Oh, the abundance of riches! This weekend boasts two Maker Faires within reach of fans in the Northeast.
On Saturday, September 29, the first-ever Champlain Mini Maker Faire will take place at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont. Put together by aerospace engineer and Vermont Education Coordinator Doug Webster, President the National Association for Workforce Improvement, the Faire will be a showcase for the DIY community in the Green Mountain state.
The new Faire is off to a big start. Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway and founder of the FIRST robotics competitions will be arriving by helicopter to give the keynote speech. The theme of the day is flying, and there will be balloons, blinkies, quadrocopters, and much more. More than 40 Makers, hacking collectives and companies are expected to be exhibiting, including Vermont Makers, the Vermont Technology Alliance, and Burlington-based hackerspace Laboratory B.
I wish I could go to Vermont this week and enjoy the festivities — but alas, I must miss it this year, because I’ll be helping to man the GeekMom/GeekDad booth at World Maker Faire New York at the Hall of Science in Queens! Together with fellow GeekDad writers Dave Giancaspro and Brian McLaughlin, as well as fellow GeekMoms Helene McLaughlin, Andrea Schwalm, Amy Kraft, Rebecca Angel, and Cindy Ortiz (with a visit from Ruth Suehle), we’ll be sharing building projects, hosting giveaways, and getting to know our fellow geek parents. I’m particularly thrilled to be bringing make-and-take projects from my new book Robotics: Discover the Science and Technology of the Future and the forthcoming Geek Mom: Projects, Tips and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st Century Families, co-written by Natania Barron, Corrina Lawson, Jenny Williams and me.
On Sunday, I’ll also be giving a talk about “Low Tech/No Tech Robotics Projects for Kids” and signing books in the Maker Shed at 11:30 and the Make: Live stage at 3:30. I’m looking forward to meeting fellow robot fans including GeekDad Community Member Andrew Terranova of Let’s Talk Robots.
Of course, there will be a lot more than just us to see. World Maker Faire New York features over 500 exhibitors, shows and speakers, with lots and lots of hands-on activities for kids. Check out the program, and plan your trip in advance. There’s more to see than you can fit in one weekend!
World Maker Faire New York takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30. So if you can, check out the Champlain Mini Maker Faire on Saturday and then come on down to Queens! And if you do, be sure to come chat with the GeekMoms and GeekDads. We’ll be looking for you!
