{"url":"/santa-monica/forge-makerspace","provider":{"id":"forge-makerspace","name":"Forge Makerspace","kind":"organization","about":"Engineering workshop for kids in grades 1-8 on Michigan Avenue in Santa Monica, started by engineer Jeran Bruce. Kids use real tools (3D printers, saws, laser cutters, soldering irons, microcontrollers) and earn skill badges as they move up through ranks.","website":"https://www.forgemakerspace.com","phone":"(424) 766-1981","email":"santamonica@forgemakerspace.com","instagram":null,"founded":null,"credentials":[],"languages":[],"image":null},"location":{"id":"main","name":null,"street":"2341 Michigan Ave","unit":null,"city":"santa-monica","zip":"90404","neighborhood":null,"coords":[-118.469572,34.026154],"precision":"exact"},"serviceArea":[],"programs":[{"id":"day-camps","type":"camp","name":"Day Camps on School Holidays","summary":"Single-day engineering camps on school holidays and break weeks: each camper picks a project, builds it with real tools and takes it home.","description":"Every date offers a menu of projects, such as a ping-pong ball launcher, a 3D-printed flashlight, a water blaster or a compressed-air rocket. Families choose the project about a week ahead. Groups of 8 campers per instructor or fewer, mixed ages. Lunch at Gandara Park around noon; pack lunch or order a hot lunch at drop-off. Campers still here at 3:15pm go to aftercare for a flat $30.","categories":["engineering","robotics","science"],"ages":{"min":6,"max":14},"grades":{"min":1,"max":8},"format":"in-person","price":{"amount":150,"unit":"day"},"registration":{"url":"https://www.forgemakerspace.com/day-camps","status":"open"},"camp":{"day":"full","hours":{"start":"08:30","end":"15:00"},"extendedCare":{"start":"15:15","end":"16:15","price":{"amount":30,"unit":"day","note":"Flat charge for anyone still checked in at 3:15pm."}},"lunch":"optional","sessions":[{"location":"main","start":"2026-10-12","end":"2026-10-12","name":"Indigenous Peoples' Day"},{"location":"main","start":"2026-11-11","end":"2026-11-11","name":"Veterans Day"},{"location":"main","start":"2026-11-23","end":"2026-11-25","name":"Thanksgiving break"},{"location":"main","start":"2026-12-28","end":"2027-01-08","name":"Winter break"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-01-18","end":"2027-01-18","name":"MLK Day"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-02-15","end":"2027-02-15","name":"Presidents' Day"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-03-22","end":"2027-04-02","name":"Spring break"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-05-31","end":"2027-05-31","name":"Memorial Day"}]},"traits":{"intensity":"balanced","structure":"mixed","competition":"none","ratio":8,"skillLevels":["beginner","intermediate"],"goals":["skills","creativity","fun"],"methods":["hands-on","project-based"],"setting":"both","screens":"some","parents":"drop-off","commitment":"drop-in","gender":"all","staff":["professionals"],"feel":"Each camper picks a project from the day's menu ahead of time, builds it with real tools in the shop (mixed ages, grades 1-8), takes a midday walk to the park, and takes the project home.","topics":["3d-printing","rockets","water-blaster","launcher","woodworking","makerspace"]}},{"id":"summer-camp","type":"camp","name":"Summer Engineering Camp 2027","summary":"Twelve weeks of project-based engineering camp for grades 2 to 8, in two age tracks with four signature projects each.","description":"Younger makers (entering grades 2-4) and older makers (entering grade 5 and up) each pick one of four projects a week, led by a specialist instructor, with all eight projects running every week. Groups of 8 campers per instructor or fewer. Lunch and play at Gandara Park around noon; aftercare to 4:15pm is billed at the end of the week. Sign-up opens in January 2027 and a sliding-scale tuition is available.","categories":["engineering","robotics","science"],"ages":{"min":7,"max":14},"grades":{"min":2,"max":8},"format":"in-person","financialAid":true,"registration":{"url":"https://www.forgemakerspace.com/summer-camp","status":"soon","opens":"2027-01-01"},"camp":{"day":"full","hours":{"start":"08:30","end":"15:00"},"extendedCare":{"start":"15:15","end":"16:15"},"lunch":"optional","sessions":[{"location":"main","start":"2027-06-14","end":"2027-06-18"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-06-21","end":"2027-06-25"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-06-28","end":"2027-07-02"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-07-05","end":"2027-07-09"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-07-12","end":"2027-07-16"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-07-19","end":"2027-07-23"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-07-26","end":"2027-07-30"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-08-02","end":"2027-08-06"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-08-09","end":"2027-08-13"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-08-16","end":"2027-08-20"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-08-23","end":"2027-08-27"},{"location":"main","start":"2027-08-30","end":"2027-09-03"}]},"traits":{"intensity":"balanced","structure":"mixed","competition":"none","ratio":8,"skillLevels":["beginner","intermediate","advanced"],"goals":["skills","creativity","confidence","fun"],"methods":["hands-on","project-based"],"goodFor":["new-to-it"],"setting":"both","screens":"some","parents":"drop-off","commitment":"short","gender":"all","staff":["professionals"],"feel":"Each