When we first descended on the tent, it was chaos at the car-making tables.  For nothing but ambition, kids could build rudimentary cars with wood and hardware supplied by the Maker Faire sponsors.  Better yet, they could test race them on a tiny track — think miniature soap box derby. 

Wandering inside the tent we found a dizzying mix of vendor booths for everything from solar panels to 3-D printers, and then, robots.  LOTS of robots.  Want to light the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fire in your young kids? … then bring them to a Maker Faire.  The place was oozing with teen boys and girls, eager to show off the contraption they’d poured six weeks of their life into creating. Sort of a team sport of the mind.  Additionally, there were adult tinkerers, who typically work on their pet projects in the garage or basement — out in the light of day, sharing their genius in science, engineering, art, performance and/or craft.  As the Maker Faire website explains, “part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new.”  And a bit over-stimulating … also a hallmark of the events.

Westport has hosted a Mini Maker Faire for three straight years, and Governor Malloy even got on board this year, declaring April 26 'Maker Day' in Connecticut.  Danbury also held a Mini Maker Faire last June.  There aren’t any more slated for CT this year, but you can MAKE one happen in your town!  They are independently produced celebrations, with licensing and support from a national organization, Maker Faire.  Why not be a part of the Maker Movement?!