COURT HOUSE – Technology will be a focal point of the Maker Space at the Cape May County 4-H Fair on July 21, 22 and 23. The Maker Space will return this year, even bigger and better, to the Lockwood 4-H Youth Center. Fair guests will be able to build, craft, create and learn what it takes to become a “maker” at the Maker Space.
A “maker” is someone who creates something with their hands and the maker community consists of a wide variety of interests and skill levels, from industry experts to garage tinkerers. It can be a fulltime job for some or a weekend project for others. The types of people who identify as makers is just as varied, from those who focus on home crafts, baking and preserving, to electronics experts to woodworkers, welders and 3D modelers.
Many makers are hobbyists, enthusiasts or students, but they also offer a wealth of innovation, a passion for creating new products and for producing value in the community. Some makers become entrepreneurs and start companies.
The Maker Space, at the 4-H Fair, is an interactive experience where invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and the people that make it happen, all come together.
The Technology Learning Center at the Cape May County Library is partnering with 4-H, once again, to make this space a fun, interactive area to visit. The space will be open all day, each day of the fair, with demos that will run all day long and projects displayed based on a schedule. Projects and demos will include circuitry and electronics, programming, robotics of various kinds, crafts, and much more.
According to Kara Brehm, Emerging Technologies Librarian at Cape May County Library, “There will be Lego Mindstorm Robots, a Digital Arts Computer where fair goers can create a finger paint masterpiece and email it to themselves. Also, there will be a button maker and Retro PI loaded with classic video games and many more surprises.”
Additionally, the Fuzzy Logic Robotics 4-H Club will be on hand with robotics projects for kids to try.
Linda Horner, 4-H Program Coordinator, said, “The maker space was such a success last year that we decided to bring it back again this year with much more space to explore and invent.. We would love for members of the community to stop by the maker space and show us what they’ve made.”
“We hope kids and adults alike will be inspired to take the initiative and find out what the maker movement means for them,” Brehm added. “The potential for original, inspirational ideas to become reality through exploration and lifetime education is something we endeavor to support and hope we can inspire more people to explore and learn at the 4-H Fair.” The Technology Learning Center operates the STEAM Engine “Maker” space at the Main Library all year long for residents and visitors to have fun while learning.
Fair-goers can expect to see many of the things they have come to enjoy at this year’s July 21-23 fair, including livestock and equestrian shows, chicken BBQ, live music, vendors, pony rides and a farmer’s market. Plus brand new “Knocker” Balls and inflatable bounce houses, a marine Touch Tank and attractions such as, mountain bike stunt shows, an expanded Children’s Discovery Farm, and a 4-H Color Fun Run on Saturday at 8 a.m.
Mark Your Calendars for the Fair:
The annual 4-H fair runs July 21-23 at the 4-H fairgrounds located at 355 Court House – South Dennis Road in Cape May Court House. Public hours for the fair are noon to 9 p.m. Thurs. and Fri. and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sat. Admission is free and there is a host of fun events Thurs. through Sat. Limited premium parking is available at the Atlantic Cape Community College campus, located next door to the fairgrounds, for a suggested $5 donation.
Free parking is available at the Crest Haven Complex with shuttle bus service to the fairgrounds starting at noon from the Cape May County Technical School on Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday. Buses are comfortable, air-conditioned and fully handicapped accessible. Take exit 11 east off the Garden State Parkway, and look for parking directions.
The 4-H Youth Development program is part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County. Volunteers are always needed to assist at the 4-H Fair. Please call (609) 465-5115 ext. 605 for more information. Learn more about the Cape May County 4-H Youth Development Program and the 4-H Fair at the 4-H Foundation website cmc4h.com
Cape May County – I’d like to suggest to the Herald that they leverage spout offs draw and replace some of the ads for their paper with a few paid ads that you probably can charge a little extra for. Lots of people…
