FixCamp: the summer camp for kids who want to fix the world

FixCamp is the summer activity camp for kids who want to have ideas, solve problems and build big. 

Every day we’ll learn to make and use tools, build something big together and understand what it might take to fix the world.

FixCamp will be in London, Mondays to Fridays between 23 July and 10 August at South Bank Engineering UTC, Brixton. Tickets on sale now!

When? Monday – Friday, 23 July – 10 August 2018
Minimum booking 2 days

Where? South Bank Engineering UTC
56 Brixton Hill, Brixton, London SW2 1QS

Who? Ages 9-14
Skills optional, attitude essential

FixCamp is supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

We’re proud to be part of Year of Engineering 2018.

FixCamp: the summer camp for kids who want to fix the world.

Every day we’ll learn to make and use tools, build something big together and understand what it might take to fix the world.

When? Monday – Friday, 23 July – 10 August 2018
Minimum booking 2 days

Where? South Bank Engineering UTC
56 Brixton Hill, Brixton, London SW2 1QS

Who? Ages 9-14
Skills optional, attitude essential

How much? £50/day
Discounts for siblings and residents and FREE scholarships available

FixCamp is supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

We’re proud to be part of Year of Engineering 2018.

Big ideas

What are engineers and designers without ideas? The world is changing and we need new ideas: new ways of living together, new ways of working together and new visions of improvement. FixCamp is only one day, but it could change a life.

Big builds

Hackers, mechanics, printers, foresters: each day teams will be challenged with a big issue, a new tool, a skill and a big build. Tools might be hacksaws, 3-d printers, spanners or knitting needles! And the big builds might be timber, cardboard or inflatable. Sure thing is they’re going to make a statement.

We need you!

We aim to reach over 200 children this summer – and we can’t do that alone. We’ve recruited our core team now, but we’re still looking for engineers and designers who would like to volunteer their time as Camp ‘Coaches‘ and work experience seekers who fancy a few days being a ‘Runner’. Could it be you? Get right in touch!

Essential info

FixCamp is a design and engineering summer activity programme, where young people come together to think big and build big.

Using traditional and new materials and technologies i.e. from STICKS to DRONES – attendees will make their own tools and learn how to use them, and then use those tools to make big things together. Along the way they’ll get familiar with problem solving processes and think about how some of the big problems of today need creative solutions from people like them.

The first FixCamp will be in London in summer 2018.

In FixCamp kids will get busy with:

  • Ideas Inspiring and challenging ideas about the realities of today and possibilities for the future
  • Tools Using a range of tools and materials, from traditional to digital, understanding how things are made and what tools are for
  • Skills Challenging and fun exercises from whittling to 3D printing
  • Big making Taking it to the next level, working in teams to make large-scale installations with the daily ‘Big Build’

Download our flyer here to share the basics.

A typical day at FixCamp

 9:30 am Drop off and registration; the day starts straight at the making table
9:45 am – 10am Full-camp morning circle, big theme conversation
10am – 11am Work Session 1/Skills new and old
11am – 12am Work Session 2/Make your tools
12pm – 12:30 pm Lunch: eating outside if the weather is good
12:30 pm – 1 pm Play break! Organised game connected to the daily theme
1 pm – 1:30 pm Full camp lunch circle: BIG IDEA introduction and planning session: learning to see the big picture, have ideas, and plan to make them.
1:30pm – 2:45pm The BIG MAKE
2:45pm – 3:15 pm Tidy up and the BIG BUILD
3:15pm – 3:30pm Presentation and CELEBRATION!

FixCamp is brought to you by FixEd, a think and do tank and not for profit organisation exploring the future of creative education.

It’s being developed by an expert team of designers, engineers, architects and makers. Between us we’ve been paid by museums, governments, schools & universities and even cities to think creatively about the future and deliver programmes that help change it for the better. FixCamp is something we ‘d all have wanted to do when we were young.

It builds off our work with Fixperts, an education programme which challenges students to fix something for someone else. Fixperts has now been run in over 30 universities worldwide.

The day teams will all be designers and engineers, many of them students. There will be a minimum ratio of 8:1 children to leaders.

