Last weekend, Quarky Science participated in the first ever Vancouver Island Maker Faire. The event was held at the Panorama Recreation Centre’s Arena in North Saanich, just outside of Victoria. I try to sum up the Maker Faire idea as a cross between cyber punk and a renaissance fair, but that hardly does it justice. The event was filled with the kind of creativity and eclectic style that we were happy to be a part of.

The three tables to the right of the Quarky Science booth were dominated by a battery of 3D Printers, turning plastic into ready to use objects. The 3D Printer Club were making whistles for the children as well as using data capture cameras to make new patterns for their machines, out of volunteers from the public. Across from our booth was a group promoting storytelling tradition. A few times, when things slowed down, the couple at the storytelling booth would pull out their fiddles and put on an impromptu performance. Behind us, the Victoria Robotics Club were carrying out demonstrations with their home made creations. Nancy the Blacksmith was outside, making crafts with natural gas, while the hand loom society were inside spinning the days away. I also talked at length with a hydrology hobbyist showing off his creations of self-sustainability window gardening and a water powered turbine.

It was a busy but exciting weekend for the staff at Quarky Science, manning our booth and doing demonstrations with both a Celestron deluxe hand-held digital microscope and a Skywatcher BK 1025 AZ3 refractor telescope. We held a draw for the microscope and it was won by Amy Aikman of Victoria! We all had a lot of fun at the Maker Faire and hope to be back again next year.