One Day Events |
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You’re an explorer and anthropologist and discover a miniature world that everyone else thought was only imaginary. Create a model of your teeny, tiny world so everyone can see with Tinker Camp, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting STEAM education in your community. Use cool materials and tools to design and build a small scale version of whatever you discovered. Tiny rooms in a teeny house? A pint-sized playground? A miniature amusement park? Or maybe it’s a dinky donuts shop! All you need to do is bring your BIG tiny-sized ideas! Recommended for kids 8 and up!
For tinkers of all ages
Time & Date: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Sat, Feb 7th 2026
Cost: FREE
Location: Capital Hill Library
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 3 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Feb 9th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 5 days
Register Now
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Open Tinkering for kids. Middle School kids welcomed and encouraged to attend.
For tinkers 3rd grade to 7th Grade
Time & Date: 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Wed, Feb 11th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N Baltimore ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 15
Registration closes in 7 days
Register Now
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We open our doors for families who need support for PPS closures. The chosen theme will be announced at a later time.
For tinkers 3rd grade to 7th Grade
Time & Date: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Mon, Feb 16th 2026
Cost: 50.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N Baltimore ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 12 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Feb 23rd 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 19 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Mar 2nd 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 26 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Mar 9th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 33 days
Register Now
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Open Tinkering for kids. Middle School kids welcomed and encouraged to attend.
For tinkers 3rd grade to 7th Grade
Time & Date: 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Wed, Mar 11th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N Baltimore ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 35 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Mar 16th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 40 days
Register Now
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Pretend that an evil landlord is about to close the doors on your beloved library. You and your friends are the only hope for keeping the doors open with the help of Tinker Camp, a nonprofit dedicated to STEAM education in your community. You decide that the best way to save the building is to create an arcade of games and invite the neighbors to come and play to raise the rent! Design and create your one-of-a-kind arcade game using cardboard, reclaimed materials, ping pong balls, glittery glitter, marbles and a pile of cool materials the size of your arm. The fun doesn’t stop there; invite others to play your game while you test out theirs. You’ve just turned the library into an arcade! Recommended to kids 8 years and older with a parent or guardian.
For tinkers of all ages
Time & Date: 1pm to 4pm, Wed, Mar 25th 2026
Cost: FREE
Location: North Portland Library
Hosted by: Denise Slattery
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 49 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Mar 30th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 54 days
Register Now
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We open our doors for families who need support for PPS closures. The chosen theme will be announced at a later time.
For tinkers 3rd grade to 7th Grade
Time & Date: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Fri, Apr 3rd 2026
Cost: 50.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N Baltimore ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 19
Registration closes in 58 days
Register Now
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We open our doors for families who need support for PPS closures. The chosen theme will be announced at a later time.
For tinkers 3rd grade to 7th Grade
Time & Date: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Mon, Apr 6th 2026
Cost: 50.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N Baltimore ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 17
Registration closes in 61 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Apr 6th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 61 days
Register Now
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You’re an explorer and anthropologist and discover a miniature world that everyone else thought was only imaginary. Create a model of your teeny, tiny world so everyone can see with Tinker Camp, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting STEAM education in your community. Use cool materials and tools to design and build a small scale version of whatever you discovered. Tiny rooms in a teeny house? A pint-sized playground? A miniature amusement park? Or maybe it’s a dinky donuts shop! All you need to do is bring your BIG tiny-sized ideas! Recommended for kids 8 and up!
For tinkers of all ages
Time & Date: 2pm to 5pm, Sat, Apr 11th 2026
Cost: FREE
Location: Holgate Library
Hosted by: Denise Slattery
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 66 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Apr 13th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 68 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Apr 20th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 75 days
Register Now
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Open Tinkering for kids. Middle School kids welcomed and encouraged to attend.
For tinkers 3rd grade to 7th Grade
Time & Date: 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Wed, Apr 22nd 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N Baltimore ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 77 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Apr 27th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 82 days
Register Now
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Open Tinkering for kids. Middle School kids welcomed and encouraged to attend.
For tinkers 3rd grade to 7th Grade
Time & Date: 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Sun, May 3rd 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N Baltimore ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 88 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, May 4th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 89 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, May 11th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 96 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, May 18th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 103 days
Register Now
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We open our doors for families who need support for PPS closures. The chosen theme will be announced at a later time.
