspace Summer Camp Session 2 is a hands-on maker education program aimed at youth ages 8-14. Campers will engage in hands-on projects such as building, design thinking and fabrication. Projects include a water balloon launch challenge; a kiddie pool bridge challenge; LED circuits; and a vinyl-cut camp T-shirt. Students must enroll in the Albany County 4-H Makerspace Club to participate. To register, go to https://uwyo.libcal.com/event/8955324.

The CSIC is a 2,500-square-foot makerspace that provides access to state-of-the-art emergent technology for creative, collaborative, innovative and entrepreneurial projects. Equipment in the CSIC supports 3D printing and scanning; sewing, embroidery, e-textiles and vinyl cutting; large format printing, scrapbooking and laminating; machine learning; CNC milling and laser cutting; a handy bench and on-site repairs with tools for check-out; virtual reality exploration; laptops with computer-aided design, or CAD, and modeling software; and craft supplies, robotics, and circuit and STEM kits for K-12 instruction. The CSIC is open to students, faculty, staff and the public.

For more information, call Crayton at (307) 766-7009 or email jcrayton@uwyo.edu.