Join us for a week-long celebration of NJ Makers Day from March 13-March 20, 2021!
All activities are virtual. See our schedule of programs below to learn more. 
New Jersey Makers Day is a celebration of maker culture across the Garden State. This all-ages event connects individuals with libraries, schools, businesses, and independent makerspaces that support making, tinkering, crafting, manufacturing, and STEM-based learning.

 All Ages | Kids | Teens | Adults | NJMD Live!

You are invited to make and create with us all week long! Click the date & time icon to add an event to your Google calendar. If registration is required, use the online form linked in the program description.
Need additional information? Please email us at library@piscatawaylibrary.org.

Meet the Makerspace
All Ages
Thursday, March 18, at 10 am

Visit our Facebook page to take a virtual tour of our MiY Makerspace with Doug Baldwin. Make It Yourself (MiY) gives residents of all ages access to tools, techniques and hands-on learning experiences.

Family Engineering Challenge
All Ages
Friday, March 19, at 4 pm

Test your engineering skills in this fun family challenge. Practice your ability to work as part of a team and think creatively! Registration required. 

Acrylic Pour Demonstration
All Ages
Saturday, March 20, from 1-2 PM

Join us on Facebook Live  for a demonstration of how to create acrylic pour paintings by Mike Beckwith of Scene One Art.

 

Grab & Go Craft: Paper Flowers & Vase
All Ages
Saturday, March 20, from 4:15 - 4:30 pm

Join us on Facebook Live to learn how to create beautiful paper flowers and a paper vase to hold them all. Registration required for craft pick up.

Children of all ages are invited to make and create with us all week long! Click the date & time icon to add an event to your Google calendar. If registration is required, use the online form linked in the program description.
Need additional information? Please contact the Children's Department via phone (732-463-1633 ext. 7) or email (sedwards@piscatawaylibrary.org). 

Game Design with Scratch (Beginner)
Grades 2-8
Tuesday, March 16, from 4:30-6:30 PM 

Design your own Space Mission game using Scratch while learning important coding concepts along the way! Create a Scratch account here: scratch.mit.edu. Registration required

 

Intro to Python (Intermediate)
Grades 5-8
Tuesday, March 16, from 4:30-6:30 pm

Learn Python while creating your own quiz game! We will go over important programming concepts and gain problem-solving skills along the way. We will be using repl.it as our online code editor. Create an account here: repl.it. Registration required.

 

Preschool STEM Lab
Ages 2-5 years
Wednesday, March 17, from 10:30-11 am

Join us for an educational STEM lab to explore measurements through a story and hands-on activity. Registration required.

Origami for Kids 
Grades PreK-5
Wednesday, March 17, from 4-4:45 pm

Join us on Facebook Live for paper folding fun. Learn how to create some cool origami shapes - no tape required! Registration required for origami paper pickup.

 

Brain Basics with The Brain Bunch
Grades 2-8
Thursday, March 18, from 4:30-5:30 pm

Learn about the basic anatomy and structure of the brain. Discover why illusions can trick your brain and evaluate decisions made by the brain through hands-on activities. Registration required.

 

Storybook STEM Live
Grades 1-5
Thursday, March 18, from 6-6:30 pm

Listen to a read aloud of H.O.R.S.E. - A Game of Basketball and Imagination by Christopher Myers. Learn about the science of basketball and make your own hoop shot game. Registration Required.

All About Mars 2021 with the Liberty Science Center
Families
Saturday, March 20, at 3 pm

Mars shines in our evening sky until July of 2021. In this show, we’ll find out how to find the red planet in the current night sky. We’ll then travel to Mars in the wake of the Perseverance rover that landed on Mars in February 2021, and explore Mars as NASA sees it. This show is recommended for kids in grades K-5. Registration Required.

Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to make and create with us all week long! Click the date & time icon to add an event to your Google calendar. If registration is required, use the online form linked in the program description.
Need additional information? Please contact the Teen Department at teens@piscatawaylibrary.org.

