Inside the SparkTruck, a mobile makerspace for kids

While adults are leading the maker movement, kids have been building Lego towers, fantastical costumes and makeshift forts for generations. This summer, five college students and recent grads drove all over the country in the SparkTruck: a mobile makerspace built just for kids.

The truck is equipped with a laser cutter, a 3D printer, handheld tools, LittleBits electronic modules, Lego Mindstorms robotics kits and all other sorts of maker tools.

“It was really fun to get to travel and to get to work with kids, to get to see their faces when they complete a circuit or get to see the Mindstorm move or see a laser cutter go for the first time,” said Brittany Hallawell, a junior at Stanford University.

There’s a big emphasis on brainstorming too. Kids are encouraged to dream up crazy creations.

“I really value creativity in kids; showing them this technology, giving them the tools to show them how they can brainstorm and how they can prototype,” said Sarah Cohen, a recent graduate of University of California-Santa Cruz. “With that knowledge and with that confidence, they’re able to accomplish anything. They’re able to think really big picture.”

Since July 1, the crew visited 14 cities. They capped off their tour with a stop at the SoMa StrEat Food Park. I was able to take a quick peek inside the truck for some photos.

var go_gallery_data = [{“title”:”SparkTruck mobile makerspace”,”caption”:”The SparkTruck \”Sparkees\” spent the summer traveling all over the country. Photo by Signe Brewster”,”thumbnail”:”http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/08\/img_1982.jpg?w=150″}, {“title”:”SparkTruck mobile makerspace”,”caption”:”The Sparkees and the SparkTruck parked at SoMa StrEat Food Park in San Francisco. Photo by Signe Brewster”,”thumbnail”:”http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/08\/img_1998.jpg?w=150″}, {“title”:”SparkTruck mobile makerspace”,”caption”:”The SparkTruck parked at SoMa StrEat Food Park in San Francisco. Photo by Signe Brewster”,”thumbnail”:”http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/08\/img_1996.jpg?w=150″}, {“title”:”SparkTruck mobile makerspace”,”caption”:”Inside the truck, which is not even 6 feet tall; perfect for kids. Photo by Signe Brewster”,”thumbnail”:”http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/08\/img_1995.jpg?w=150″}, {“title”:”SparkTruck mobile makerspace”,”caption”:”A 3D Systems Cube 3D printer prints a tiny cup. Photo by Signe Brewster”,”thumbnail”:”http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/08\/img_1987.jpg?w=150″}, {“title”:”SparkTruck mobile makerspace”,”caption”:”LittleBits help kids experiment with electronic modules to learn and play. Photo by Signe Brewster”,”thumbnail”:”http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/08\/img_1983.jpg?w=150″}, {“title”:”SparkTruck mobile makerspace”,”caption”:”When you’re working in such a tight space, truck walls make the perfect storage place for tools. Photo by Signe Brewster”,”thumbnail”:”http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/08\/img_1994.jpg?w=150″}, {“title”:”SparkTruck mobile makerspace”,”caption”:”The truck’s ceiling is papered in notes from kids. Photo by Signe Brewster”,”thumbnail”:”http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/08\/img_1993.jpg?w=150″}, {“title”:”SparkTruck mobile makerspace”,”caption”:”A sign advertises a laser cutting\/engraving machine. Photo by Signe Brewster”,”thumbnail”:”http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/08\/img_1991.jpg?w=150″}];  

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• The Xbox One’s role in the TV ecosystem
• Retail’s reinvention: technology’s impact on today’s supply chain
• Flash analysis: Xbox One

GigaOM