week a camper picks one of four projects in their age track, led by a specialist instructor for that build, and earns a badge for each; lunch and play at the park around noon.","amenities":["arcade"],"topics":["rc-car","drones","lightsaber","woodworking","robotic-arm","electronics","coding","makerspace"]}},{"id":"forge-academy","type":"afterschool","name":"Forge Academy","summary":"Weekly 80-minute engineering class with 8 or fewer kids per instructor: woodworking, 3D printing, circuits, LEGO robotics and microcontrollers, with badges for each skill mastered.","description":"Kids join a rank by grade: Tinker (grades 1-2), Maker (grades 3-4, adds power tools and microcontrollers) and Builder (grade 5 and up, adds laser cutting and soldering). Each rank has 5-6 units of projects that kids take home. Tuition includes 40 minutes a week of open makerspace time. Classes run on weekday afternoons and weekend middays; times vary by class, and kids can switch classes for free. Rolling enrollment; the first class is free.","categories":["engineering","robotics"],"ages":{"min":6,"max":14},"grades":{"min":1,"max":8},"format":"in-person","price":{"amount":285,"unit":"month","note":"Yearly tuition billed monthly; cancel anytime. Extra open makerspace time is $30 an hour."},"registration":{"url":"https://www.forgemakerspace.com/forge-academy","status":"open"},"afterschool":{"care":false,"term":{"name":"2026-27","start":"2026-08-31","end":"2027-06-13"},"meetings":[{"location":"main","days":["mon","tue","wed","thu","fri"],"start":"15:00","end":"18:30"},{"location":"main","days":["sat","sun"],"start":"11:00","end":"14:30"}],"pickup":"Picks up Village School students after school ($5 a pickup, book ahead) and walks them to the workshop until 6:30pm."},"traits":{"intensity":"balanced","structure":"structured","competition":"none","ratio":8,"sessionMinutes":80,"skillLevels":["beginner","intermediate","advanced"],"goals":["skills","creativity","confidence"],"methods":["hands-on","project-based","mastery-based"],"setting":"indoor","screens":"some","parents":"drop-off","commitment":"ongoing","gender":"all","staff":["professionals"],"includes":["equipment"],"trialClass":true,"feel":"Kids work on real tools in a shop, building projects they take home, and earn skill and project badges; they move up from Tinker to Maker to Builder once a rank's badges are done, whatever their age.","topics":["woodworking","3d-printing","laser-cutting","soldering","circuits","arduino","power-tools","makerspace"]}},{"id":"birthday-parties","type":"party","name":"Birthday parties","summary":"Engineering birthday parties for grades 1 to 8 at the Santa Monica workshop, where each guest builds a project to take home.","description":"Engineering birthday parties at the Michigan Avenue workshop in Santa Monica, for grades 1 to 8. A party runs three hours, 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays or Sundays, and families can arrive up to an hour early to decorate. Instructors lead a guided build: each guest uses real tools such as 3D printers, saws and laser cutters to make a project, such as a glowing lithophane box, and takes it home. Parties start at $950 for up to 15 guests, with $50 per extra guest up to 40 and $200 per extra 30-minute block. Included are the instructor-led project, safety gear, build materials, basic decorations and a food and cake table in a party room. Cake, food, drinks and favors are not included; outside food and cake are allowed if nut-free. Full payment reserves the date and is non-refundable.","categories":["party-venue","engineering"],"ages":{"min":6,"max":14},"grades":{"min":1,"max":8},"price":{"amount":950,"unit":"party","note":"Up to 15 guests; $50 per extra guest up to 40; $200 per extra 30-minute block."},"party":{"packages":["Starts at $950: 3 hours, up to 15 guests"],"minutes":180},"registration":{"url":"https://forgemakerspace.com/birthday-parties","status":"open"},"traits":{"includes":["host","equipment","decorations"],"privateRoom":true,"outsideFood":true,"guests":40,"setting":"indoor","intensity":"balanced","feel":"Hands-on engineering build with real tools; each guest takes home a finished project."}}],"source":{"url":"https://www.forgemakerspace.com/forge-academy","fetched":"2026-10-07"},"updated":"2026-10-09","checked":null,"closed":null,"sample":false}