Teen Tycoons
Grades 6-12
Saturday, March 13, from 1-4 pm

Learn from successful teen entrepreneurs who have developed their own products, built their own businesses and started their own non-profit to facilitate fun-filled, hands-on activities around product development, pitching ideas, marketing your product and raising funds to take your ideas to the next level. Our team of facilitators will guide you in thinking creatively about what it might be like to start your own business! Do you have what it takes to be the next Teen Tycoon? Registration required.

 

Tech It Out
Grades 6-12
Monday, March 15, from 3-4 pm

Come and talk about your favorite piece of Technology that you own or new Technologies that you would like to learn more about. Registration required.

 

Teen Paint and Sip
Grades 6-12
Tuesday, March 16, from 3-4 pm

Follow along with Teen Services Librarian Kate-Lynn as she guides you through painting a moonlit masterpiece from the comfort of your own home! All materials will be provided.  Registration required.

 

Game Design with Scratch (Beginner)
Grades 2-8
Tuesday, March 16, from 4:30-6:30 PM 

Design your own Space Mission game using Scratch while learning important coding concepts along the way! Create a Scratch account here: scratch.mit.edu. Registration required

 

Intro to Python (Intermediate)
Grades 5-8
Tuesday, March 16, from 4:30-6:30 pm

Learn Python while creating your own quiz game! We will go over important programming concepts and gain problem-solving skills along the way. We will be using repl.it as our online code editor. Create an account here: repl.it.Registration required.

 

Brain Basics with The Brain Bunch
Grades 2-8
Thursday, March 18, from 4:30-5:30 pm

Learn about the basic anatomy and structure of the brain. Discover why illusions can trick your brain and evaluate decisions made by the brain through hands-on activities. Registration required.

 

Taxonomy of Candy
Grades 6-12
Saturday, March 20, at 2 PM

Come learn how to sort different types of candy into general or specific categories. Enjoy your candy afterwards! Registration required.

 

You are invited to make and create with us all week long! Click the date & time icon to add an event to your Google calendar. If registration is required, use the online form linked in the program description.
Need additional information? Please email us at library@piscatawaylibrary.org.

Take & Make: String Art Bookmarks
Ages 8+
Monday, March 15, at 4 PM

Pick up a kit to make a string art bookmark! Use a thread and needle to create your own portable personalized piece of art.  View the tutorial here, then join us on Monday for a quick demo and to show off your cool new bookmark.
This craft kit contains a sewing needle and is appropriate for ages 8+. Registration required.

 

Chain Pull Demonstration
Adults
Wednesday, March 17, at 7 PM

Join us on Facebook to learn how to create beautiful paintings using the chain pull technique and materials that you may  have on-hand.

 

Welcome to Crochet
Adults
Friday, March 19, from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Join Merry as she guides you through basic techniques and tips. By the end of the lesson, you will be ready to crochet your very first project, a simple scarf. Registration required.

 

Make It & Love It - Grab and Go Sewing Project
Adults
Friday, March 19, from 2 -4 pm

Join Merry as she guides you through basic techniques and tips. By the end of the lesson you will be ready to sew your very first project, a fabric bookmark. Registration required.

 

Make It Yourself: Pom Pom Cactus
Ages 8+
Friday, March 19, at 7 PM

Pick up a kit to make your own pom pom cactus! Create a cute and trendy cactus friend to keep you company at your desk, on your windowsill, or wherever you decide! Watch the instructional video here, and join us on Friday for a quick demo and to show off your new creation.
This craft kit is appropriate for ages 8+. Registration required.

 

NJMD will be live streaming events on the NJMD Live! webpage on March 19th & March 20th. All events will be available on-demand for 30 days.

