Help Kickstart a Robotics Lab for Kids in Downtown Cary
Cary, NC – What if Wake Robotics, a non-profit here in Cary, converted a paint and wallpaper store Downtown into a workspace where kids could build robots, use a 3D printer and learn about science, engineering, art and technology?
Kickstart Robotics Lab for Kids in Downtown Cary
Who
Wake Robotics is a non-profit in Cary dedicated to youth involvement in robots, 3D printers, carrot chimes, cat cameras, Jr. Engineers, youth leadership and more. It has grown from two women and their Lego-enthused offspring in 2005 to more than 85 K-12 participants supported by 60+ volunteers. The program has outgrown its 3200 square foot donated space and is raising $40,000 to move to larger quarters in Downtown Cary. More info: http://wakerobotics.org/.
What
Kickstarter is way to crowd-source funding for a project. People would like the project can donate as little as $1.
Wake Robotics has already raised $7,500. They need $40,000 more to close the deal on the space Downtown.
Visit Wake Robotics Kickstarter campaign to make a pledge.
When
Like all Kickstarter projects, this one has a deadline. It’s Sat, Jun 21 2014.
See the Video
Better than anything we could write, see the video that Wake Robotics produced as part of the campaign to raise funds.
Repurposing a Landmark Downtown
The Sorrell building at 220 West Chatham (corner of Harrison) is an iconic part of Downtown Cary. It’s the one with the Val Fox mural of town history splash across the side wall.
Photo from Waymarking.com.
Lately, the spot has been a paint and wallpaper store, with some additional retail offerings inside. With the help of the landlord, Wake Robotics is set to transform the space by the summer/fall of 2014.
After that, it will be robots Downtown and musical instruments made of vegetables.
More Info
- Kickstarter campaign
- Wake Robotics Website
- Forging the Forge Downtown on TechnologyTank.
- Wake Robotics on Blogspot.
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Lego robotics image by Mbeo.
I’m all for new business going into the Sorrell Building or anywhere in downtown Cary for that matter, but please do not damage or paint over the mural by Val Fox. I enjoy seeing it everyday. I would stop by there as it was being painted and talk to Val. Any company moving into that building should honor Val’s work. Thank you!
Cary may need to add a robot to that great Val Fox mural… Go Wake Robotics!
Cary may yet be a “Community-Driven” Technology Hub as envisioned by the Technology Task Force.
@doc sour grapes indeed.
Go Wake Robotics!
Not to read like ‘sour grapes’ but there has been a very hard-working core group of people trying to raise the money and generate enough community excitement to create a Downtown Cary Children’s Museum (DCCM) for three-and-one-half years now–exactly for the reason and purposes of this proposed project. Overall this group has not been able to adequately generate community, commercial or governmental partnerships, nor raise interest within the community at large; vis-à-vis retaining individuals who wish to do little more than envision a finished project or use the nonprofit’s name to pad their resumes. Very distressing and disappointing.
That stated, I wish this project much success because I believe, like the Children’s Museum, it is another “If you build it they will come” venture… The only problem I see is likened to the Little Red Hen’s dilemma, “Who will help you make the bread” rather then simply enjoy it after it is baked?
Wake Robotics is a terrific non-profit that literally cannot grow and serve more families, as it has ours, without a move to this terrific downtown space. Please take a bit of time to look at the kickstarter and the website mentioned in the article. Cary wants to be prepared for a great future and Wake Robotics is a key to STEM in Cary and the county.