Maker Faire attracts hundreds from community

Step into the room, and take a moment just to take in all of the sounds, sights and ideas rushing around. Young children and teens are everywhere, whether it’s asking one of the many volunteers how a gadget works, experimenting with Legos, or playing one of the video games coded by a teen. Drones whiz through the air and a mini planetarium stands in the corner, as if it’s guarding the event.

This is none other than the second annual Wenatchee Mini Maker Faire, and on Oct. 29, it delighted the community with its creativity, innovation and talent. Nicknamed “The Greatest Show and Tell in the World,” it was held in the Wenatchee Convention center.

The Maker Faire began last year and has since bloomed into a massive event. It was organized by GWATA and a team of nine Wenatchee High School students and an adult leader, Jenny Rojanastien. Midway through the event, the team received a grant for $111,000 to continue supporting the Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) movement.

While some makers took the goal of creation as 3-D printers and and robotic cars, some chose to prioritize permanence. Adair Fernandez, a senior at Cashmere High School, is part of Cashmere’s Technology and Industry class, a newer development of the school. Their class built chairs and furniture out of cedar and displayed them at the event to a crown larger than Fernandez had ever anticipated.

“This is teaching us how to do stuff, and we can use this to get a job,” Fernadez said. “We make stuff that you can’t just dispose of when you get home.”

During the faire, it is very easy to see glimpses of the future, but if you know where to look, you can find pieces of the past as well. Bruce Brown, a member of the community, makes ship models by hand using historical ships, from Civil War ships to fishing boats from the 18th century. He builds because though the models take a long time, Brown is fascinated with the history and finds making relaxing.

“I like to see this. And I especially like the see the young people here— not just sitting around and playing Pokémon. A lot of people have a dream, and you can dream all you want, but you have to find a plan to get there.” ship model builder Bruce Brown said.