Hyde Sq. Task Force, Boston Makers to Offer Summer Workshops

Jamaica Plain-based Hyde Square Task Force is teaming up with Boston Makers to offer summer maker workshops for children, teens and adults in the area. 

The hands-on evening workshops will begin on Tuesday, July 1 and run through Tuesday, Aug. 12, and will combine electronics with everyday crafts. No prior experience with electronics is necessary to participate. 

The workshops are free and open to the public and will take place at the Youth Community Development Center behind the Blessed Sacrament Church at 361 Centre St. in Jamaica Plain. 

Those interested in taking part should sign-up in advance to ensure a seat. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, organizers said. 

To register, click here.

Below are details on the workshops to be held this summer, provided by Hyde Square Task Force. 

Making an Electronic Summer Hat

• Two sessions: Tuesdays, July 1 & July 8
• 7-9 p.m.

Impress your friends and family with a hat that lights up, sparkles, and glows in different colors! Participants will create a design for the hat in the first workshop and learn how to sew washable microcontroller into it in the second workshop. Workshop participants need to bring any kind of summer hat they would like to decorate. 

Electronic Greeting Cards

• Two Sessions: Tuesdays, July 15 & July 22
• 7-9 p.m.

Surprise someone by giving them a card that you created yourself that lights up! You will brainstorm a design for a personal greeting card in the first workshop and then create it using conductive paint and an electric battery in the second. All materials will be supplied.

Experimenting with Makey Makey

• One Session: Tuesday, July 29
• 7-9 p.m.

MaKey MaKey is easy to use microcontroller that can be used to replace a computer keyboard so things like bananas and twizzlers can be used to create music when you hook it up to a computer. You will experiment with different materials that can be used to create music with the Makey Makey. All materials will be supplied.

Drums Electric

• Two Sessions: Tuesdays, Aug. 5 & Aug. 12
• 7-9 p.m.

Create 2-3 drums of different sizes and shapes and embed LED lights into so that they light up when you play! All materials will be supplied.

To learn more about markerspaces in the Jamaica Plain area or to become involved, visit bostonmakers.org.