Maker Faire Silver Spring Held September 25

From Maker Faire Silver Spring:

SILVER SPRING, MD – Interactive activities and hands-on family fun abound at Maker Faire Silver Spring on Sunday, September 25th, 12:00-5:00pm at the Silver Spring Civic Building. Admission and activities are free to the public.

KID Museum organizes this festival for all ages which celebrates creative, hands-on electronics, art, engineering, science, and crafts activities. Maker Faire is a unique festival featuring the work of inventors, hackers, crafters, artists, and do-it-yourselfers of all kinds. Projects range from robotics and electronics, to metal working and larger-than-life interactive artwork.

Maker Faire Silver Spring is part of KID Museum’s ongoing effort to bring STEM learning to diverse populations, including those who are traditionally under-represented in STEM fields. KID Museum is committed to creating opportunities for all kids to engage in maker education, both in and out of schools. KID Museum has quickly become a leader in this arena, advising and partnering with schools about how to incorporate maker education into their curriculum, taking part in policy discussions and outreach events like National Robotics Week, and hosting Title I schools, as well as other public and private schools, at their start-up space in Bethesda’s Davis Library.

Along with two stages of live musical performances and entertainment, the Faire also features dynamic talks by local inventors who will present their unique and cutting edge projects, as well as exhibits and activities that include both fun and wacky inventions and serious science innovations:

• A giant robot “Operation” game and a Rube Goldberg Machine by 4H inventors
• Moveable Sculptures, a Bead Volcano, and Chaotic Chain Machines
• Demos and activities from NASA, Discovery Communications, and NOAA
• Homemade Laser Tag, Marble Machines, Wearable Electronics, Teen Blacksmithing
• 3-D printed prosthetics, e-textile shirt displaying real-time visualizations of how your body is working, water systems
• And robots everywhere you turn as well as so much more!

The organizer, KID Museum, will feature a number of hand-on activities that represent the types of programming visitors can experience throughout the year at KID Museum:

• Playable Pinball machines that have been created at the Museum
• Ping – an interactive flying ping pong ball machine powered by fans and created with clear tubes and magnetic fittings. “Ping” a message to your friends across the way!
• An exhibit of inventions by Young Makers who have participated in Museum programs
• Lumberyard Sculpture – a community, hands-on, ever growing sculpture—grab a hammer and construct!
• KID Museum Amateur Radio and Morse code activities
• Pipe Dream – an interactive ball and tube challenge
• A giant, responsive audio sculpture invented by KID Museum’s Creative Director, Gabriel Mellon
• Lego and KIBO Robotics with Arduino components

Maker Faire Silver Spring is free and open to the public. The event is accessible by the Silver Spring Metro station. Free parking is available in the nearby Town Center and Wayne Avenue garages. For more information, visit www.makerfairesilverspring.com.

Photo: Flying Sculptures at Maker Faire by Meyer Gladstone via Maker Faire Silver Spring.