Introducing our NEW Laser Cutter!

We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to Maker City: our brand-new laser cutter! Thanks to the incredible generosity of donations made during the Great Community Give, we now have an amazing tool to bring even more creativity and innovation to Maker City. Get ready to unleash your imagination and turn your ideas into reality with the power of precision cutting! Join us on this exciting journey as we explore endless possibilities of laser cutting and engraving!

The first print!

Check out some of the things kids have made this week!

Come try it for yourself!

Register for an Open Make to bring your ideas to life or join us for the June workshop and create your own laser cut puzzle!

Magical Invisible Ink Workshop

Our April workshop was all about secret messages! We explored codes and ciphers and why people might use them. Then we wrote our own invisible ink messages and revealed them! Our big project was creating a disappearing drawing.

Ms. Kelsey helping to make the disappearing drawings

Revealing an invisible message with a turmeric solution.

Showing off their revealed messages!

Lots of creations to take home!

Reserve your space for our May workshop where we’ll discuss simple mechanics and make cardboard automatas!

Meet Kelsey Swartzendruber!

For those who visit the Museum regularly, you’ve likely met staff member Kelsey Swartzendruber. Initially hired as a museum educator, she’s been working her program magic for the past two years. When the supervisor position in Maker City opened up, Kelsey decided to take on the challenge and basically taught herself to master all of the equipment! We’re so glad she did, as she’s a natural maker, inspiring children to pursue new interests and expand their horizons.

Hello! My name is Kelsey and I love being in Maker City. I grew up in Pennsylvania but moved to Harrisonburg to attend Eastern Mennonite University. While at EMU I played field hockey and I got a degree in elementary education. After exploring options besides being a classroom teacher, I found the best job ever at Explore More! On days I’m not at the museum, you can find me at the theater watching a new movie or hiking on Skyline Drive. My goal is for Maker City to be a fun and empowering place to create and build.

New to Maker City?

Maker City is our makerspace made for kids 8+ to create. This studio offers a place where young makers and their families can design, invent, create, and collaborate using real tools. We offer lots of different making opportunities in Maker City. Follow along with our blog to learn more about what is happening in the space each month and check out our website, iexploremore.com/make to reserve your Maker City spot or to learn about upcoming workshops.

For those who have never visited and wish to get started, we’ve got you covered. Sign up for an Introduction to Maker City, held on the 1st Saturday of the month.