Focus:  Developing the core skills required to be a confident Maker in our program and a potential candidate for our STEM Academy - by invitation only.
- Students progress at your own pace and participants continue where they left off from course to course

Download our information package: Overview of our programs

Target:· Ages 9 to 12+

Physical Locations:

Abbotsford Location: Abbotsford Christian Middle School on Tuesdays from 4-6pm
- During the Covid-19 restrictions, this will be a virtual program with weekly meetings via Zoom and google classroom

Chilliwack Location: UFV Trades and Technology campus on Mondays and Thursdays from 4-6pm
- During the Covid-19 restrictions, this will be a virtual program with weekly meetings via Zoom and google classroom

Course length /  fee: 

7-week course (14 hours) 
- Courses offered from Sept.-Oct., Nov.-Dec., Jan.-Feb. and April-May each year
- Our camps (spring break or summer break) are extensions of this program

Fees: $190.00 CND + GST per course

Jr. Makerspace Steps:

STEP 1 - Introduction to coding/robotics course
- Mandatory for all new participants in our program regardless of age
- Approx. 20 hours to complete
WHEN: Offered on Tuesdays from 4-6pm

STEP 2 - Maker Menu course
Maker Menu items: Focus on coding, electronics, digital design for digital manufacturing
- Introduction to various technical skills: (Including but not limited to)
Advanced EV3 robotics, introduction to digital manufacturing – 3D design, InkScape software (for 3D printing and laser cutting), introduction to coding (Scratch, Blockly, JavaScript, Python, Arduino IDE), MakeBlock, Raspberry Pi, Learn to MOD - Minecraft, video game design using GameMaker / Unity, littleBits, MakeyMakey, Micro:Bit, OttoBot, Edison robot, Strawbees QuickBot, MakeDo, SumoBot project, K8 robot, ElecFreak kits, SparkFun kits, Kano, Piper, robot and robotics arm build project, learning to solder etc.
WHEN: Offered on Thursdays from 4-6pm

Must Purchase Equipment - Building the Maker Toolbox
- This equipment will be needed for our Sr. STEM Academy options

1. Introduction to the MicroBit microcontroller (please order now)
- Purchase required:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/15228

2. Introduction to Arduino Uno microcontroller (please order now)
- Purchase required:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14556

3. Introduction to autonomous design (please order now)
- Purchase required:
https://www.inksmith.ca/pages/k8-robotics-kit

4. Introduction to Game Design
- Potential purchase required: (wait to purchase - depends on Sr. STEM Academy focus)
https://www.yoyogames.com/get
- This module is required for the Game Design cohort 

Other: Work on various interest projects with support
- building on the introductory modules listed above

Skill set developed:

Self-regulation, maturity, focus, teamwork skills, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, personal drive/interest, being resilient, attention to details, following instructions, independent learning, core technical skills, computational thinking, and thinking like an engineer