This past month, a significant project spearheaded by outgoing Maker VISTA member Blair McAvoy excitingly came to fruition. This project originally started as a summer camp in June 2017, during which Blair facilitated a partnership between C4K and UVA Engineering’s Technology Leaders Program and UVA’s Brown College (which puts on a huge, famous haunted house […]

As part of STE(A)M Truck’s presence at recent Maker Faire Atlanta, Maker VISTA members Lauren Schramm and Jamera Jones created an interactive mosaic that would invite attendees to contribute their own unique piece. With community engagement and community building set as primary goals, community-created art seemed like a natural vehicle and vessel. Lauren created a […]

On October 22, Maker VISTA members Anna Grossi and Claire Tiffany-Appleton participated in the East Bay Mini Maker Faire (EBMMF) at Park Day School in Oakland. The EBMMF is a yearly daylong event organized by parents, makers, and educators in the East Bay, and draws large crowds of makers, innovators, and curious minds. The Maker […]

In the past month, Maker VISTA member Khalil Pettway supported in coordinating and documenting two STEAM Career Days at Drew Charter School, one for the Junior and Senior Academy on October 27th, and one for the Elementary Academy on November 3rd. The goal of these STEAM Career Days is to expose Pre-K–12 students to the […]

Recently, Maker VISTA members Lyna Abal and Carey Habiger have heard more and more of these questions from San Fernando Middle School makers: How can we reserve a spot at the makerspace? (teachers) When are we coming back?! (students) Encouraged by these inquiries and ever-active, Lyna prioritized shining brighter light on the SFMS makerspace and […]

Mentorship and near-peer facilitation is a significant component of the making program at CSUSM STEM Center. Maker VISTA member Alivn Hiedo trains, coaches and supports undergraduate student STEM Ambassadors and Community Service Learning (CSL) volunteers in their work with local middle school students at high-need schools. As both a tracking/documentation tool and a forum for […]

Within a week of coordinating and supporting Salmon Public Library‘s first ever professional development workshop, participating educators began reaching out to Maker VISTA members Francesca Bessey and Jesse Hunt to collaborate on maker activities at their sites. These collaborations made October a whirlwind of school visits, project planning, outreach emails and debriefs. The surge in […]

Last month at ReCreate saw the closing out of one Maker VISTA member’s service, and the transitioning of her projects to a newer Maker VISTA member. The transition process raised some important questions and ideas around sustainability, documentation, and program growth. As Maker VISTA member Shubha prepared to conclude her service term, her year-long documentation materials were invaluable not […]

Over the last month at Grass Valley Elementary in Oakland, CA, Maker VISTA members Ignacia and Dylan have started facilitating students’ individual project work, and have started to implement a system so that all of the participating students can schedule specific time to work in the school’s makerspace, the Wonder Workshop. Some of the projects […]