SEBASTOPOL, CA — (Marketwired) — 08/15/13 — Before campers pack their tents and roll-up their virtual sleeping bags, they-ll be treated to a camp “Jamboree” at the fantasy world of Pixar Studios. Maker Camp on Google+, the free, virtual summer camp for teens officially ends six weeks of DIY project programming, Friday, August 16 with a virtual field trip to Pixar at 11:00am PDT. The final week of Maker Camp with the theme Make: Believe focuses on makers who specialize in fantasy creation, whether building huge costumes and sets to video game designers to sculpting monsters and mythical creatures out of clay and other materials to animation.
The final field trip will be a pre-corded tour of Pixar Studios followed by a live Q&A with Pixar designers from the Big Art room, the classroom environment where Pixar employees take classes. The atrium, designed by Steve Jobs to foster creativity and collaboration among the staff, will also be a focal point of the field trip, and campers will be treated to popular characters from Cars, Toy Story, Monster University and other beloved movies from the award-winning animation studio. Another highlight of the field trip will be a virtual visit from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan who will speak about the future of STEM education and the importance of programs like Maker Camp to support the initiative.
Dale Dougherty, founder and publisher of MAKE magazine and CEO of Maker Media, will be on site for the field trip, and to welcome the Secretary of Education. Secretary Duncan will join the Google+ Hangout on Air (HOA) after the Pixar Studios field trip.
“Pixar Studios is the perfect way to wrap up Maker Camp. There are few places on earth that demonstrate to kids that the wildest imaginations can convert dreams to reality,” said Dougherty. “Pixar exemplifies the notion that people who are curious and creative, makers at their soul, never stop wanting to learn and make. It-s an important message and underscores the importance of STEM in education to foster this lifelong love of learning and making.”
Maker Camp on Google+ launched in 2012 with more than one million campers adding MAKE to their circles during the six-week period. This year, the first day of camp saw more than three million visits to the Maker Camp G+ page. Since then, over 35,000 campers have joined the Maker Camp Google+ community to share their projects and experiences, and signed up to receive alerts for Maker Camp events. A nationwide network of public libraries, boys and girls clubs, robotics and computer clubs, and makerspaces also participated in Maker Camp.
“This next generation of makers will be the innovators of exciting new products and services. We-re delighted that Secretary Duncan is joining us for our final day. Educate to Innovate and other STEM initiatives directly correlate to our own mission with programs like Maker Camp,” added Dougherty. “Even though Camp is over until next summer, it doesn-t mean kids should stop making. All the Maker Camp projects and videos from the last two years are online so kids, teachers, librarians, and makerspaces can access them all year long.”
Maker Camp Field Trip: August 16, 2013, 11:00am PDT,
To watch the final Maker Camp field trip to Pixar Studios and see the visit from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, go to and follow MAKE.
For more information on Maker Camp, please visit .
Maker Media is a global platform for connecting makers with each other, with products and services, and with our partners. Through media, events and ecommerce, Maker Media serves a growing community of makers who bring a DIY mindset to technology. Whether as hobbyists or professionals, makers are creative, resourceful and curious, developing projects that demonstrate how they can interact with the world around them. The launch of MAKE Magazine in 2005, followed by Maker Faire in 2006, jumpstarted a worldwide Maker Movement, which is transforming innovation, culture and education. Located in Sebastopol, CA, is the publisher of and the producer of . It also develops “getting started” kits and books that are sold in its store as well as in retail channels.
Media Contact:
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