Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Georgia Getting Down to Business in the MakerSpace
Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Rome, GA
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Getting Down to Business in the MakerSpace

Chris Babb | September 29, 2016 | 417 views

Last spring, Owen Kinney and I were awarded a Thatcher Faculty Development grant to establish a student entrepreneurship program at Darlington School. The program will include a wide range of creative activities focusing on the design and manufacturing of products in our MakerSpace.

 

Over time, we hope to market our products locally and on the internet using a student-maintained storefront. In year one, we will be working closely with our senior-level Zoology classes, and our product line will have a wildlife theme. Our hope is that this pilot project will move from a self-sustaining venture into a position where we can reinvest in further entrepreneurial endeavors.


Since the summer, the focus of our work has been expanding and redesigning the Upper School MakerSpace. The original MakerSpace area has been refitted with additional woodworking tools as well as a dust collection system. Currently, several prototype birdhouses and feeders are being built, and we are researching the most functional designs for our store. As winter approaches, we will begin testing various feeder and nest boxes on campus. Exploring the viability of a customer-based monitoring program for various backyard bird species is also on the agenda.


As the wildlife habitat improvement phase of our work becomes established, the expectation is to expand our entrepreneurship program to include other enterprises like custom-designed holiday ornaments, hand-made chocolates, and other student-generated projects. These products will eventually be sold at local events such as the upcoming Business Expo, Chiaha Festival, and Riverfest. We also have plans to produce some specialty items for next year’s Purple Tie Affair and the school bookstore.


To make this project a true success, we need business-savvy students to get involved!  Please contact Mr. Kinney or me if you are interested. Entrepreneurial work will be occurring during the iPeriod and after school. Eventually, we expect this project to be almost completely student run. We are very grateful to the Thatcher family and to Darlington School for this generous award.