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Makers come in all ages

By Cecilia Nasmith

Venture13, Eastern Ontario's newest innovation and entrepreneurship centre, is pleased to support the newly announced 2019 Winter and Spring Youth Programs being offered by the Northumberland Makers, a variety that includes digital video making, culinary and visual arts, coding, robotics and programming.

The Northumberland Makers are an anchor community partner organization to Venture13, teaching do-it-yourself skills and programming that foster project-based applied and experiential learning reflective of the history of Northumberland. This spans myriad field, including agriculture, manufacturing, education, and such innovative technologies as robotics, coding, prototyping, design and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics).

Northumberland Makers president Phil Mandryk said in the press release that the group believes in cultivating a strong maker community, “one that exchanges knowledge, collaborates and offers a communal area to make, create and inspire.

“Our new youth programs being offered at the MakerLab at Venture13 are supporting our mandate to offer community programming in an accessible social environment.”

The lab is described as an 800-sq.-ft. community makerspace that encourages applications of technologies. It is outfitted with such essential tools as 3D printers, an extensive tool library, the Mindcraft education edition, an oscilloscope, printed circuit boards, raspberry pi, sewing machines, a soldering iron, a compute- controlled vinyl cutting printing device and more.

Northumberland Makers is creating an incredible community impact, Mayor John Henderson stated, not least by creating opportunities for young people to learn, create and collaborate.

“I encourage youth to try out a course or two, visit the MakerLab and join their collaborative community,” the mayor said.

Upcoming programs include:

Digital Video Making, Feb. 20 and 27 and March 6 and 20 for young people in Grades 6 to 8 – Understand your camera better and learn about perspective, audio, the editing process and how to upload or stream, creating your own dynamic digital-video masterpieces (cost $120).

Culinary Arts, March 27 and April 3, 10 and 17 for young people in Grades 6 to 8 – Master the art of creating amazing meals (cost $150).

Visual Arts Making, April 24 and May 1, 8 and 15 for young people in Grades 6 to 8 – Explore and create with the Makers' Visual Arts Program, using various forms of media (paint, graphic art and more - $150 cost includes supplies).

Introduction to Coding and Robotics, Feb. 21, March 21 and 28, April 4, 11 and 25, May 2 and 9 for young people in Grades 6 to 9 – This introduction to coding and robotics will facilitate the ability to work with coding, computer programming, 3D printing and the power of LEGO Mindstorm (cost $300).

Advanced Coding and Programming, Feb. 21, March 21 and 28, April 4, 11, 18 and 25, and May 2 and 9 for young people in Grades 6 to 9 – Designed for youth with coding and computer experience, this advanced-level course expands their knowledge and test coding skills with projects like building a mobile escape room (cost $300).

For more about the programs offered by Northumberland Makers, please visit www.northumberlandmakers.ca and click on Programs.