Summer Programs

Eli Whitney Museum

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Summer Programs for 2023

Week of June 20, 2023

The Art & Science of Fire

Please Note: This is a four day class- Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed, Mon, June 19th.

In Greek mythology, civilization begins with Prometheus’ gift of fire. This workshop will introduce fire as we present every too...

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Week of June 20, 2023

"Sew" Vintage

Please Note: This is a four day class- Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed, Mon, June 19th.

Join professional freelance theatrical costumer C. Delari Johnson to learn how to sew by hand and on a machine. You will grasp eve...

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Week of June 20, 2023

Analog Gamebuilder

Please Note: This is a four day class- Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed, Mon, June 19th.

In the tradition of the strategy games Mordheim, Warhammer or Dungeons and Dragons, create a war band of 10 miniatures and skirmis...

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Week of June 20, 2023

Arduino

Please Note: This is a four day class- Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed, Mon, June 19th.

Arduino (ar-dwee-noh) is an open-source electronics prototyping platform used by hundreds of thousands of makers and hobb...

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Week of June 26, 2023

The Art and Science of Light

Manipulating light and images is certainly fun and exciting. What is the science behind all the amusement and vibrance?

This week you will join us to unearth the ins and outs of light and its properties. Experiment with a giant life-size Camera...

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Week of June 26, 2023

Mosaics

Mosaic is the art of creating images with pieces of glass, stone, or pottery. Explore this exciting art form and learn the same techniques used by ancient civilizations, from the Romans and Greeks to the early Byzantine Empire. You will learn the basic...

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Week of June 26, 2023

Hiking & Journaling

East Rock park was established 140 years ago to preserve and share the woodlands and wildlife that surround the river that powered Whitney’s machines. 400 acres rise from the tidal basin to a trap rock ridge with a panoramic view of Long Island sound...

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Week of June 26, 2023

3D Printing

Use 3D modeling software to respond to design challenges. Use our 3rd generation Prusa i3 Printers to print your work.
Test your work with peers in collaboration, not competition.

3D printing has become a powerful tool for engineers, desig...

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Week of July 3, 2023

Automaton

Please Note: This is a four-day class- Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed, Tues, July 4th.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an Automaton as 1. a mechanism that is relatively self-operating and 2. a mac...

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Week of July 3, 2023

Amazement Park

Please Note: This is a four day class- Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed on Tuesday July 4th.

Summertime is the perfect season to enjoy a day at a theme park. This week thematic engineering meets design and play...

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Week of July 3, 2023

Classic Model Building

Please Note: This is a four day class- Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed on Tuesday July 4th.

Plastic Scale models began to appear in the 1940s. While easier to construct than the balsa models that preceded them...

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Week of July 3, 2023

Mindstorms

Please Note: This is a four day class- Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
We are closed on Tuesday July 4th.

Whether it's for a simple moving sculpture or a maze-solving robot, adding a computer can make any Lego project coole...

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Week of July 10, 2023

Our Site: History & Architecture

The legacy of the Museum begins in 1798 When Eli Whitney first chose a site on the Mill River to build his Armory. Chosen for its access to a strong current of water, Whitney intended to use this as a power source for the machines he would use to produ...

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Week of July 10, 2023

Adirondack Chair

****Please note that the tools and techniques explored in this camp require an advanced level of strength and manual dexterity. We will not accept any campers who are younger than 11, and we ask that parents call us to discuss any questions regardi...

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Week of July 10, 2023

Skate & Create

This camp is all about skateboarding. Learn how skateboards are made–starting with the trees we harvest to craft them. Design your very own skateboard shape and graphics. Learn how to use basic tools and image making techniques to convert your design...

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Week of July 10, 2023

Sounds of Nature

Utilize the sounds of nature to explore the complexities of music production and sound design. Campers will learn how to turn the cracking of twigs into dynamic drum patterns and manipulate bird calls into beautiful melodies. The days will be spent ind...

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Week of July 17, 2023

The Aztecs

The Aztec present a fascinating and often misunderstood history and legacy. Even the name "Aztec" was derived from German explorer Alexander von Humboldt as he was describing the powerful Mesoamerican people who encountered the Spanish in 1519...

