Hands-on, high tech fun for all at River Forest Library’s first ever Maker Fest

The River Forest Public Library is proudly collaborating with Ethan Baehrend, Fenwick junior and 3D printing entrepreneur, to deliver its first-ever Maker Fest. Different maker technologies will be presented by various Chicagoland organizations. Visitors to this free event can get hands-on with some DIY maker projects and activities such as drone presentations, a musical petting zoo, robotics demonstrations, and more. The event will be held on Saturday, October 7th from 10 AM-3 PM.

Guests will receive an event “passport” that can be stamped at the various exhibitor booths. A completed passport earns all guests a techy prize, as well as one entry into a raffle for several grand prizes (the how-to drone book DIY Drones for the Evil Genius: Design, Build, and Customize Your Own Drones, LEGO Architecture Chicago, Makey Makey GO, a Helicopter Drone, and one month of tuition at School of Rock).

Seventeen-year-old Ethan Baehrend, Troop 65 Boy Scout and Eagle Scout candidate, was the inspiration behind this event. Ethan, who is passionate about technology, had been searching for a local community space where he could start up a “makerspace” as a way of introducing the community to new technologies. He came to the River Forest Library with his idea but because of the Library’s limited space, the idea evolved into a Maker Fest event instead.

Ethan is fulfilling his Eagle Scout service project by collaborating with the Library on this Maker Fest for the community. “Each year, tens of thousands of [Boy Scouts] strive to achieve the coveted Eagle Scout Rank. One of the rank requirements is to plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any institution” (Navigating the Eagle Scout Project).

Over the past year, Ethan worked closely with Andrea Olvera-Trejo, Adult and Teen Services Librarian, to assemble an exciting line-up of exhibitors which include: 2DKits, ChiBots, Depaul University Library’s Maker Hub, Judy Steed Mosaics, iD Tech, Oak Park Art League, Pumping Station One, School of Rock, South Side Hackerspace, Tapster Robotics and Vortex Drones. Ethan’s own printer/kickstarter company, Creative 3D Technologies, will also participate.

Ethan was responsible for securing 6 of the exhibitors, recruiting volunteers for the day of the Maker Fest, and coordinating and managing the volunteers during the event. Andrea notes, “he is co-directing the event with me, and together we will make sure that it goes smoothly.”

The Library already embraces the maker trend year-round through its program offerings for all ages. Crafting, crochet, LEGO building, flower arranging, cake decorating, circuits, and jewelry making are just a few examples of the hands-on programs that the Library offers. This Maker Fest fits in perfectly with the Library’s goals to promote lifelong learning and stimulate imagination. It is also an opportunity for the Library to collaborate with local organizations and gain a better understanding of maker trends, which will hopefully lead to future enhancements of program offerings.