(Courtesy of Academies @ GBDS) 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, residents throughout New Jersey will come together on Friday, March 20 through Sunday, March 22, in libraries, schools, museums, colleges, makerspaces, businesses and other community locations.
NJ Maker Day is designed to be a statewide event that celebrates, promotes and in many cases introduces maker culture, as well as the values associated with making, tinkering and STEM-based learning. Previous NJ Maker Days drew over 85,000 individual attendees to more than 300 participating sites across all 21 counties in the state. Participating locations included schools, colleges and universities, libraries, museums and other educational organizations.
Makerspaces across the state are having a significant impact on education and job skills development by providing access to people, information, resources and tools that facilitate making to a wide variety of skill levels. NJ Maker Day allows communities to share hands-on programming opportunities, demonstrations and displays, and the expertise of the individuals and organizations that make, create and develop right in their own backyards.
“We are ecstatic to be able to bring this type of programming to the Bergen County/Oakland community,” said Sheila Barbach, Academies @ GBDS coordinator. “We are committed to finding ways to help people to learn new skills and to work collaboratively on exciting hands-on projects.”
Academies @ GBDS is proud to be a participating site for New Jersey Maker Day. Community members of all ages (4+) are invited to join them for an exciting day filled with activities focusing on maker culture, from 10 a.m.-noon on Sunday, March 22.
The event’s theme is “Invention and Innovation.” Multiple stations include 3D design and printing, circuitry and electronics, robotics and engineering.
For more information, please contact Barbach at 201-337-1111 or visit www.ssnj.org. Academies @ GBDS is located at 45 Spruce Street, Oakland, New Jersey 07436. Find out more about New Jersey Maker Day at www.njmakersday.org.
