Storm Works

The Storm Works is Team Storm’s proposal for a Makerspace on the Mississippi Gulf Coast!

We envision this space to be both a home for our current and future FIRST Programs, a foundation for expanding and advocating for FIRST, a center for learning and professional development, and most importantly a community and third space for creators and innovators.

Our dream is that StormWorks acts as a space for our members to grow and develop skills after school while acting simultaneously as a magnate for professionals and educators with the goal of both parties benefiting from the overlap.

The Community We Hope to Build

Venn Diagram Of Overlap of professional community and Student members

The Facilities & Services We Hope to Offer

  • The Storm Works Maker Space is meant to act as the Eye of the Storm. Within the Makerspace members will have access to a wide variety of tools and equipment.

    Examples: 3D Printers, Cricut Smart Cutting Machines, Heat Presses, Soldering Station, Robotics Kits, Electronics & Circuit Station, Art Supplies, Laser Engraving, a wide variety of other crafts tools and materials.

  • Currently Storm operates a competitive robotics program under the FIRST progression of programs for students in 6th-12th grades or their associated age ranges. Students may join to compete in both the FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition.

    Our offerings can be expanded to include additional competitive opportunities such as FIRST Lego League, BEST, VEX, MATE, SeaPerch, or Drone racing as interest demands and mentor support allows.

    We are also exploring afterschool care for younger students as an option to provide STEAM activities to students in K-5.

  • Storm Works will act as a hub for community driven classes and workshops.

    These may include full introductory courses on topics such as Computer Aided Design or Programming.

    It may also include single “one off” courses with a single objective, such as designing and milling a door hanger or wreath, creating your own 3D printed Holiday Ornament, or making a simple computer powered object using Raspberry Pi/ Arduino.

    We hope to allow for workshops to be requested or for potential instructors to pitch ideas on events we can host in partnership with them.

  • (Finish blurb and provide a link to a list of available/ anticipated tools within the shop)

  • Our day camps are independent week long units (Monday through Friday) where we cover a variety of STEAM concepts with students in grades 3-8.

    Our camps are designed around three core elements essential to every FIRST robotics team.

    Mechanics: Students will work to over the course of the week build their own robot for a mock competition at the end of the week.

    Engineering Principals: We will be doing several activities related to engineering concepts. (Examples may include: Engineering Tower Challenge, Stomp Rockets, Balloon Cars, and several more)

    Computer Aided Design & Manufacturing: Using TinkerCAD, 3d printing, Laser Engraving, and a demonstration of our CNC Mill.

    If numbers allow we may also offer a multi-week camp that includes Computer Science, Programming, and Media & Graphic Design sections!

    Additional Information on these will be available on the Home page.

  • We aim to offer a regular series of Professional Developments & CEU’s for both educators and industry professionals.

  • A long term objective of our organization is to offer not just professional development but tangible support for young entrepreneurs and creators.

Make it