Category Archives: Young Makers

TBMMF FIRST Teams Head to State Championship!

Posted on February 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

32 top Florida FIRST Tech Challenge teams are heading to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach this weekend, to compete in the Florida FTC State Championship on Saturday. Among them a couple of FTC teams that will be showcasing their skills and robots at the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire in March!

FTC Team Brick Buddies

FTC Team Duct Tape

Both Brick Buddies and Team Duct Tape, award winning community based FIRST Tech Challenge teams, are joining 30 other top teams from around the state, who made their way to the top in qualifying tournament, out of a field of over 60 FTC teams statewide.

Now it’s all on the line for a bid to the FIRST World Championship in St. Louis, MO in April!  To sweeten the experience further, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is offering 12 scholarships worth $20K each over four years, to participating teams in the FIRST Tech Challenge, Florida Championship.   How cool is that?!

Team Duct Tape and Team Brick Buddies Alliance at Middleton High School competition in Dec.

You can see the whole thing Livestreamed at 
http://www.flfirst.org/Florida_First_Tech_Challenge/Stream.html
 , where you can also see the day’s schedule and find a list of State Championship teams.

Go Brick Buddies and Team Duct Tape, and all these great Young Makers!

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Posted in Makers, Robotics, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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TBMMF Venue Tour: More Room for Makers & UACCC Rocks!

Posted on February 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

TBMMF toured our hosting facility, the University Area Community Center Complex today, and can’t sing the venue’s praises enough!  In addition to the beautiful outdoor patio space, UACCC is providing an equally spacious indoor community room space, and a great field for our TBMMF Food Truck Rally with  picnicking facilities under a shady forest of oaks!

We’ve confirmed the availability of sufficient power resources, wifi, tables and chairs for our Makers, space for electric race cars and robots, and plenty of parking and room to roam for our event attendees.

In short, the University Area Community Center Complex is made for a Mini Maker Faire, and we can’t think of a more wonderful home for the inaugural Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!

That said – We’ve got plenty of room to accommodate a few more Makers, indoors and out!

Here’s just some of the possibilities you can showcase:

  • Student Projects
  • Music Performance and Participation
  • 3D Printers and CNC Mill
  • Textile Arts and Crafts
  • Home Energy Monitoring
  • RC Toys
  • Sustainability
  • Green Tech
  • Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
  • Electronics
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
  • Food and Beverage Makers
  • Robotics
  • Puppets
  • Kites
  • Bicycles
  • Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
  • Unusual Tools or Machines
  • How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)

Individuals, groups, schools and organizations that would like to demonstrate what they make and/or how it works in an interactive environment can have exhibit space at no cost!

Individuals who would like to sell products along with demonstrating what they make at their Mini-Maker exhibit pay a $75 Commercial Maker exhibit fee.  Large companies and other commercial enterprises are welcome to participate as event Sponsors.

Maker Applications accepted through February 22!

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Hobbysts, Inventions, Makers, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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Electrathon of Tampa Bay Comes to TBMMF!

Posted on February 10, 2012 | 1 Comment

King High School Electrathon is coming to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire on March 31, to represent Electrathon of Tampa Bay and showcase their competitive electric race car.

An electrathon is a race of custom built three or four wheeled electric vehicles, somewhat similar in overall appearance to a Go-Kart, but powered by an electric motor and batteries. Electrathon class vehicles are principally defined and constrained by length and width (12 feet long and 4 feet wide maximum) and by battery weight and chemistry (73 lbs, sealed lead acid). The basic format is to determine which car can travel the furthest distance in one hour’s time within the limitations of battery weight and other factors mentioned above.

King High School’s Electrathon Car will be at our event, and they may have their second care, currently under construction, on hand as well. We’re delighted to welcome King High School and Electrathon of Tampa Bay to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!

 

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, Hobbysts, New technology, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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12 Year Old Brickstix Inventor Wins Tagie Award

Posted on February 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

BrickStix Clings are reusable, removable and restickable cling decals. They work like window clings, and can be reused almost indefinitely, and even washed if they get dirty. More impressively, they were invented by 12 year old Greyson McClean, who recently won a Tagie Award for BrickStix Clings. Check out this great video of Greyson on the Conan O’Brien show in November.

“I’m just glad everyone followed behind my crazy idea!,” Greyson told his local Wisconsin television station. “I’ve kind of learned that if I hadn’t believed in myself, I couldn’t have expected anyone else to believe in me.”

Good advice, from a smart young inventor!

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Posted in Craftspeople, Entrepreneurs, Inventions, Makers, Young Makers

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Young Maker Hunter Morera at MOSI Feb. 4

Posted on February 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

A couple of years ago, when he was just 16 years old, Hunter Morera developed his then patent pending Select-a-Wrench, a sort of Swiss Army bunch-a-wrenches in one tool. Over the ensuing two years, Morera, of  Lutz,  has appeared on the Discovery Channel’s Pitchmen, and his Select-a-Wrench tool is now being sold in Walmart and other stores.

Tomorrow, Feb. 4, you can meet Hunter, and pitchman Anthony Sullivan, at MOSI from 11 AM to noon, where Hunter will share his story on “creating an innovative product while overcoming personal challenges”  Hunter’s personal challenges – he was born with a heart defect that’s required five open heart surgeries. Details are on the MOSI calendar.  Go get inspired!

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Inventions, Makers, Young Makers

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Red Rover Red Rover can you ROVer Underwater?

Posted on February 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

Sure you can! Especially with ROV in a Bag, thanks to a national partnership headed up by the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center in an effort to improve marine technical education in the U.S. and to meet the workplace needs of America’s marine-related workforce and employers.

