Forge Enrichment Series
The Forge Enrichment Series is an ideal program for both homeschool students as well as students enrolled in virtual middle and high school. The series not only offers in-depth, hands-on, experiential learning opportunities; it provides peer to peer social interaction that so many teens crave. The studios are taught by Forge Learning Guides that are certified secondary education teachers and industry professionals.
The Forge Enrichment Series offers projects that appeal to a broad range of student interests. Everything from deep technology to multimedia and art to tech-free offerings in our Outdoor Leadership series.
DETAILS:
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Enrollment is open to both males and females between the ages of 11 - 17
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Three 5 week sessions: Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
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Session One: August 19 - September 20 CLOSED
Session Two: September 23 - November 1 CLOSED
Session Three: November 4 - December 13
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Projects run for 5 weeks (dates above take into account Forge holidays & breaks)
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$800 per 5 week session​
No refunds; no credit for partial attendance; no credit for weather related delays or cancellations.
STUDENTS RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT
(Student must complete the project and its requirements to receive certificate)
STUDIO ENRICHMENT OFFERINGS:
Multimedia & Art:
CLOSED
Session Two
Session Three
CLOSED
Learners will learn and grow their multimedia skills by designing a vehicle using Adobe Creative digital design tools. They will work through the design process, starting with a concept, and will end up with a workable design for a fully operational vehicle.
Learners will have opportunities to combine their mechanical design knowledge with their artistic capabilities to produce a unique and original vehicle design that includes elements such as the frame, chassis, interior, and exterior
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Learners will work step-by-step through the design process to create the art and conceptual design for a fully functional pinball machine. They will learn and use Adobe Creative digital design tools and will spend time researching the history of pinball as well as some of the cultural influences that have shaped it throughout the decades.
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If they so choose, learners will be able to take their designs and make them a reality in a subsequent tech/engineering offering (Full Scale Pinball Machine Design & Build) offered in Session 2.
Learners will stretch their architectural and design skills in this course by designing a functional treehouse. They will learn and grow their multimedia skills by using the Adobe Creative digital design tools. Learners will work through the design process, beginning with the purpose and history behind tree-bound structures, and will consider suitable locations, climate and materials that would be needed to construct a livable space.
They will employ both traditional art as well as multimedia technology to design both the functionality as well as the aesthetics of their very own treehouse.
Tech:
Interested in learning how electricity works and how all the electric contraptions in our lives work?
In this session we will demystify the electron, learn how to safely work with, design and experiment with various circuits and their components. We'll even get into some basic programming of microcontrollers to make things that move, light up and that you can wear!
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If you want to take your knowledge further, you can sign up for Session 2 (RC Car Design and Build) and /or Session 3 (Pinball Machine Design and Build).
RC cars are amazing little toys that pack a bunch of electrical know-how into a fun little package, but do you know how they work?
​What's going on when you turn the wheel or squeeze the throttle on the remote? How does that little action result in your car zipping around the track so fast? And how could we modify or improve it to be even better in certain situations?
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Learners will use SketchUp as a design tool as well as some 3D printing.
We'll explore which components work well with each other and why, find ways to modify our vehicles to be better, faster, stronger and use our creativity to enhance the look of our cars with custom shell artwork.
In this project we'll be putting all of our skills and creativity together to create a full sized fully operational pinball machine.
Students will use SketchUp as a design tool as well as some 3D printing. This project will involve lots of research and prototyping, experimenting, testing, and electrical and mechanical design, along with some woodworking, metal working, and fabrication skills to make it all work.
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Ideally, learners participating in this project will have participated in Session 1: Intro to Microcontrollers and Circuit Boards.
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Get ready to have the time of your life and get your initials on the scoreboard!
CLOSED
Session Two
Session Three
CLOSED
Outdoor Leadership
Learners will connect with their primordial roots by collecting and crafting thrown primitive tools kit. Students will harvest the materials and practice the techniques to create tools such as a hammer stone, stone blades, a hand ax, and a digging stick. amongst others. These various projects will be our doorway to learning about the lifestyles and technology advances of our earliest ancestors, and will give students a newfound appreciation for the importance and complexity of the tools in our lives.
Learners will embark on a project to craft their own basket out of locally found plant material. Learners will study the history of basketry and its role in human societies, study the plants that produce the needed materials, and learn the basics of weaving a workable basket out of pine needles and other plant-based materials.
Students will examine, and deepen, their own connection with the place in which they live by harvesting materials to create their very own pine-needle basket.
Learners will choose from a list of outdoor skills and practices to explore bandmaster over the course of five weeks. They will be provided with guidance and resources, but will be responsible for choosing their own "path" of learning. Topics will include wood carving, fire making, navigation, first aid, bush crafting and plant/animal identification.