What Happens When Camp Meets a 3D Printer?
There is a decent chance that at some point this summer, a camper is going to hold something in their hand and say,
“Wait… I made this?”
That is what we are really excited about.
This summer, we are bringing 3D printing to Beber Camp, and it is opening the door to something bigger, a makerspace inside Arts and Crafts where ideas can go from imagination to reality.
So… What Is a Makerspace?
Think of it as a place where campers get to experiment, design, build, and sometimes fail, and then try again.
It is hands on.
It is creative.
It is a little messy in the best possible way.
And it fits camp perfectly.
Meet Arnoush
We are incredibly lucky to have Arnoush Javaherian, a Beber alum, helping lead this work.
Arnoush’s path into 3D printing actually started with something pretty simple, nostalgia.
He was collecting old 80s toys like GI Joe and Transformers, and at some point realized… what if I could just make my own?
That idea opened the door.
At first, it was not easy. The first six months were full of frustration, learning curves, and a lot of trial and error. Then one day, he started exploring online libraries of 3D files and discovered just how much was out there. That sparked something. He began finding things he liked, modifying them, and eventually creating his own.
Now, whether it is designing something just for fun, creating something meaningful, or even thinking like an entrepreneur, Arnoush sees 3D printing as a way to take whatever is in your head and bring it to life.
His message to campers is simple:
You can design or create anything you want.
Yes, We Have 3D Printers… But That’s Not the Point
This is not about campers standing in line waiting for something to print.
That would be… very un-camp.
Instead, this is about what happens before something ever gets printed.
What Campers Will Actually Be Doing
- Sketching ideas and figuring out how to bring them to life
- Learning beginner friendly design tools like TinkerCAD, Fusion, or Blender
- Exploring existing designs online and building off them
- Testing things that do not quite work, and then making them better
- Collaborating on group projects, like building a 3D map of camp
- Creating things that are useful, meaningful, or just plain fun
There is a lot of trial and error.
There is a lot of creativity.
There is a lot of “wait, let me try that again.”
And that is exactly the point.
From Idea to Reality
One of the things we love most about this is how open ended it is.
A camper might recreate something they love, invent something totally new, design a game, make a small object that solves a problem, or just see where their imagination takes them.
Arnoush even shared that he and his wife have talked about designing their own Mah Jong set, tiles and all.
That is the kind of thinking we hope to inspire.
Artists in Residence, Because Creativity Is Bigger Than One Medium
We are also excited to welcome two Artists in Residence this summer:
- First Session, Carolyn Elliot
Returning for her third summer, Carolyn brings years of experience as an art teacher and a passion for helping kids build confidence through hands on creativity. From ceramics to mixed media, she loves helping campers turn their ideas into something they can actually hold and be proud of. - Second Session, Chantal Blaustein
Chantal joins us with a background in teaching art to both kids and adults, with a focus on mosaic and mixed media. After getting a taste of Beber last summer, she is excited to be back and help campers explore their creativity in a fun, relaxed environment.
Both Carolyn and Chantal will be part of the everyday rhythm of camp, working with campers during hobbies and cabin activities, and helping create a culture where creativity shows up everywhere.
What We Hope Happens
We hope campers get curious.
We hope they try something new.
We hope they surprise themselves.
And maybe, just maybe, they walk out of Arts and Crafts holding something they created and thinking:
“I didn’t know I could do that.”
This Is Just the Start
This summer is the beginning.
We will learn a lot.
We will build on it.
And over time, this makerspace will grow into something really special.