During the days the teams will be joined by expert ‘Coaches’, engineers, designers and makers who will share their knowledge and expertise with attendees.

FixCamp is £50* per day with a 2-day minimum booking.  

*Discounts are available for early birds, siblings and local residents. Scholarships available for those who might benefit but struggle to pay.

Note only one discount can be used per booking. 

  • Sibling discount: 15% across the entire booking; use code FIXCAMPSIBLING at checkout.
  • Local resident discount: 20% for postcodes starting SW2 or SW9; use code FIXCAMPLOCAL at checkout.

There are a number of full and part scholarships for those who could not otherwise attend; these are being arranged through local schools but can be awarded direct at our discretion, please get in touch.

FixCamp is a not-for-profit initiative and relies on grants and other subsidies. You could help – how about gifting a ticket to your community?

Make sure you view our cancellation policy before booking.

Here’s the headlines – but please shout if you have any more questions.

For things like booking requirements, cancellations and our child safety and behaviour policies there’s a lot more detail in our terms and conditions.

9-14 is a wide age range – what’s the thinking behind it?

We recognise that 9 year olds and 14 year olds have very different interests and skills. While we’ll be planning for that by offering our 13 and 14 year olds slightly different roles and responsibilities within the teams, we believe there’s more to be gained than lost in bringing everyone together into mixed groups.

What will I actually be making?

Each day teams will be challenged with a big issue, a new tool, a skill and a big build. Tools used include hacksaws. mallets, spanners and screwdrivers. There will be 3-d printers and drones used. The big makes include timber, cardboard and inflatable structures. Each build needs to complete in an afternoon so they are relatively simple and to some degree pre-planned, but they offer a full experience of applying imagination and skills in a team to achieve something big. There are 5 teams working with 5 different materials and tools, so unless you want to you won’t do the same day twice. You’ll be allocated your team every day; while we’ll try to accommodate specific interests if we can, we can’t offer you a choice.

Do I have to know how to make things already? 

‘Skills optional – attitude essential’ is our mantra, so no, you don’t need to be able to make things before you come. That’s what you’re coming to us for!

Is it dangerous?

Not more than most crafting activities – there’s no hot works – though knives are used for whittling. Your safety and wellbeing is really important to us and we’ll make sure that all tools, materials and activities are age appropriate, demonstrated and fully supervised. Your team will have a supervision ratio of 1:8 and all our staff will receive training prior to FixCamp.

A complete risk assessment of FixCamp will be undertaken prior to the event. This will highlight any areas of risk and suitable responses and we’ll let you know in advance anything we think you should be aware of.

Is it fun?

Good question. Fun is a pretty subjective idea – so we can’t guarantee that everyone will have fun. But if you like cool ideas, and if you liked building dens, and you have the kind of attitude that means you’re willing to give things a go, then we think it’s going to be fun for you.

What do I need to bring with me? 

Nothing outside the ordinary! You need to be wearing comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. And you need to bring a packed lunch (water and snacks will be provided).

Can you take my child earlier than 9.30pm/stay later than 3.30pm? 

Sadly due to venue restrictions we can’t on this occasion, so drop off and pick up will be expected promptly at 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Will I get to keep what I make? 

Not the big builds – they’ll be too big so you’ll have to rely on your memories and the fab photographs we’ll be taking. You’ll get to keep your tool belt though, and some of the tools you make – some will get repurposed for other activities.

Do you know someone who would get a kick out of FixCamp but won’t have the chance? Or are you that person? APPLY NOW!

We want FixCamp to be a place for every kind of talent, including those who might not normally have the opportunity, maybe because of cost, maybe because of language, or perhaps their family is interested in other things.

We have both free and subsidised places to encourage young people with ideas and interest to attend. We’ve approached local schools to nominate, but we’re also happy to take applications and nominations direct.

We’ll be assessing these applications on a rolling basis and making offers right the way through til the end.

Here’s the application form to start the process: click here or get in touch if you have any questions.

FixCamp friends and supporters

with special thanks to… Maya Alvarado at Power Project, Liz Corbin at Materiom, the team at Remakery, Roberto Feo and Rosario Hurtado at El Ultimo Grito.

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