From Spare Parts to Speed

On a very typical Saturday morning in my new neighborhood in Brooklyn, I was out early to meet with friends and shop for fun things to grill at our picnic in the park.  It was a beautiful morning, not too hot, sun shining brightly, a cool breeze - everything to make for a great day.  And then I turned on 17th St to head down to the grocery store...

Lo and behold!  A street filled with kid-constructed contraptions for coasting downhill!  A soap box derby was being prepared.  I could not have been happier to see these young people working on a team with a crew of friends and family to help with last minute construction.  Kids whizzing down the street to get the fastest time.  There were smiles on everyone's face, especially mine.

The varied designs were whimsical and created by the young drivers.  The parts were spare with tires from kid bikes and trikes and from luggage and skates, all co-opted for long ride downhill.  I watched young people explaining their designs with pride, using power tools with skill, and asking their peers for help and about their own creations.

It was my first and South Slope's 10th Annual Soap Box Derby that made this day special.  Organizations like Koko NYC make these events possible.  Experiences like this need to happen more in our schools, not only during the summer!  How do we get students out of the building, surround them with spare parts and tools, and provide a mission to create something from nothing that never existed before they imagined it was possible?  

Get outside, explore your inherent curiosity and creativity, and Make.  

Do you have spare parts for events like this?  Do you want to be part of events like this?  Are you a grown-up kid that also wants to build a soap-box racer?  Do you have space for parts and storage?  I'd love to hear about and explore ideas.

I was happy to see young Makers Do It Together in a friendly, fun competition.  Yes, Yes! to the sign - All Power to the Imagination!