For tinkers 3rd grade to 7th Grade
Time & Date: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Mon, May 25th 2026
Cost: 50.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N Baltimore ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 19
Registration closes in 110 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Jun 1st 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 117 days
Register Now
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A coed, after-school maker lab just for 6th–9th graders. Learn deeper skills, dig into project sprints, and sharpen social skills.
For tinkers For tinkers in grades 6–9
Time & Date: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Mon, Jun 8th 2026
Cost: 30.00
Location: Tinker Camp, 6635 N. Baltimore Ave, Suite 212
Hosted by: Tinker Camp
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 124 days
Register Now
Multi-Day Camps |
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Everyone loves a carnival, with its unusual characters, entertainment and challenging games. At Tinker Camp we will put on a carnival that you design, build and run. Want to give a shot at creating the next generation game? What to write, star and direct your own show? Have you ever dreamed of making an automaton? Then join us for a week of carnival fun! On the last afternoon of camp the doors will open and all are welcome to enjoy your creations! Come one, Come all!
For tinkers Grades 3rd - 7th
Time & Date: 9am to 3pm, Mon, Mar 23rd 2026 through
Fri, Mar 27th 2026
Cost: 360.00
Location: Tinker Camp
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 20
Registration closes in 46 days
Register Now
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In We’re Gettin’ the Band Back Together, tinkers will design and build their own playable musical instruments using found materials, cardboard, scrap wood, wires, and salvaged electronics. From canjos and diddley bows to cardboard cajóns, license-plate guitars, and microphones built from reclaimed parts, every instrument begins as raw material and ends as something that actually makes sound.
For tinkers 3rd-8th grade
Time & Date: 9am to 3pm, Mon, Jul 6th 2026 through
Fri, Jul 10th 2026
Cost: 360.00
Location: Tinker Camp
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 19
Registration closes in 151 days
Register Now
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Tinkers from long, long ago, at a mythical time when Blake still had a full head of hair, used their skills and experience to build the tools of the ancient games of the Realm. Stories of triumphs and defeats still cast long shadows in our mythology today.
In Legends of the Realm, your modern tinkers will become the craftspeople, builders, and inventors who restore the games to their former glory. Throughout the week, they’ll design and construct their own foam weapons and cardboard suits of armor and shields—tested, refined, and proudly worn unto the breach—and taken home at week’s end. Along the way, they’ll learn that strength alone means very little. What matters is clever design, thoughtful rules, and teamwork.
Each day, tinkers will iterate on their weapons and armor and test them in real-world games of strategy and skill. Some challenges are ancient trials passed down through the ages (or at least carefully tested by staff). Others are invented by the campers themselves, who will design game mechanics, establish fair rules, and discover through play what works… and what spectacularly does not. Battles will be safe, structured, and supervised, with a strong emphasis on creativity, problem-solving, and good sportsmanship. When something fails, it’s not defeat—it’s a redesign opportunity.
Families are invited to the Museum of the Realm, a showcase celebrating the week’s creations. Campers will give tours, demonstrate games, and display legendary artifacts—armor, shields, and inventions that earned their place in the history of the ancient Realm.
In this camp, legends aren’t born; they’re built—out of cardboard, foam, and ideas that actually work.
For tinkers 3rd-8th Grades
Time & Date: 9am to 3pm, Mon, Jul 13th 2026 through
Fri, Jul 17th 2026
Cost: 360.00
Location: Tinker Camp
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 17
Registration closes in 158 days
Register Now
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Intergalactic Exodus is a longtime favorite of the kids. Your tinker will take on the roles needed to plan and execute humanity’s escape from Earth and establish a new human colony. Working in mission crews, tinkers tackle hands-on engineering and problem-solving challenges drawn from the realities of space travel, all built with cardboard.
Each crew is responsible for a critical system. Spacewalk teams design and build a functional spacesuit to repair the ship in flight. Communications crews establish contact using walkie-talkies and micro:bits. Habitat teams construct living spaces for the journey and the colony. Command crews practice leadership and crew coordination. Medical teams plan for crew health, while other crews build, design, and operate the spacecraft itself. The ground crew makes the ultimate sacrifice to ensure a successful launch.
