The Judy B. McDonald Public Library is excited to announce it has been selected as an official Maker Camp Affiliate this summer. 

The free six week program will kick off on Monday, July 6, 2015 for young Makers interested in DIY, making, creating, crafting, hacking, tinkering, and learning. Each Monday through Friday from July 6, 2015 to August 14, 2015, the library will host an open Making session from 2:00-3:00 p.m.  Materials and instructions will be provided to make a project based on the week’s theme. 

This year's themes include: Far-Out Future, Flight, Fun and Games, Fantasy, Funkytown, and Farmstead, which will challenge every participant to learn new skills across a wide range of interests. “We’ve only recently implemented our Makerspace, and so we are thrilled with the opportunity to expand further thanks to the Maker Camp organization,” says Crystal Hicks, assistant library director.  “We’ve been working hard to develop our program and gather tools like soldering irons, electronics components and other building materials, and the Maker Camp will be providing even more to add to our collection.  We want as many kids as possible to have a chance to take part, so we’re setting aside an hour to make every day, in addition to our already established Makerspace programs.” 

There is a virtual aspect as well, and participants can connect with a global community of Makers through a variety of sources, including virtual fieldtrips and podcasts.  Past field trips have included virtual visits to LEGO, Google, NASA, The Smithsonian, the White House, Pixar, and CERN. 

More information is available on the library’s website, www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us/library and at www.makercamp.com.  There is no registration for the daily drop-in camp, and the target group is beginning makers from 8-12 years old.