Walsh celebrates another year of imagination at the first annual Makerfest.
Inspiration, education and just plain fun were the tenets of the 2019 Makerfest, held May 19th at the Maker Yard outside the Walsh Makerspace. Guests mingled between engaging stations that celebrated everything from the landscape of our community to the latest in digital technology, giving everyone who attended an interactive afternoon they’ll remember for years to come.
Activities and vendors were chosen to appeal to makers of all ages, with our youngest creatives enjoying painting their own rocket ship or robot shaped piggy banks. Meanwhile, teens loved driving the Aledo High School Robotics Team’s brigade of custom robots. As a qualifier for both the UIL state meet and the FIRST World Championships (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), this local club helps high school students master the intricacies of robotics.
Attending children were also fond of the Makerfest’s Claymation area showcasing the work of children’s author Amanda Garner, whose book Talent Tails was a hit at the Makerspace grand opening. Her exploration of creating characters for stop motion animation engaged the littlest imagineers.
Meanwhile, between sampling craft cocktails from the mobile bar Trucky and enjoying food from Taco Heads and Texas Ice Cream, the grown-ups got up close and personal with the latest in high tech from Click Here Labs. They (finally) learned how to solve a Rubik’s Cube and explored advances in facial recognition technology.
Adults also had the opportunity to purchase native Texas plants and shrubs at the Gold Landscape area near the greenhouse. Staff was on hand to help educate guests on the best ways they can both beautify their homes and conserve water while updating the landscape of their homes.
A beloved fixture of living at Walsh, the Makerspace was refreshed last year to encompass new areas for 3D printing, soft arts and crafts for children. Residents who haven’t yet explored this amenity can take advantage of a full schedule of summer camps launching June 11th, including sessions on Solar Science, LEGO Robotics, Tabletop Catapults, and Raspberry Pi Basics. Kids can indulge their theatrical side with an Acting Up workshop, or build a telescope to do some summer star-gazing on Astronomy Nights.
