A Week of Discovery at Nova Labs Summer Camp
- Amanda Jarvis
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
Summer is officially underway at Nova Labs, and what an incredible first week it was! Campers filled the makerspace with curiosity, creativity, and excitement as they explored new tools, learned new skills, and built projects they were proud to take home.
Makerspace Explorers: Learning by Making
Mr. Aadil kicked off the summer with our Makerspace Explorers camp, where students were introduced to the many tools and technologies that make Nova Labs such a unique place to learn.
One of the week's biggest highlights arrived on the very first day when Mr. Aadil unveiled his fully functional 3D printed Gashapon machine, inspired by the popular Japanese "gacha" capsule toy machines. The machine even used custom 3D printed coins that campers could exchange for prizes. It immediately became the mystery of the week as campers tried to figure out how the machine worked.
The adventure began with Tinkercad, a web based computer aided design (CAD) program where campers designed personalized keychains before watching them come to life in our FDM 3D printing lab. They also explored Tinkercad's electronics simulator to build and test simple circuits, giving them an introduction to both digital design and basic electronics.
As the week continued, campers explored one new fabrication tool after another. They designed custom stickers using our vinyl cutters, created personalized T shirts with heat press vinyl, and learned how to prepare files for the laser cutter to produce custom wooden boxes. After cutting their designs, they personalized their boxes with paint and wood burning tools.
Inspired by the Gashapon machine, campers spent the second part of the week working in small teams to engineer their own cardboard capsule machines. Through brainstorming, prototyping, testing, and redesigning, they discovered that engineering is often about experimenting and improving ideas along the way.
To wrap up the week, campers learned one final makerspace skill: soldering. Each student assembled and soldered a blinking Nova Labs badge to take home as a reminder of everything they had accomplished.
Throughout the week, campers collected stamps in their Maker Passport, marking each new tool and skill they mastered. They finished camp with a behind the scenes tour of Nova Labs, exploring even more of the shops and imagining what they'll create next.
Shop Foundations: Building Skills That Last
Back in the shops, Mrs. Marie and Ms. Shelly welcomed teens into Shop Foundations, where students learned the fundamentals of working safely and confidently in a makerspace while creating projects that blended woodworking, art, and design.
Campers began by crafting hand bound wooden journals. After learning scroll saw safety, they carefully cut intricate covers before finishing them with colorful paint and decorative details.
Next, they dove into the fascinating world of resin art. Students learned how to safely measure, mix, tint, and pour resin while creating layered topographic maps inspired by rivers, lakes, ponds, and coastlines. They finished their pieces using stains and wood burning techniques, transforming them into beautiful wall art.
The week concluded with custom layered wooden name signs inspired by graffiti art. Each camper brought their own personality into the project through creative painting, color choices, and finishing techniques, resulting in a collection of truly one of a kind pieces.
A Great Start to Summer
The first week of camp was filled with first experiences, creative problem solving, and plenty of smiles. Whether designing in CAD, soldering electronics, pouring resin, or building with cardboard, campers discovered that making is about more than learning to use tools. It is about developing confidence, creativity, and the willingness to try something new.
We cannot wait to see what the rest of the summer brings.
Join Us at Makerschool
There's always something new to make at Nova Labs! Whether you're interested in summer camps, after school programs, or hands on workshops, we'd love to welcome you into our makerspace.
See upcoming camps and classes for kids.