The teachers behind Project Ventura know the best way to get kids excited about engineering is to let them get their hands dirty building things. That's why it's our Kickstarter this week - the kind of tech class project that'll actually make you wish you were still in high school.
The 10th grade class at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders is learning how to install plumbing, wire electricity, use power tools and work together as they completely gut then refurbish a vintage 1977 trailer using green materials and methods. This is exactly the kind of project that makes the things you learn in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) classes soak in. It’s easy to forget dry facts from a book, but you’ll remember climbing on the roof of an old trailer to install solar panels. Better yet, you’ll understand how all the discrete systems studied in class work together in the real world. It’s a great idea.
Because this is Austin, of course the trailer can be used for outdoor classes when the weather is good or camping trips for the girls. They also plan on taking it to elementary schools to show younger girls the neat things they can build if they study math and science.
A beat up old vintage trailer may not cost much, but the supplies to turn it into an eco-friendly classroom add up. The girls need $5,000 to make this project happen.
Their rewards are pretty simple. At the $10 level, they’ll thank you on Twitter and on their blog. For $20, one of the girls will send you a hand written thank-you note. For $50, you get a 4x6 photo of the engineering class. Bump it up to $100 and they’ll include your name on a commemorative plaque inside the trailer.
Obviously, these rewards are aimed at parents and grandparents of the students. Don’t let that hold you back. I urge anybody who would like to see more women in STEM careers to donate the cost of a box of Girl Scout cookies. This is just as good a cause, but won’t go to your waistline. The girls are already halfway to their goal. A few $10 donations add up really fast.
Admit it - you wish you’d spent your sophomore year doing something this cool.
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Curious how our previous Austin Kickstarters did?
Ten Acre Organics was 158% funded! Their goal was $10,000 and, with your support, they brought in $15,828.
The Ghastlycrud Zombies was fully funded! They earned over $6100 with an initial goal of $4300, so the book is in good shape.
The Live Action Jem and the Holograms Movie was over 250% funded! Mind you, they were only asking for $200. Go ahead and throw them a couple more bucks just to be part of something awesome.
Jumpshot made an amazing 500% of their goal! They raised more than $147,000, putting them in the top tier of all Kickstarters.
My Education was fully funded! Our instrumental band is set for their European tour.
Rockrgrrl Magazine’s GRL Talk Book was fully funded! They made over 120% of their original goal.
Strange Kid Comix was over 114% funded! They raised more than $2850 for their taste of pure pop culture nostalgia.
Wholly Kabob was 100% funded. They raised $15,250 to start a tasty new food trailer.
Texas or Die: An Anthology of Horror sadly didn’t reach its $7000 goal and therefore didn’t receive funding.
The Anachronist sadly didn’t reach its goal and therefore didn’t receive funding.
Stabil-i-Case sadly didn’t reach its goal and therefore didn’t receive funding.
The Doctor Who Review Project sadly didn’t reach its goal and therefore didn’t receive funding.
Taskbox sadly didn’t reach it’s goal and therefore didn’t receive funding.
The original Spinferno Kickstarter was cancelled and replaced by a new Spinferno for Android kickstarter.