At Building Momentum, skillsets are taught in record time. As we write this, eight scouts are half-way through an 18-hour Innovation Academy Exploring Program designed to teach youth ages 15-22 skills in fabrication. This six session program focuses on: welding, 3d printing, robotics and coding.
When I walked into session three of the program, I wasn’t sure what to expect. If you’ve 3d printed before, you know that the printing itself is the driest and can go on for hours. At Building Momentum, the youth were not twiddling their thumbs though! They got into another experience while they waited: assembling 3d printers from new-in-box conditions. This offered an excellent understanding the components and mechanics of the printer.
As I looked around the room, I saw some scouts tending to their 3d prints, others assembling brand new 3d printers, and some designing in TinkerCAD. All with confidence that truly impressed me; and that is what Building Momentum truly does. They find people who are willing to work with their hands, and empower them to do so.
It’s worth noting this was only their first session focused on 3d printing. In their next meeting, these youth will dive deeper into designs using Fusion 360. The final two sessions will take on coding and robotics.
In the first two sessions, scouts had already welded. Some kids welded together metal frogs, some wrote their name in metal. Not just to earn a merit badge, but to really develop confidence, comfort and skills holding a welder.
If you’re interested in these opportunities, Innovation Academy will repeat the program in fall: Oct 2, 16, Nov 6, 20, Dec 4 & Dec 18, 2023. Take a look at the NCAC STEM page where all our events are listed!
And if your scout just can’t wait until then, we have an event for you.
Summer Camps
Innovation Academy designed 2 summer weeks specifically for scouts. In these camps, students may earn 4 awards: Model Design and Building, Electronics, Welding merit badges and The Next Big Thing Nova Award, all in 1 week! Students will get hands-on experience working with:
- CAD
- 3D printing
- Laser cutting
- Soldering
- Welding
Students will get the real-world experience of time management while completing several hands-on projects throughout the week. This is a fast-paced camp best for students who are eager to learn and put in the hard work.
Rising grades 7-12 | June 26 – 30 OR August 7 – 11, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The fee is $500, and Military and Family Discounts 10% Off. Link to register: https://buildmo.com/youth-program-offerings
