An eighth grader who is passionate about building.

A homeschooled high schooler on a journey to explore – everything.

A tech industry pro who wants to get out from behind the desk and work with his hands.

A community member with experience and the drive to give back.

What do these people have in common? Besides a desire to while away some long, cold Indiana winter nights… They are all part of the pioneer class of the innovative Entremaker Program. Hub & Spoke, Fishers Maker Playground, and Ivy Tech joined together to create this unique, five-week introductory construction course. Designed to help participants hone their academic and technical knowledge, Entremaker brought community members together to build skills, experience, connections… and a shed.

Entremaker Program: Meet the Makers

In search of a qualified instructor, the Entremaker collab turned to Kevin Short. He says, “I’ve worked with Ivy Tech, and it’s always been a great experience. They provided the curriculum and offer similar programming throughout the state.” But beyond textbooks and tools, Kevin says, “It was a diverse group of students that included all ages and genders. That was the beauty of this class; they all worked very well together.”

“Diverse” is the perfect word to describe this Entremaker class:

Ben

Ben Goldsberry is an eighth-grader from Carmel. “I think I want to do construction for my career. Especially renovating: I’m really interested in people taking old houses and making them new again.” After attending the Hub & Spoke Career Exploration event at the Maker Playground, Ben was in. “I wanted to see what it’d be like and to learn some new skills.” And, he says, “I’m probably the first one in my class with high school credits.”

Lily

Lily Gavin was also drawn to the program. “Being homeschooled, I have a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have otherwise.” Like Ben, she learned about Entremaker at the Career Exploration night. “Since I’m in high school and trying to figure out what I want to do, I thought… Why not? I want to work with my hands. I’m exploring everything.”

Andrew

As the oldest member of the class (and we use the term “old” very, very loosely here!), Andrew Trepes heard about the program through the Fishers Parks & Rec website. The 30-something professional was a triple-threat student at Indiana University, earning degrees in Finance, International Business, and Economics from the Kelley School of Business.

A tech industry veteran, Andrew says, “Sitting behind a desk all day paid the bills – but I’m not satisfied with that.” He wants to get into woodworking (custom pieces, cabinetry, framing, patios, gondolas, decks, etc.) and found Entremaker. “It’s a great entry level program that was free. I definitely took advantage of it and wanted to get my feet wet.” Earning NCCER certification was also a key factor in his decision.

Ben, Lily, and Andrew come from different backgrounds with different goals – and different levels of experience. But teamwork was the key to making this particular dream work. Instructor Kevin says, “I’m proud that this group of strangers came together, worked very well together, and accomplished something for Fishers Parks that should be around for years.”

If You Build It…

Kevin knows his way around a mitre saw, and, he adds, “I had also built something similar with my son when he was around three or four years old.”

The “something” – and program deliverable  – was a shed now located in Holland Park. Andrew says: “Build 5’x5’ shed that’s 6’ tall. Those were the specs!”

But before they dug into that challenge, the Entremakers hit the books. Ben says, “At the beginning of the class, we studied to make sure we were safe.” Lily adds that starting with bookwork was “really important… But we were ready to build!” They also learned how to use tools (safely), such as mitre and circular saws, sanders, and more.

Kevin acted as a sort of foreman, overseeing the group to ensure their safety and to provide input. Lily remarks, “I liked that we were pretty free range. [Kevin] let us do our thing. If we asked, he gave us advice but he was great about letting us be the leaders. We had to go from having no experience to building a shed.”

How did they do it? Ben says, “We worked together. We would talk it out, decide what to do, and break into groups to tackle it.” Andrew agrees, “We all took the lead in our own ways, helping each other out.” They put their skills and strengths to the test… And aced it.

“That shed…” Andrew emphasizes, “…will not tip over.” It currently stands proud near the community garden in Holland Park. “It’s cool to walk around the park or take my daughter to play and see the end-product.” He admits, “I check on it like it’s my baby!”

What’s Next?

Kevin says, “This program is important because it brings the community together to learn new skills while also helping others. The project my son and I worked on must have had an impact – he’s now studying Civil Engineering at Purdue.”

So, what’s next for this Entremaker group?

Ben’s mother, Kelley, says, “I haven’t seen him this excited about doing anything learning-related since he started school. It’s his dream scenario, being able to learn to build things. He’s already wanting to rip into my walls at home.”

“I’m ready!” Ben says.

Kelley is not quite so enthusiastic about that step (yet): “The more training we can get, the better!”

Still, the skills and confidence the students gain is invaluable. For her part, Lily is still exploring her option (good for her!). She says, “It was a great experience, so I’ll look further into [the trades]. I’m not just going to stop here.”

Neither is Andrew. He will continue his education. “[Entremaker] was a great program to get NCCER certification so I can start working on construction sites and doing apprenticeships.” Trade school may be an avenue he pursues; for now, he’s looking for hands-on experience. “I’m always looking to see what else [Hub & Spoke] is offering. I’m surprised this was a free course! I’ll take advantage of whatever they offer, cost or no cost.”

And what about a maker-in-the-making? Andrew took his daughter, who is five, with him for his weeknight classes. Hub & Spoke features a Tinker Cart and play area where she could “be creative and craft and build. I didn’t feel like I was missing out on time with her because she was there with me and doing her own thing. It was great for her to get out on those cold winter nights and see what her dad was making.” Like Ben’s mom, Kelley, says, the earlier we start exposure to the trades, the better!

Meet the Maker In You

As far as the Entremaker program and its evolution, there are many ideas afloat in terms of next steps…  You’ll have to stay tuned to see what exciting opportunities are waiting for you. Andrew says it best: “You are 100% welcome. There is a lot to be learned in those rooms, not just through a course but from the people using this space.” Come on in and see what the Maker Playground has to offer.

Interested in our next Entremaker course? Learn more.