Makerspace Update: March 2026
Note From Joseph
Howdy,
My name is Joseph Minnich, and I moved from Cleveland, Ohio back in November to join the Marcella Foundation and lead the charge in building South Lake Tahoe’s newest makerspace.
My goal is simple: to create a space where anyone is welcome to learn and explore design, prototyping, and fabrication. This is about equipping students with the skills and independence to express themselves. We want students from the South Shore to be able to transform the creative ideas in their head into real products they can actually hold in their hands. I think we’ll all be amazed by what comes out of it.
As you may have heard, we recently acquired 970 Lodi (formerly Barton Health’s “The Attic" Thrift Store) to transform it into The Atrium, South Lake Tahoe’s newest community Hub! Besides becoming the eventual headquarters for our foundation operations, about half of the building will be dedicated to a new makerspace! We are on track to open the doors to local high schoolers in Fall 2026.
I’ll be sending out a casual update on the first Friday of each month to keep you in the loop as we build this from the ground up. We wanted to get this first edition to you as soon as possible, but expect to hear from us soon for the April update.
A quick heads-up: We sent this first newsletter to our entire contact list to inform everyone. Future updates will only go to those who have explicitly elected to receive “Makerspace” communications. If you want to check or manage your subscription settings, just click the “update your preferences” link in the footer of this email.
Thanks for being part of the journey!
New Arrivals: High-Impact, High-Mobility
We’re starting to get our hands on some new equipment! Currently we are focusing on high-impact, high-mobility equipment that we can easily pack up and take on the road. Here is a sneak peek at some of our favorite recent arrivals:
Chompsaw
The table saw for cardboard! Makes building functional cardboard prototypes super fun, safe and lightning-fast.
Bambu A1
Multi-color 3D printing is here! This machine can swap between four different filaments in a single print.
Bantam Pen Plotter
Part robot, part artist. This robotic drawing machine uses pens and markers to create high-precision art.
Available Now: Mobile Makerspace
Since our physical makerspace won't be ready until Fall 2026, we’ve decided we want to bring the tools directly to students in the meantime — and we have just the answer: a Ford F-150 and V-nose trailer! This rig serves as our Mobile Makerspace, allowing us to load up a bunch of equipment and bring the workshop right to you.
This mobile unit opens up a world of possibilities for our foundation. Keep an eye out for us on the road! You might see us at a local high school during lunch, farmers markets, or public events around town. We're really excited about the potential of removing one of the toughest common barriers in Tahoe: transportation.
We Need Your Input! Where should we go? If you have ideas for public venues or events where the Mobile Makerspace should deploy, especially ones happening this Spring please reach out to Joseph.
Boots on the Ground at STHS
Who says you need a fully renovated building to start making? We’ve officially hit the ground running with several pop-up events at South Tahoe High School. We kicked things off at STHS Winterfest, where we introduced students to the world of laser engraving by customizing sugar cookies and wooden holiday ornaments on the spot.
We also brought the engravers to the STHS Scholarship Fair to customize #2 pencils. It was the perfect chance to chat with students about the future makerspace and share details about our annual scholarship, The Fannan Fellowship.
Finally, to get the faculty in on the fun, we showed up to an All-Staff Meeting with a "buffet-style" makerspace display featuring all our favorite tools.
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.