Inspiring Innovator: Joylette Hylick hosted by NJMD Live!
All Ages
Friday, March 19, from 10 - 10:40 am

Joylette Hylick will discuss her book (One Step Further), as well as her mother’s challenges and legacy (Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician and subject of Hidden Figures). Joylette is a retired mathematician who worked for NASA and Lockheed Martin. This program will be livestreamed on the NJMD Live! page.

 

Hacking Origami hosted by NJMD Live!
All Ages
Friday, March 19, from 10:50 am - 11:20 am 

Hack dollar store items and common household supplies to create light up, moving origami projects that are cheap, fun, and exciting for all ages. Sandy Roberts from the Warren County Library will lead you through three projects — a simple light-up firefly (serial circuit), a light-up butterfly (parallel circuit) and a ladybug vibrobot. Visit the NJMD Live! page in advance to view the supply list. This program will be livestreamed on the NJMD Live! page.

 

Building Bee Abodes to Conserve Native Pollinators hosted by NJMD Live!
All Ages
Friday, March 19, from 11:30 am - 12 pm 

If you like pumpkins, cherries, or blueberries, then thank a native bee! Invite these helpful pollinators to your backyard by building a bee house in this workshop presented by Kelly Rypkema (Mercer County Park Commission) using materials easily found in the home. Visit the NJMD Live! page in advance to view the supply list. This program will be livestreamed on the NJMD Live! page.

 

Inspiring Innovator: Kathy Ceceri hosted by NJMD Live!
All Ages
Friday, March 19, from 12:10 - 12:40 pm

Author and STEAM educator Kathy Ceceri shares ways to help kids learn real engineering and design skills and concepts with simple at-home projects, including tips and tricks she’s used to present make-along online workshops based on her books and tutorials. Visit the NJMD Live! page in advance to view the supply list. This program will be livestreamed on the NJMD Live! page.

 

Inspiring Innovator: Dr. Madiha Jafri hosted by NJMD Live!
All Ages
Saturday, March 20, from 10-10:40 am

Dr. Madiha Jafri received a BSc in Computer Engineering, MSc in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Old Dominion University. Her accelerated PhD studies became the first pioneering work that used artificial intelligence to predict electromagnetic interference patterns on commercial aircraft. Dr. Jafri also completed post doctoral research in Biomedical Engineering at the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center. Outside of work, Dr. Jafri is a proud mom of two children and a STEM advocate, volunteering, mentoring and giving motivational talks on overcoming adversity and embracing diversity in STEM careers. This program will be livestreamed on the NJMD Live! page.

 

Engineering with Paper hosted by NJMD Live!
All Ages
Saturday, March 20, from 10:50 - 11:20 am 

Using just paper, tape and scissors, you will learn how to make your own table-top amusement park style games. This hands-on workshop presented by Godwyn Morris (Dazzling Discoveries) will get you cutting, folding, connecting and building in a matter of minutes. You will start by learning the Engineering with Paper “alphabet” of techniques and then transform ordinary paper into interactive games. Unleash creative possibilities while also learning how to re-use and up-cycle supplies you already have. Visit the NJMD Live! page in advance to view the supply list. This program will be livestreamed on the NJMD Live! page.

 

Learn Game Design hosted by NJMD Live!
All Ages
Saturday, March 20, from 11:30 am - 12 pm 

Do more than just play video game, BUILD THEM! Danielle Comerford of Game-U will introduce kids to game design, coding, and digital art. In this workshop, learn how to create a player, make a platform, and get your player moving.. Visit the NJMD Live! page in advance to view the supply list. This program will be livestreamed on the NJMD Live! page.

 

Inspiring Innovator: Mike Carroll hosted by NJMD Live!
All Ages
Saturday, March 20, from 12:10 - 12:40 pm

Michael Carroll is a third grade teacher at Overlook Elementary School. He has a passion for low-cost, high-tech projects so ALL students can learn about making and science. Creator of Scrappy Circuits. This program will be livestreamed on the NJMD Live! page.