Maker Nexus Classes
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Kinds of classes
At Maker Nexus, an important part of our mission is not just to provide access to equipment but to teach people to use it safely and effectively. Our motto: "We Grow Makers." In keeping with that goal, we offer various kinds of classes on various kind of equipment to students various ages and experience levels.
BOSS Classes
"I want to use the <fill in the blank>." Before you can use one of the more sophisticated or dangerous tools at Maker Nexus, you need to complete a Basic Operation and Safety Standard (BOSS) Class. These classes typically last 1.5 hours; woodshop classes cover a number of different machines at once and could be 3 hours long. Most of these classes do not require any prior knowledge or experience and can be taken in any order you would like.
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Check-offs: If you already really know how to use the equipment well, you can arrange for a proctor to do a check-off with you. You must have direct experience with that machine or a very close parallel.
Check-off procedure:
- Send a Slack direct message to any manager (currently: Eric Hess, Sarah Kramer, or Rusty Hopewell) with the most relevant experience you have on this equipment.
- One of the managers will approve your request for a check-off, or let you know that you need to take the BOSS class.
- If approved, the manager will help you coordinate a check-off with one of our volunteer proctors.
- The proctor will conduct the check-off test and report back to the manager.
- The manager will make the final decision of whether you can use the equipment now or need to take the BOSS class.
Note: If you took a BOSS class before you became a member, your profile might not be up to date in our system. Please send an email to <info@makernexus.org> to remind us of the BOSS classes you took. We will check our records and update your profile.
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Project Classes
These classes have a specific thing that you build. Small, large, difficult, easy—each class teaches the skills and walks you through the process. At the end you will have something to take home, and you will know enough to try it again on your own.
Skill Classes
All of our classes help you grow your skills, but these classes are specifically designed to increase your skill in a certain area. There isn't necessarily something to take home except the knowledge that you can now do something better.
Youth Programs
Day camps, week-long camps, after-school programs. All aimed at keeping your child engaging in hands-on making activities with a STEM focus.
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Class schedules
Youth Program Schedule
Our list of currently-scheduled youth programs is here. You can also get to it by clicking "Education" below the title box on the Maker Nexus home page and selecting "Youth STEAM Sign Up" from the drop-down menu.
Adult Class Schedule
Our list of currently-scheduled classes open to adults is here. You can also get to it by clicking "Education" below the title box on our home page and selecting "Classes & Workshops" from the drop-down.
Note: While "adult" classes have no upper age limit, lower age limits vary. Some may be open to students as young as 12. Class listings link to descriptions on Activity Hero which will give the age range for each class and specify cases where we require that younger students be accompanied by an adult.
Class and Event Calendar
The lists described above group sessions by class name, so that you can see all scheduled dates for any class together. Our class and event calendar lists upcoming events in date order. It includes classes for all age groups as well as other events at Maker Nexus, such as lectures and meetings. You can also get to this calendar from our home page by clicking "Class Calendar" on the right hand side of the title box. The calendar comes up in a "month view" with columns for each day of the week; clicking the "Agenda" tab will give you a view with each event on a separate full-width line.
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Requesting Classes
If there are no scheduled sessions of a class currently available, or none at times that fit your schedule, you can request one. We recommend that members make class requests by posting to the #class-requests Slack channel, which has the advantage that other members interested in the class may see your request and make their interest known, allowing the education team to schedule a session at a time that works for everyone. You can also make class requests by email to <training@makernexus.org>.
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Registering for Classes
We use Activity Hero for class registrations. Class listings in either of the calendars described above include links to registration forms. To register, you will need to have an Activity Hero account, which you can create for yourself via the Activity Hero website.
Not just for kids Activity Hero was originally designed as a platform for organizations offering classes and camps for kids, and some of the wording on their site reflects that. Don't be misled! While Maker Nexus offers a variety of programs especially for young makers, most of our classes are primarily designed for adults. Some of those are also accessible to kids; other are restricted, for safety and insurance purposes, to persons aged 16 and over. See individual class descriptions on Activity Hero for any minimum or maximum age restrictions.
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Cancellation Policy
Cancellations and changes of class reservations are subject to our Class/Workshop/Event Cancellation and Change Policy. The policy also covers classes cancellations and changes by Maker Nexus.
Suggestions for Classes
Our education program is under continual development. If you have an idea for a class we could offer, you can tell us about it by sending email to <training@makernexus.org> or by posting to the #classideas Slack channel.
Class Notes
You can find handouts for many of our classes within the Education folder on the MN Members Google Drive. Be aware, however, that some documents you find there may be in early stages of development.
