Travis Sluss

Over twenty thousand students later, a pattern has emerged. When kids are given real tools, real projects, and real trust, something irreversible happens. WHERE IT STARTS There is a moment we see over and over across our five makerspaces. Some kids walk in a little unsure of what to expect. Maybe they have been told they are not a "math person" or a "science person." But most walk in curious, ready to make something. Either way, they sit down in front of a 3D printer or a circuit board or a...

If you have spent any time researching after-school programs, camps, or enrichment options for your child, you have probably come across the word "makerspace." It sounds interesting, maybe a little vague. Is it an art studio? A workshop? A science lab? A tech classroom? The short answer: yes. All of the above, and something more. A Makerspace, Defined A makerspace is a physical environment designed for hands-on creation, experimentation, and problem solving. It brings together tools,...

In 2011, we welcomed our first twelve students through the door of our 350 square foot space. There was no word yet for what we were building. "Makerspace" had barely entered the vocabulary of American education. What we had was a conviction: that kids learn best when they build things, break things, and figure out why. Our first location, back in 2011 🥹 Fifteen years later, more than 1,500 students learn with us every week, through our own locations and through the schools, libraries, and...