I live in San Francisco, where “making” and “tinkering” has become a rite of passage for kids. Schools, public and independent, are building maker spaces. Libraries are hosting making workshops. And every summer, parents go to somewhat absurd lengths to get their kids into the stunningly popular Maker Camps that have popped up across the city. I know, I’m one of them. And it’s worth it, my now eight-year-old still remembers proudly the giant crocodile he built two years ago at a Maker Camp, and brags daily that he knows how to use a chop saw. To him, making equals fun, and first and foremost that’s what it is. But it’s also deeply empowering for young people, who learn through making to collaborate, evaluate and create.
