Before you head to class you have to get dressed. Sewing and garment making seems to have become a rare specialization, but given the number of people who wear clothes, it's not clear why. Surely something as important as clothing is worth understanding.

Students in this camp are going to make their own t-shirt, sweat pants, flip-flops, and clothes hanger. For the shirts, we'll start from raw cotton and learn how to spin it into thread. From there we'll use a loom to weave the thread into a patch of fabric that will become a pocket. For the rest, we'll have to rely on bolts of fabric. You'll cut and sew your t-shirt and pants, screen print the t-shirt, and embroider the pants. Then you'll switch over to leather working to make your flip-flops, and finally finish in the metal shop, bending your own coat hangers.

By the end, you'll understand what you're wearing, and you'll gain first hand experience in:

• reading patterns
• spinning thread
• weaving fabric
• machine sewing
• serging
• graphic design
• machine embroidery
• screen printing
• leather work
• metal bending

This camp session is 5 days and 6 nights long and is led by two highly experienced maker educators at Vector Space. An RA will accompany students before and after Vector Space hours, and a local guide will lead students through cultural experiences at various Lynchburg events and locations.

General Schedule

Students arrive on campus on Sunday, July 19th. Check-in begins at 2pm, and a welcome dinner will take place that evening, where students will meet their fellow campers, RA, instructors, and cultural guide. For Monday through Friday, the general schedule is as follows.

7:00 - 8:30       Wake-Up and Breakfast
8:45 - 9:00       Bus to Vector Space
9:00 - 11:45       Vector Space program
11:45 - 12:30       Lunch and guest speaker
12:30 - 4:30       Vector Space program
4:30 - 4:45       Return to campus
4:45 - 6:00       Relaxation & Personal Time
6:00 - 7:00       Dinner
7:00 - 9:00       Evening Activity
9:00 - 9:30       Final Check-in
9:30 - 7:00       Room Curfew

Students will have an opportunity to present their work to the public at the conclusion of camp. Check out is Saturday morning after breakfast.

Eligibility

This camp is for rising college freshmen throughout the country.

Some experience with basic hand tools (hammer, drill, screwdrivers, etc) is expected, but far more important is your work ethic and ability to work independently. Prior technical knowledge is not expected or required; instructors will lead students through lessons to be followed by independant application of skills learned.

Registration

The tuition fee for this program covers housing, all meals, the course, supplies, and cultural activities from Sunday evening through Saturday morning. Airfare, transportation to and from the airport, meals purchased outside the program, and personal shopping are not included in this cost.

Student registration is processed on a first-come, first-served basis and guaranteed upon final payment. Payments are refundable until April 1st, 2020, after which they become non-refundable.

Tuition is $1100 through March 31st. Price increases to $1250 on April 1st. Payments are made via credit card under the Registration tab.

Learn More

We have written a high-level post about our Summer 2020 Maker Camps here. This post includes details about the camp host, Vector Space, as well as our boarding partner and the city of Lynchburg, VA. 

For details about curriculum and logistics (room and board, transporation, etc.) see our Makerveristy FAQ page.

For a deep dive into our educational philosophy and beliefs, click here.

Our Sponsor

This program is generously funded by Cognizant's Making the Future program, which seeks to inspire young learners to pursue science, technology, engineering and math disciplines by creating fun, hands-on learning opportunities.