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Week of July 17, 2023

Kayak (Week One of Two)

Build a very stable flat water 12' Kudzu type kayak. Build it using a fuselage frame design. Learn to skin the kayak with synthetic fabric and apply a waterproof finish. A recreational kayak perfect for fishing, paddling or photography.

...

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Week of July 17, 2023

A Broken Umbrella Theatre

Play with A Broken Umbrella Theatre! and learn the building blocks of ensemble theatre-making.

A Broken Umbrella Theater is proud to team up with The Eli Whitney Museum this summer to present a one-of-a-kind experience. They will be off...

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Week of July 17, 2023

3D Animation: Blender

Learn the basics of Blender, a professional, open source 3D modeling and animation toolkit. Blender is used to create animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, interactive 3D applications and video games. This program contains numerous mo...

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Week of July 24, 2023

The Queen of Hawaii

Queen Lili’u Loloku Walania Kamaka’eha, the first female leader of the Kalākaua dynasty, ruled a unified Hawaiian Kingdom until 1917. Queen Liliuokalani fought to keep Hawaii free from British and American conquestors. She was highly educated as w...

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Week of July 24, 2023

Kayak (Week Two of Two)

Build a very stable flat water 12' Kudzu type kayak. Build it using a fuselage frame design. Learn to skin the kayak with synthetic fabric and apply a waterproof finish. A recreational kayak perfect for fishing, paddling or photography.

...

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Week of July 24, 2023

Electronics

Learn about the basics of electronics: the interactions between batteries, resistors, transistors, capacitors, and other components. Build skill in soldering, and discover how to turn schematic diagrams into real circuits. Learn about electrical safety...

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Week of July 31, 2023

Mapping Our World

At present a world without GPS is unfathomable.

Cartography has enriched the lives of explorers for centuries. This week you will be inspired by the beauty, versatility, and incomparable significance of maps. From Ancient Civilizations to the A...

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Week of July 31, 2023

The Chair

A good chair is so much more than a comfortable place to rest. Inspired by Centerbrook Architects, we will embark on a weeklong chair challenge. You will design and build this essential piece of furniture, beginning with sketches as well as an introduc...

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Week of July 31, 2023

Creative Writing

Over the course of the week, participants will read, write, and revise poems, letters, and memoirs. They will then reduce, reuse, and recycle old photos, letters, and other papers from their past into handmade paper. Once their words are edited and the...

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Week of August 7, 2023

Intro to Robotics

The world of robotics is much more than simply assembling parts. Experience what it's like firsthand to be a robotics engineer: customize your robot to accomplish specific tasks, troubleshoot mechanical issues, and even try your hand at programming an ...

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Week of August 7, 2023

Mad Science

Whether it’s making ceramics or crafting a s'more, chemistry is everywhere we look. Participate in and run quirky chemistry experiments with everything from gummy bears to potassium. Learn the chemistry behind everyday materials that you take for gra...

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Week of August 7, 2023

Design Challenge

Cars have many moving parts. Precision is key. The challenge for this week’s camp is to design the car that can travel the farthest in an all-terrain obstacle course.

Learn how to use Rhinoceros 3D, a design software program. Use the Trotec la...

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Week of August 14, 2023

Spaceship Design

If you are like us you’ve definitely imagined hundreds of spaceships. This week you can translate your creations into reality. Join us to build your own spaceship and learn about the real-life spacecraft sent by humans to the edge of the Milky Way. <...

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Week of August 14, 2023

Analog Gamebuilder

In the tradition of the strategy games Mordheim, Warhammer or Dungeons and Dragons, create a war band of 10 miniatures and skirmish with other 'bands' to gain wealth, powers, and size. Painting your figures gives them a personality all their own.

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Week of August 14, 2023

Minecraft for Engineers

Use mods like BuildCraft and IndustrialCraft alongside real-world engineering concepts to design machines that complete tasks far faster than any human could. Link together fuel sources, engines, wires, transformers, pipes, furnaces, and more to genera...

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