Tinker Club
Do you like to tinker with machines and electronics? Chances are good that other kids at your school do too. These days, there’s a huge emphasis on learning about digital skills like software and coding. Far less time is spent learning about how the hardware beneath the electronics works. Think about starting a club at your school where you get together with other like-minded kids and work on building and fixing machines. Figure out what you’d like to work on - old computers, clocks, blenders, toasters - and then start a collection from the community. You might even be able to get everything you need from the other club members. Make sure you pick a faculty advisor who’s excited about the project, and who knows something about tinkering him or herself. Have fun, it will be a great learning experience!
How do I get started? Download our PDF, and start approaching potential advisors at your school.
How do I expand this narrative arc? Building on the success of your club you should consider one or more of the many other urban interventions. For example:
Launch a community-wide Electronics/Appliance recycling campaign. Take what you need for your club, and donate or dispose of the rest through appropriate channels.
Help your community develop a comprehensive Recycling Strategy and Plan.
If you love engineering and are keen to learn more about and experiment with design solutions you should have a look at the amazing Engineering Design summer program at Cooper Union in New York City.
HOT TIP: Tinkering with electronics is something that kids rarely do these days. Think about whether there are categories of electronics or small appliances (think: toasters, clocks, printers, computers, used toys like remote control cars and more) that you could collect as part of the launch of a tinkering program at your school. It’s an amazing opportunity for you to up-cycle community waste for a good cause while simultaneously introducing a really fun and educational program at your school.