Make Things Move and Light Up for Halloween: Lemonade Day

. I'm taking the opportunity of this unplanned time off to connect with the many artists and creators in this wonderful city that I love. Come with me on my 100-day odyssey of art and creativity in Long Beach. I call it .

October is Arts Month in Long Beach... October is Halloween... Surely you're already planning your Halloween costume!  Creatives and technical minds have a special opportunity in Long Beach as they together learn to Make Things Move and Light Up.  In October we have a special opportunity to take advantage of the SparkFun Education Team's visit with us in Long Beach.

September 9th was Day 70.  I'm planning some Halloween Fun for Educators, Artists, College Students, Makers.

I'll tell you a secret.  Learning to Make Things Move and Make Things Light Up are not really about having fun.  Sure, it will be fun.  Huge fun!  I wouldn't schedule it if it wasn't fun. But it's secretly about getting excited about learning new technology.

There, I've said it.  I'm sorry, Dale Dougherty, I let the secret out.

When I plan my class, I can call the first one: Tools for Making Things Move,  I can call it Programming with the Arduino or I can call it Arduino Introduction - all day session.  Secret: It's all the same thing.  For beginners, but the trainers who will be there have been teaching with the Arduino for some time.  Never had programming?  Don't be afraid.  We are Lemonade makers.    We won't bite.  Another secret?  I will be there sitting next to you, learning.  I'm excited to have this opportunity.  I hope you are too!

Perspective is such a huge part of whether we do something and even whether we like it.  Expectation can easily turn a positive experience into a negative.  And vice versa.

I've been talking of Making and Makerspaces, introducing you to some of the people who support Making, and some of the people who Make in Long Beach.  On October 16 the SparkFun Education team will be visiting Long Beach.

Registration instructions are found by clicking the title links.  All events will be held at the Long Beach Scout Sea Base and Aquatics Center, 5875 Appian Way.

Mon October 15 4:15-8:15  Youth session! - Halloween LED Light Up $35.00

Learn to light up your Halloween Costume and clothing with LEDs and sewable electronics.  Intended from ages 10 to 110.  *** Must bring own laptop. *** Take home materials: NONE.  Materials will be available for purchase at an additional $35.00.

Tues October 16 Session 1 - Tools for Making Things Move (no soldering) $145.00

This all day session is an introduction to the Arduino which will include the use of sensors and a motor.  Take home materials: SparkFun inventors kit and other accessories needed for the class.  No soldering will be done in this session. ***Must bring own laptop.***

Tues October 16 Session 2 - Tools for Making Things Move (w/soldering) $145.00

This all day session is an introduction to the Arduino which will include the use of sensors and a motor.  Take home materials: SparkFun inventors kit and other accessories needed for the class.  No soldering will be done in this session. ***Must bring own laptop.***  Participants will solder their own Arduino board.

Tues October 16 Session 3 1P-5P - Halloween LED Light Up $70.00

See Monday October 15 session for the description. 

Note:  I may have the opportunity to open up October 17 for one or more schools, but about $1K for purchase of equipment will be required to do so.  If any school wants to participate and can guarantee the funding with up-front payment, I will try to coordinate this for a middle or high school.  Ensuring equipment will be received in time requires a 1 month advance notice.  I may be able to coordinate support for up to 3 schools with this request.

I will list some bits of information I find interesting in Tips,Tidbits, Things.

Tips, Tidbits, Things

• Additional (different) SparkFun and Maker events are being held around Los Angeles.  I will inform you of those activities as I hear of them.

Want more lemonade?               

If you would like to contact me, please email me at  info@handmadepenguin.com

Trish Tsoiasue writes as herself about creative and maker topics for and as Handmade Penguin for the Handmade Penguin Blog.  She is currently playing .