ROV in a Bag lets you  build and fly your own ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) in just a few minutes – and it’s coming to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!  Check out the video below from a past competition, and visit 
http://www.materover.org
 to learn more, see more videos and find some great marine ROV educational resources!

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Posted in Contests, DIY, DIY Fun, Hobbysts, Inventions, Makers, RC, Robotics, ROV, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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TBMMF Application Deadline Extended to Feb. 22!

Posted on February 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

The variety of Maker applications rolling in has inspired us to extend our application deadline to February 22. Why? Because we’re curious, and curiosity is good. And because we still have a little room left, and we want to see what other wonderful stuff you can help us fill our space with!

In addition to our fantastic Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Truck Rally, some remarkable commercial Makers (to be announced soon!), our community Makers include:

The West Central Florida Section of the National Association for Amateur Radio is joining us – “Amateur radio operators (hams) were the original Makers and Hackers,” they tell us. “Using new, used and scavenged parts to make transmitters, receivers, and antennas capable of communication with other hams anywhere on Earth. From microchips and robotics to time and space itself, the Makers within the Amateur Radio ranks build and explore new way to play with the radio spectrum. The Core Purpose of the ARRL: To promote and advance the art, science and enjoyment of Amateur Radio. ”   They’ll have some gear you can try your hand at!

The Tampa Bay Inventors Council is a 28 year old group in Tampa Bay that supports “the inventive spirit in us all”. They help educate new inventors about inventing and spread the innovation concept. Look for some innovative things at their exhibit!

The University of South Florida Robotics Interest Group , who will have on hand a variety of their robots, including four fighting robots from 3lbs all the way up to 220lbs, and an autonomous balance bot.

Our Young Makers with their NetBot invention – “ a generic open robot platform designed to be simple to modify to do whatever you want it to do. The goal of the robot is to be a cost efficient way for you to play with bigger robots. The main feature of the robot is the processor, which can be pretty much any kind of netbook or laptop you happen to have laying around the house.”  They hope to be able to drive it around our Mini Maker Faire .

Plus cars, arts, and more!  Don’t see something you do here – then join us and share what you Make with Tampa Bay!

 

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Florida Inventors, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Makers, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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Call for Makers Open through January 31!

Posted on January 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Want to be a Maker at the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire?  If you’re just demoing, it’s free!  We welcome crafts, engineering, music, robots, workshop digital fabrication, energy, demonstrations, performances, projects and anything home made, innovative, instructive, artistic and interesting!

Our  Tampa Bay Mini Maker application is now live, and we’ll accept applications through the end of January!

Applying

The first step to participating in our Mini Maker Faire is to submit an entry that tells us about yourself and your project. Entries can be submitted from individuals as well as from groups such as hobbyist clubs and schools. We’ll want a short description of what you make and what you will actually bring to Maker Faire, along with links to photographs or videos of what you make. We particularly encourage exhibits that are interactive and that highlight the process of making things.   Here’s some of what we’re looking for:

  •  Student Projects
  • Music Performance and Participation
  • 3D Printers and CNC Mill
  • Textile Arts and Crafts
  • Home Energy Monitoring
  • RC Toys
  • Sustainability
  • Green Tech
  • Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
  • Electronics
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
  • Food and Beverage Makers
  • Robotics
  • Puppets
  • Kites
  • Bicycles
  • Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
  • Unusual Tools or Machines
  • How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)

Types of Makers

Makers: Individuals, groups, schools and organizations that would like to demonstrate what they make and/or how it works in an interactive environment. For Maker groups, schools & organizations, we ask that you have one point person to coordinate your group efforts. Makers do not pay a fee to exhibit at Maker Faire for non-commercial exhibits.

Commercial Makers: Individuals who would like to sell products along with demonstrating what they make at their Mini-Maker exhibit. If you are a Maker with a product that you would like to sell at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, please let us know us that you are a Commercial Maker on your application.  There is a $75 fee for commercial makers.

Please note, companies or commercial entities do not qualify as Commercial Makers. If you are a company or commercial entity, please see our Sponsor page.

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Posted in DIY, DIY Fun, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Hobbysts, Inventions, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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Calling All Robots for the TBMMF Robot Makers Round Up!

Posted on January 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

The Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire is looking for robots! We’re going to have the NetBot  we reported on earlier, but we want to see more robots!

We know there are a lot of FIRST teams in the area, and we know our Mini Maker Faire is being held right after the Orlando FRC Regional , and the Florida FTC State Championship and the FLL State Championship . The Mini Maker Faire is just before the VEX State Championship in April.

But we’re inviting teams from FIRST and VEX and robotics hobbyists to join us for a special Robot Makers Round Up, at the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire on March 31.

If you can join us, email us at info@learningis4everyone.org by the end of January, and let us know!  Robots ROCK! And there’s no better place than our Mini Maker Faire to show everyone why!

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Hobbysts, Inventions, Makers, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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10 Year Old App Maker creates Jack’s Rosters

Posted on January 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

Inventor’s Digest reports this week on 10 year old north Florida foodball  fan, Jack Templeton, who has created Jack’s Rosters, a college football roster app.

The 99-cent app provides users with all 120 Division I college football team rosters and schedules, as well as 13,152 player profiles. Jack and his father, Tim Templeton, believe Jack’s Rosters is the fastest and most user-friendly roster app on the market.

“My app is so easy to use and has so much cool information, every college football fan should download it,” Jack told Inventor’s Digest.

His whole family is getting in on the app development act, with his little brother and sister helping produce and count laminated rosters and his mom and dad helping with social marketing.  Another Young Maker on his way…

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Posted in DIY, Florida Inventors, Inventions, Young Makers

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