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List of BOSS Classes
Our BOSS class offerings will change as we bring new equipment online, and occasionally as we retire equipment. We aim always to offer BOSS classes for tools that we make available to members and that require training to operate safely.
Wood Shop
- BOSS Woodshop I: Tools for Wood Preparation
- BOSS Woodshop II: Saws & Sanders
- BOSS Woodshop III: Router Fundamentals
- BOSS Woodshop IV: Introduction to Lathe
- BOSS Woodshop V: CNC Router
- BOSS Woodshop: Drum Sander
- BOSS Woodshop: Dovetail Jig
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Metal Shop
Laser Cutters
- BOSS: 45W Laser Cutter, Epilog Helix
- BOSS 100W Laser Cutter, BossLaser LS2440
- BOSS Laser Rotary Attachment
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Textiles/Vinyl
- BOSS Walking Foot Industrial Sewing Machine
- BOSS: Barudan CNC Embroidery Machine
- BOSS Vinyl Cutter & Heat Press
- BOSS: SUMMA Vinyl Thermal Printer & Cutter
- BOSS Direct to Garment Printer
- BOSS 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3
Glass/Jewelry
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List of Project Classes
Our project class offerings may vary over time depending on demand and instructor availability. The following examples are representative of project classes we have offered.
- Laminated Cutting Board (2 Sessions)
- Project: Turn a Wood Pen on the Lathe
- Woodshop Project - Make a Side Table
- VERTICAL MILL WS : Make a Bottle Opener
- Tote Bag Workshop: Introductory Sewing
- Intro Sewing: Make an Apron
- Workshop: Intro Sewing - Halloween Edition!
- Workshop: Beginning Sewing - Pillows
- 3D Pleated Mask Making
- Workshop: Latex Garment Construction
- Workshop: Laser Cut Picture Puzzle
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- Valentine's Workshop: Create a Puzzle Card
- Make a Silver Kitty Ring -Silver Solder Workshop
- Metal Fold Forming Workshop - Make a Bracelet
- Workshop: Moldmaking and Resin Casting RPG Dice
- WORKSHOP: Desk Fan: soldering 1
- Soldering: UV LED Puzzle Variable Nightlight
- Beginner IoT Wearable LED Costuming with M5Stack
- Workshop: Laser Lab
- LASER WORKSHOP: Make a refillable notebook cover
- Harriet Tubman Stamp making Workshop
- Intro to Internet of Things
- Project: Pumpkin Glass Beads & Lampworking
- Intro to Leather Workshop: Make a Small Purse
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List of Skill Classes
Our project class offerings may vary over time depending on demand and instructor availability. The following examples are representative of skill classes we have offered.
- Workshop: Wood Lathe Bowl Turning Techniques
- Tool Sharpening I: Lathe Gouges on Wolverine Jig
- Tool Sharpening II: Lathe Skews
- Tool Sharpening III: Chisels & Plane Blades
- CAD DESIGN - AUTODESK FUSION 360: Make a toolbox
- Workshop: Intro to Fusion 360 3D Design
- Workshop: Intermediate Fusion 360 3D Design
- Workshop: Adobe Illustrator for CNC Laser Cutters
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List of Youth Programs
Our youth program offerings may vary over time depending on demand and instructor availability. The following examples are representative of youth programs we have offered.
- Pinewood Derby Workshop
- Youth Robotics Camp Gr 6 - 9
- Arduino Basics: Electronics & Coding
- Arduino Camp
- Camp: Build-A-Clock (Soldering Intro)
- Day Camp: Interactive Paper Circuits
- Day Camp: Make Your Own Speaker + Crazy AMPs
- CAMP: MicroSmithing
- Design & Prototype: Board game
- Camp: Gaming Adventure (RPG and MTG)
- Day Camp: Air Rocket Madness
- Camp: Beginning Woodworking
- Woodworking Camp
- CAMP: Resin-Wood Jewelry Making
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- Day Camp: Design and Fabricate a Marble Run
- Day Camp: DIY Ugly Monster Sewing & Sticker Making
- Fashion Mask and Laser Camp
- Camp: Design Maker
- Design Thinking Maker Camp
- DIY Chain Mail Balls & Juggling
- LEGO Bot Battle
- AFTER SCHOOL - OPEN MAKER CLUB FOR YOUTH/TEENS
- BOY SCOUTS: TEXTILES MERIT BADGE
- BOY SCOUTS MERIT BADGE WOODWORK
- BOY SCOUTS: MERIT BADGE INVENTING I - Part 1
- BOY SCOUTS: MERIT BADGE INVENTING I I- Part 2
- BOY SCOUTS MERIT BADGE COMPOSITE MATERIALS
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