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Event Info

Build beautiful and functional downspout planters

Event Start Date: Monday, Jul 17, 2023 | 9:00 am

Overview

When it rains in urban areas, the water meets impermeable surfaces and has few places to go. On its way to the storm drain, it tends to carry along all sorts of waste we'd rather not have in our watershed. One solution to this problem is to build downspout planters that catch the water from our roofs, filter it, and allow some to evaporate. It's an effective and beautiful solution, and all it requires is someone who knows how to make things.

In this project, 10 high school students will build 10 downspout planters for the new Vector Space building on Memorial Ave. Students will develop a design, they will be taught to use the tools required to build their design, and will ultimately work with wood, metal, stone, and PVC to bring their design to life. In the process, students will learn about stormwater and its importance to our community, and finally plant the beds with vegetation thoughtfully chosen.

Schedule

Start date: Monday, July 17
End date: Friday, July 21
Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm

Eligibility

This project is for students ages 14 to 19 (rising 9th through 12th grades). The registration fee is $250.

Partners

This project is a partnership with the Lynchburg Department of Water Resources.

Instructors

Adam Spontarelli

Adam began his career as a Mechanical Engineer in the Nuclear Industry, modeling the flow of fluid and heat through pipes and debris, around baffles and impellers, across differing liquids, gasses, and solids. If the laws of Thermodynamics seemed to misbehave and joules of energy went missing, Adam helped find them.

After nearly a decade in the field, he left his desk job to pursue his passion for science, engineering, and making by founding Vector Space. Adam has built coffee roasters, drones, thermally conductive LED boards, arcade machines, childrens' bikes, robotic painting pianos, smart thermostats, and everything in between. He's fascinated by the way things works, and the more technical it gets, the better.

The only thing he enjoys as much as making things is teaching others to make things. As the Director of Education, Adam is responsible for crafting educational programming that excites and engages students. He incorporates the compelling work of Makiguchi, Dewey, and Papert into his teaching methods, placing experiential learning at the forefront of his efforts. Adam has led students to build their own quadcopter, launch capsules into space, race RC cars at 60 mph, build giant flip books, custom bicycles, skateboards, autonomous boats, and so much more. His programs have been nationally recognized by the Nation of Makers and shared with the maker education community through Maker Ed. Adam is always coming up with new ideas and looking forward to the next adventure.

Lilly Meighan

Lilly is an enthusiastic educator focused on water, stewardship, and sustainability. Coming from a background in natural resources conservation, she currently serves as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Lynchburg Water Resources. In this position, she educates the Lynchburg community about complex engineering projects and makes them understandable, relatable, and fun to the non-engineer. Lilly also equips students with STEM skills in a K12 setting to inspire the next generation of environmental engineers and water stewards. Lilly has been recognized on state and national levels for her outreach and education programs. When she isn't teaching the public about built and natural water systems, you can find her on her small home farm tending to the gardens and chickens with her two spunky doggos. You might also run into her on the trail or in the forest hiking, fishing, and camping out of her homebuilt teardrop camper.

Application

Applications for this project are open through May 28, 2023.

All applications are anonymized before review by a selection committee. Applicants are chosen based upon maker experience, talent, and their passion for the content of this program.

All applicants will be notified of their selection status 3 weeks prior to the project start date. If accepted, payment must be made within one week of being notified.

Project Title *

Name of the project you are applying for.

Parent/Guardian

Parent's First Name *

Parent's Last Name *

Parent's Street Address *

Parent's City *

Parent's State *

Parent's Phone *

Parent's Email *

Legal

Photo Release *

Yes

I hereby authorize pledge to wear a mask while in doors at Vector Space's workshops and working place.

Applicant

First Name *

Last Name *

Gender *

Birth Date *

Month

Day

Year

Phone Number *

Email *

School *

What school do you attend?

Grade *

What grade are you currently enrolled in?

Interests *

Tell us why you're interested in participating in this project.

Goals *

What are your educational/academic goals over the next five years?

Prior Experience *

Tell us about your prior experience as it relates to this project. Be sure to include any First Friday activities or Workshops you've taken at Vector Space.

Dreams *

Tell us about something you wish you could make.

Attachments

If you have any photos of past work you would like to share, you can attach them here.

Add a new file

Files must be less than 15 MB.
Allowed file types: gif jpg jpeg png.

Commitment *

Can you commit to attending all scheduled meetings?

Yes

Financial Aid *

Do you require financial aid to participate in this project?

Yes

We are happy to offer needs-based scholarships for families that cannot afford the class registration fee. This scholarship is not merit-based, but reserved only for those in need of financial assistance. Your request for financial assistance will not be shared with the selection committee and therefore will not affect the decisions made regarding your application. Scholarships will cover the entire registration cost of the program, and are made possible by the generosity of Vector Space supporters. In order to qualify, your household income must fall within the Very Low or Extremely Low income brackets as defined by the department of Housing and Urban Development.

Annual Household Income

Number of people in household

Waterworks for Teens

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Overview

Schedule

Eligibility

Partners