Known as “the greatest show and tell on earth,” Maker Faire is part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new. Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned.

 

Maker Faire has been in New York for five years, I joined in the event’s second year as a volunteer and was quickly selected to join the seasonal staff.  I am the lead for the Activity Wristband Program and help the San Francisco based staff with last minute needs. The event offers 85,000 attendees the access and opportunity to take part in many different activities which could include using basic tools to large saws and knives, the event therefore asks that each attendee sign a form saying that they will take part in activities safely (the program used to be known as the Safety Waiver Program). I create the plan for how the program will play out through space and time of the event, oversee the training of day-of-volunteers, and provide kits to stations around the almost 20-acre event space.