Makerspace Update: June 2026
Note From Joseph
Last night was our volunteer appreciation party at Cascade Kitchens. It was amazing to meet so many of you in person for the first time. I’m blown away by how many people are so passionate and involved in our work. Thank you for making our work possible!
Speaking of volunteerism — a ton of you have already asked us about what opportunities exist to get involved with the makerspace and The Atrium. While we aren’t quite ready to offer trainings or assign roles, we’d love to start identifying who you are and what you’d like to contribute!
Please head over to our Volunteers page and submit a Volunteer Sign Up Form (be sure to select "Makerspace / Atrium" when asked which opportunities interest you most). Already expressed interest by email, in person, or through another form? We probably have you recorded — however, you are more than welcome to submit anyway to be safe.
Later this summer, we'll officially kick off recruiting with a formal call for volunteers. At that point roles, expectations, and required trainings will all be clearly laid out. I couldn’t be more excited to get some of you plugged in!
In the meantime, we hope you'll consider driving for FeedTahoe, and continue to send your makerspace ideas my way!
New Arrivals
Up your content game! Our photo and video station is getting stocked up.
Sony a6700 Camera
Swap lenses to capture high-res shots a smartphone can’t match. Perfect for everything from cinematic video to headshots and closeups.
DJI Wireless Mic
A clip-on mic that automatically handles background sounds so your voice always comes through crisp and clear.
Single-Point Video Light
The single best way to make your videos look professional, even with minimal experience!
Recap of STEM Discovery Night at STMS
From afar, it looked like we were just hanging out next to a completely blank white TV screen… but up close, you could see kids giggling and scanning the screen with special “viewing wands”.
What were they looking for? Waldo!
To spark curiosity about optics, we modified a LCD TV by removing its outer polarizing filter. Normally, an LCD screen uses two filters. Think of them like window blinds — by angling them just right, the TV controls the light to reveal the image.
Without the second layer, the screen just looks like a bright white light! You need the polarized viewing wand to find the hidden Waldo.
We had an blast sharing the science of light, and we were very impressed by our quickest Waldo spotters.
Swishing Tahoe Clothing Swap
We love collaborating with STHS student Miri Lucksinger! She’s brought incredible student insights and ideas to the design of The Atrium.
On Saturday, June 27th (11 AM – 2 PM), Miri is hosting a FREE Clothing Swap in the Lakeview Room at the new Rec Center.
Miri loves to mend and upcycle discarded clothing, transforming them into one-of-a-kind pieces like backpacks and dresses. This is exactly the kind of creative, sustainable reuse we're excited to support at the makerspace!
Need to refresh your wardrobe and have some clothes to trade? Miri recommends bringing 10–30 items.
Construction Update: Plans Sent to the City!
We’ve checked off another major milestone! Our architects have officially submitted plans to the city to begin the permitting process. There won't be hammers swinging just yet while the city reviews everything, but things are moving quickly behind the scenes.
We'll keep you posted as things progress. Thank you for your continued excitement as we build out The Atrium!
Our Mission
Think big and make a difference in South Lake Tahoe through innovative programs in our core operating pillars: FEED, READ, and LEAD. Learn more here.