Build-It-Yourself provides playful workshops that inspire and empower kids to create, design, and invent.
Build-It-Yourself goals for each student:  

1. Be safe.  
2. Have fun.  
3. Get a constructive result.  
4. Become inspired to build on your own.

Build-It-Yourself has developed a program in collaboration with MIT that teaches kids to use technology constructively in a unique global laboratory. Specialists from the Harvard and MIT community and from around the world will inspire and guide campers on-site and/or via live Webcasts leading them toward an enriched understanding of the way things work.

Information about the staff and details of each week's projects are posted at www.build-it-yourself.com – click on “Workshop Headquarters.”

Build a Soap Box Derby Racer
June 23 – 27, August 11 - 15
Boys and Girls ages 8 – 13 • Cost: $575

This wildly exciting workshop is back again this summer, following a fun-filled world premiere in 2007 – check out the pictures!

Project of the Week - design and build the fastest, badest soap box derby hot rod in the land. Your mission is to build a low-emissions, hot rod from wood, boxes, and local hardware store parts. This mission requires team work. Paint and decorate your invention so it looks great on camera. Then climb aboard and test your racing skills. Race your creation around the Gran Prix obstacle course. You must be fast and look cool!

Friendly Dragons
June 30 - July 3*
Cost $500

The Problem:
The world is burdened with wars that are often the result of illogical prejudice. Imagine you are a dragon that wants to live in peace. But everyone is trying to slay you just because you look like a dragon. Of course you'd be mean! If we want to live in a land free of meanness, this cycle of prejudice and counter-prejudice must be stopped.

Your mission:
Figure out what a dragon must do to win a friend. Then you must build and present that dragon. You must program your dragon to offer a friendly greeting when it detects another life form. At the end of this mission, all the dragons will attend a “Noble” Peace Party. 

Music Machines
July 7 – 11 • Cost: $575

The problem is that many people are mad, unhappy and in a funk about life and the world around them. Our mission is to build a band of hip hop robot music makers who will turn a frown into a smile.  

Money Making Machines
July 14 – 18
Boys and Girls ages 8 – 13 • Cost: $575

Build-It-Yourself is looking for some hot shot inventors to fix the global economy. Your mission is to design a machine that creates value, entertains, offers a service, puts people to work, and pays its inventors handsomely!

Digital Graphic Design
July 21 – 25
Boys and Girls ages 8 – 13 • Cost: $575

The Problem:
Civilizations are often measured by the art they leave for future civilizations. If we want to be recognized as a hot shot civilization, some of our art, architecture and industrial design needs help!

The Mission:
Our mission is to design digital artifacts that will make future civilizations say, "Wow!"

Computer Game Design Introduction
July 28 – August 1
Boys and Girls ages 9 – 13 • Cost: $575

Do you like computer games and dream about making your own? If you want to be a hot shot game designer, this is the place to start.

The Mission:
Develop a computer game that uses game strategy and logic. Design graphics for dragons, heroes, aliens and other whacky characters. Layout fantasy settings or maps. Record outrageous sound effects. Develop the game logic and integrate all your components. Test the game with your friends and then post it on the Web for the world to play. Let the games begin!

Build-It-Yourself Instructors
 John Galinato is the project leader at Build-It-Yourself in Cambridge. With a master's degree in electrical engineering from Cornell, John has worked on engineering teams to develop submarine detection systems, rockets, computer graphics software, and Web applications for more than twenty-five years.

Former Build-It-Yourself students are attending Harvard, MIT, Yale, Concord Academy, Choate, and BB&N.

Build-It-Yourself brings a variety of expertise into the classroom via a live Webcast platform.

Workshop leaders for 2008 will be posted in the spring of 2008.

Please Note: It is essential that campers who enroll in one of the Build-It-Yourself programs come eager to build and willing to work on teams of two or three. Campers must respect their teammates and their laboratory. Campers must be prepared to focus intently on tasks such as drawing, documenting ideas in a lab book, using tools safely, building complex projects, programming computers, and presenting their work.

Space is limited in all Build-It-Yourself programs – register early!

For more information visit www.build-it-yourself.com.


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