The maker movement in the United States isn’t just a hobby; it’s having a significant impact on school curriculum development and growing local economies. To celebrate making and maker culture, Academies at GBDS was turned into a Maker Lab on Friday, March 25. This year’s theme, “Making Our Way into Spring,” speaks to the timing of the event between Purim and Passover. Maker stations included making origami circuits, kites and parachutes and spring-loaded cars and rockets.

NJ Makers Day is designed to be a statewide event that celebrates, promotes, and in many cases may introduce maker culture, as well as the values associated with making, tinkering and STEM-based learning. In 2019, New Jersey Makers Day drew over 83,000 individual attendees to more than 300 participating sites across 20 counties in the state. Academies at GBDS is proud to be a participant and a hosting location for the fifth year.