We are educators, makers and play designers who build material-rich, equitable and accessible hands-on experiences for all PK-5 learners. Our design and coaching team collaborates with learners, educators and caregivers to invent engineering design challenges that are made to be explored, re-built and kept. Every Spark is tested by school-wide teams in our hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. They’re approved by thousands of young builders – and the adults who love seeing them confidently create, connect and collaborate. Each Spark has potential to ignite imaginations for future makers and innovators.
Sparks are hands-on learning experiences for educators and learners. Each integrates engineering, design challenges, imaginative play and robust components that are made for learners to create and keep. Every Spark – from structures that grow to creatures that talk – are tested by school-wide teams of educators and learners, and can be trusted to engage and excite PK-5 builders. All Sparks come with free coaching resources and slide decks with instructions.
Our team of playful learning coaches virtually visit classrooms and learning events by organizations who understand the power of personal connection. So educators and program leaders spend less time planning projects and more time building and fostering learner potential — with a buddy. Learners gain influential time with adults who are clear, confident and present.
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Use our quote builder for Sparks or Programs that's ready for submission to the powers that be!
"FutureMakers are always on the cutting edge of educational trends! Their work is a perfect fit for any schools interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) programs for their students. We have received glowing reports from our partner schools who have hosted Future Maker programs for their students. They work diligently to custom design their programs to challenge and inspire young learners."
"We want all of our middle schoolers to be makers – to feel empowered to design and build useful, interesting things with their hands. FutureMakers staff created an International Baccalaureate-aligned Design course and are teaching our sixth and seventh graders how to use tools as well as how to collaborate and think creatively. The Design course is a highlight of our school and of our students' days."
"MOST has been excited about the potential of the Maker Movement for afterschool and summer programs. Making offers the nexus of creativity, technology and the development of the STEM skills like design thinking and problem solving. Yet, often youth development professionals may not think of themselves as makers and don’t know how to get started. FutureMakers has offered programs in our network an accessible, entry way into the world of making – successfully engaging both youth and adults."
"The Alexandria Seaport Foundation's contract with the City of Alexandria Public Schools required my non profit organization to teach 150 middle school students math. Through FutureMakers help, we were able to provide at-risk students quality hands-on instruction using boat building and cigar box guitars to help the students struggling in math. In our George Washington middle school class, 100% of the class passed their technology education class."
"FutureMakers helped Maryland Public Libraries establish their current culture of providing customers of all ages with the space and tools to participate in experiential learning. They have also done numerous workshops, training, and learning projects with library staff around the state and at several state-wide library conferences. Thanks in no small part to the wonderful job FutureMakers has done, many public libraries have built or are in the process of building makerspaces and STEM labs for public use, which means that a growing number of Marylanders have access to this critical type of learning."
"We are always looking for new and innovative programs and FutureMakers provided us with the opportunity to offer hands-on maker camps to our Kids in College families. Maker camps provide the camper with an opportunity to be creative, innovative, inventive and resourceful as the campers learn the joys of making something themselves. Campers become problem solvers who look at projects from a variety of angles to reach a successful solution."
