Chicago Architecture Foundation Save the Date! The details are still coming together, but Open House Chicago is scheduled to take place on October 15 and 16, 2022. Sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Open House Chicago provides behind-the-scenes glimpses and tours of many of Chicago's architectural gems. The free(!) public event runs throughout the weekend. Feeling spontaneous? Great! No reservations are needed. Just ... [ Read More ]
Chicago Spring Break STEM Camps 2020
In the Chicago area, suburban schools tend to have earlyish breaks in March while Chicago Public Schools often don't break until mid- to late-April. Spring Break weather can be unpredictable, to say the least, but regardless of timing, there are fantastic options in the metro area for enrichment for kids up through middle school. We're pleased to present you with our guide to Chicago Spring Break STEM and STEAM Camps thanks to Codeverse. Coding? ... [ Read More ]
Fidget Spinners with The Maker Mom
Are fidget spinners still a thing? They were when I held this event in late April! Back then, the only thing cooler than a fidget spinner was a DIY fidget spinner. By June, I think fidget spinners topped the list of reasons teachers couldn't wait for school to end. I'll spare you my (totally legit) excuses for the delay and just offer up a few photos. DIY Fidget Spinners with The Maker Mom On April 29, I hosted a fantastically fun event at ... [ Read More ]
Dawn Partners with Shedd Aquarium to Inspire Wildlife Education
I'm proud to continue my work with Dawn Dish Soap as a Wildlife Ambassador to spread the word about their commitment to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. This is a sponsored post. Last week on Penguin Awareness Day, I had the honor of joining Dawn and Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium as they launched a new national in-classroom and web accessible STEM curriculum called NextGen Animal Responders. Dawn and the Shedd are rolling out this program as ... [ Read More ]
Meet Mary Bauer, Head Brewer: It’s STEM Girl Friday!
Have you experienced the joy of meeting a person who loves their job? Mary Bauer is one such person, so I'm especially pleased to introduce you to her. Mary is the Head Brewer of the Lagunitas Brewery in Chicago. She grew up in the suburb of Aurora and studied Chemistry and Food Science at the University of Illinois. Mary assisted with the construction of the new Lagunitas Chicago brewery, manages the 500,000 bbl./year capacity, and oversees ... [ Read More ]
Bit Space Chicago – The Local Makerspace for Kids
It's fun to learn about new makerspaces in my area, but it's even more fun to have a party at one. Last Sunday, a select group of Maker Mom friends and fans gathered with their kids at Bit Space Chicago. Bit Space serves kids ages 6-16 (adults, too, actually), but our event was specifically designed for the 10-13 year-old crowd. It was a blast! I mean super fun and waaaay cool. We practically had to drag the kids away when time was ... [ Read More ]
Teach Me, Young Grasshopper
The other morning I was out walking with Tesla in the woods when we hit a patch of prairie. The thistles are in bloom, and a busy buzzing bee brought my eyes to the flower below, but by the time I got my camera phone out, she had flown off. And then I noticed this 2-inch long grasshopper taking his morning sip of nectar from the flower. I don't know that I've witnessed that before. A photo posted by Kim Moldofsky (@kimmoldofsky) on Sep 2, ... [ Read More ]