Tinker Camp

Schedule for 5 Days of Tinker Camp

  1. Want the schedule for the whole week?

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  2. Day 1
    Radical Robotics

    Learn what a robot actually is, make a wind-up toy painting, design your own robot & more!

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  3. Day 2
    Hands-On Hydraulics

    Learn how hydraulics work, make a plastic-cup squirt gun, build a hydraulic machine & more!

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  4. Day 3
    Playing with Illusions

    Learn about the science behind movie illusions, explore the evolution of special effects, make your own stop-motion movie & more!

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  5. Day 4
    Tinkering with Toys

    Learn all about automatons, visit a "cabinet of curiosities," explore toy product design at MIT, then build your own mechanical toy!

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  6. Day 5
    Seeing Stars

    Take a crash course in astronomy — learn about stars & why they shine, explore the constellations & plan a campout under the night sky!

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What you’ll need

  1. Kitchen Materials:
  2. aluminum foil
  3. bowl
  4. plastic wrap
  5. skewers or chopsticks
  6. straw (cut into 1-inch pieces)
  7. water
  8. Building Materials:
  9. plastic Luer lock syringes (if you don't have the Hydraulic Claw crate)
  10. plastic or silicone tubing to fit syringes (if you don't have the Hydraulic Claw crate)
  11. tube and syringes (if you have the Hydraulic Claw crate)
  12. mini electric motor (DC 1.5–3V)
  13. AA battery holder with leads
  14. AA battery
  15. tape
  16. duct tape
  17. brads
  18. stapler (optional)
  19. binder clips
  20. cotton swabs
  21. craft sticks
  22. push pins
  23. rubber bands
  24. springs
  25. string
  26. craft knife
  27. scissors
  28. wire strippers (optional)
  29. Recycled Materials:
  30. cardboard
  31. Tinker Crate boxes or shoebox (4)
  32. matchbox or other small box
  33. toilet paper tubes
  34. empty 2-liter bottle
  35. empty cracker boxes or other small boxes
  36. empty tissue box
  37. empty water bottle
  38. glass jar
  39. Art Materials:
  40. cardstock paper
  41. construction paper
  42. large sheet of paper
  43. printer paper or graph paper
  44. crayons, colored pencils, or markers
  45. pen and pencil
  46. liquid watercolor or food coloring
  47. glue
  48. pipe cleaners
  49. ruler
  50. wiggle eyes
  51. Other Materials:
  52. action figures or other portable toys
  53. wind-up toy
  54. balloon
  55. garden hose
  56. electric tea light
  57. flashlight or lantern
  58. pillows
  59. sleeping bags or blankets
  60. tent or sheet (optional)
  61. smartphone (or camera)
  62. Crates (Optional)
  63. Recipe Ingredients:
  64. marshmallows
  65. graham crackers
  66. chocolate bar

Keep exploring!