We had six young makers and four adult makers join in what turned out to be a beautiful Wednesday morning. After gathering at the village Welcome Center, makers grabbed their kits and started putting the components together. We had local news channel WHAM 13 drop by to check things out, and they summarized the event quite nicely for us. Unfortunately, they left a few minutes before the boats set sail, so their coverage doesn’t tell you about how awesome the results were.

Everyone’s boat floated … eventually. We had a few boats that were sufficiently top-heavy that they capsized immediately upon entering the water. Fortunately, we had a local teen helping us out by hopping into her kayak and recovering boats before they sank or tried to make their way to Lockport.

There were two parts of the event that got me really excited about the status of making in Brockport. First, all of the children, even those who had boats working just fine, wanted their boats to be recovered so they could modify them. Some needed their boats to go straight instead of in circles and others wanted to see if they could make their boats go faster. Second, we had a lot of participation from the adults. Several adults built their own boats and joined the younger makers in the wonder of engineering.

Build a Boat is one of our outreach programs at “It Begins in Brockport (IBiB)”, but we also have plenty of opportunities for makers to explore other methods of making. If you are interested in digital fabrication, 3D printing, laser cutting or vinyl cutting, be sure to stop by the makerspace, located in the northernmost studio of Hart 27 Art Gallery, or drop us a line for a personal tour.

Recently, IBiB welcomed a special addition to its array of tools and equipment: a complete Maker Cart, courtesy of TeacherGeek (www.teachergeek.com), a local company dedicated to inspiring and empowering the innovators of tomorrow. The Maker Cart comes complete with over 15,000 components such as gears, rods, frames, motors switches, screws and more. These materials can be used to engage students in over 40 engineering activities, making it an invaluable asset for hands-on learning and creative play.

IBiB introduced the Maker Cart to Brockport at the recent Low Bridge High Water festival. Maker Cart components were used to engage young festival goers in constructing their own boats. While the instructions guided them through making the mast and assembling the motor, participants needed to exercise their creativity when constructing the hull. Recycled materials such as pool noodles, bottles, and plastic trays were recommended, and the pool noodles turned out to be a popular choice among the budding engineers.

To make the event even more memorable, a group of enthusiastic teenagers volunteered to help out. Equipped with kayaks, they retrieved any boats that ventured a little too far from the canal’s edge. While some boats encountered minor setbacks, they were quickly repaired, proving the resilience and ingenuity of the young participants.

IBiB’s inaugural makerspace outreach was a resounding success, leaving both the visitors and organizers thrilled with the experience. The event not only showcased the creative potential of the community but also emphasized IBiB’s commitment  to providing a space for individuals to explore their creativity through making.

The makerspace extends its heartfelt gratitude to TeacherGeek for their generous donation, which will undoubtedly fuel future engagement and innovation at IBiB. Moving forward, IBiB plans to organize more captivating activities using the Maker Cart and continue making a positive impact on the Brockport community.

IBiB invites community members and visitors to consider getting involved. The makerspace’s website, available at https://ibib.us/ provides information about memberships, upcoming events, and ways to support their outreach efforts. Interested parties can reach out directly by emailing info@ibib.us. With the success and enthusiasm surrounding IBiB, it is clear that this innovative space is poised for continued growth and success in the months and years ahead.

BoB LeSuer – Director of IBiB, assists some young makers in preparing the mast that will hold the boat’s motor.

Bill Ball and BoB LeSuer assist as teenage makers put their boats together.

A young maker testing his design before moving it into the canal.

Mathea Linden prepares to guide a wayward boat back to the canal’s edge.

This event provided an introduction to CAD (Computer Aided Design) for 3D printing using TinkerCAD software. TinkerCAD (https://www.tinkercad.com/) is a free, online, and extremely easy to use app that is a great place to start learning how to design objects in 3D that can then be turned into physical objects with 3D printing. It also provides opportunities to design electronic circuits and experience visual coding.

Participants in the workshop were able to set up a TinkerCAD account, get hands on with the software designing their first original objects, and check out a demonstration of turning designs into reality with a 3D printer.

This workshop will be offered intermittently in the future. Keep an eye on our events page or join us to be notified.