Using cardboard and Tinker Camp’s deep collection of tools and eccentric stockpiles of materials, campers prototype, test, and redesign the final stronghold of humanity. No person can work in isolation on this project. Success depends on clear communication, trust between teams, and the ability to adapt when plans fail.
This camp emphasizes collaboration under pressure, ethical decision-making, and engineering with constraints. Failure isn’t catastrophic—it’s expected, analyzed, and redesigned.
By the end of the week, families are invited to experience the launch and mission, tour the spacecraft systems, and hear campers explain how their crew contributed to humanity’s survival.
The story is imagined.
The teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving are very real.
For tinkers 3rd-8th grade
Time & Date: 9am to 3pm, Mon, Jul 20th 2026 through
Fri, Jul 24th 2026
Cost: 360.00
Location: Tinker Camp
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 18
Registration closes in 165 days
Register Now
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Calling all engineers, builders, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders. In Cities in Your Future, tinkers work together to imagine, design, and build a model city that reflects the needs of a community—planned thoughtfully, built collaboratively, and constructed entirely to scale. This is more than just an engineering camp. It also incorporates civics, as tinkers form their own government and create the laws that shape their city.
They’ll plan street layouts, light public spaces, create residential and commercial zones, designate green and ecological areas, and design infrastructure that helps a city thrive. Campers will also consider how cities respond to real-world challenges, from transportation and energy use to natural disasters and emergency preparedness.
This camp goes beyond building structures. Tinkers will think like urban planners, policymakers, and citizens, and collaborate like civic leaders who must balance limited space, shared resources, and competing needs. Designs will evolve as tinkers test ideas, encounter constraints, and redesign systems to better serve their city’s residents.
On the final afternoon of camp, families and friends are invited to tour the city at our showcase. Campers will guide visitors through their streets and neighborhoods, explain their design choices, and share the innovations that make their city a vision of the future.
For tinkers 3rd-8th grade
Time & Date: 9am to 3pm, Mon, Jul 27th 2026 through
Fri, Jul 31st 2026
Cost: 360.00
Location: Tinker Camp
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 24
Registration closes in 172 days
Register Now
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"The Play's the Thing wherein I will catch the conscience of the king" is a famous line from Hamlet who uses a play to start his evil plot. We won't plan any evil, but you will be the one producing a new play. So, get your show on! Your skills are needed to mount the next Tinky Award winning play. If you are interested in writing a script, if you like costuming, if you like building sets or if acting is your gig, then it is showtime at Tinker Camp.
For tinkers 3rd-8th grade
Time & Date: 9am to 3pm, Mon, Aug 3rd 2026 through
Fri, Aug 7th 2026
Cost: 360.00
Location: Tinker Camp
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 19
Registration closes in 179 days
Register Now
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Are you ready? Do you have the skills to survive in an urban environment at the end of the world? If you can carry only the things you will need, what choices will you make? How about shelter or food? Now you will be able to try your skill at surviving in a hostile urban world. This won't be easy, and everyday will bring new challenges. Are you ready?
For tinkers 3rd -8th grade
Time & Date: 9am to 3pm, Mon, Aug 10th 2026 through
Fri, Aug 14th 2026
Cost: 360.00
Location: Tinker Camp
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 25
Registration closes in 186 days
Register Now
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Everyone loves a carnival, with its unusual characters, entertainment and challenging games. At Tinker Camp we will put on a carnival that you design, build and run. Want to give a shot at creating the next generation game? What to write, star and direct your own show? Have you ever dreamed of making an automaton? Then join us for a week of carnival fun! On the last afternoon of camp the doors will open and all are welcome to enjoy your creations! Come one, Come all!
For tinkers 3rd -8th grade
Time & Date: 9am to 3pm, Mon, Aug 17th 2026 through
Fri, Aug 21st 2026
Cost: 360.00
Location: Tinker Camp
Hosted by: Blake Swensen
Spaces Available: 25
Registration closes in 193 days
Register Now
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We are part of this year's G!ve Guide. Please help us to continue serve the children in North Portland and throughout the city.