In downtown New London, there is a little spot called Spark Makerspace. Spark’s mission is to make the supplies and space for art and hobbies of all sorts available to everyone.

 At the main building at 86 Golden Street, there are spaces for 3D printing, photography, metalworking, printmaking, cooking, sewing, electronics, and more.

If there seems to be anything missing from this list, they are probably already working on making it available. Down the road at 13 Golden Street, there is a retail space where Spark artists sell their work. Here, there are also rooms for co-working and holding conferences.

Spark also holds a variety of events. There are free group meetups for various interests, which are led by members; however, these events are open to the public. Classes are also held, which have a fee.

Becoming involved in this community could be a great opportunity for high school students. Spark members are eager to encourage learning outside of the school setting.

Maple, who leads an upcycling group, said, “Students should come and get a tour and see what interests them.”

She elaborated that too often, students are not taught that subjects learned in school such as geometry and physics can be translated into skills like woodworking and visual art. Spark can open students up to these connections and opportunities.

Casey Moran, one of the original founders of Spark, commented, “Learning can be a lot of fun. There is life after school.” 

Tim McGuire, lead of the woodworking group, suggested that WHS should try to bring students to Spark through field trips or by integrating classes, exposing students to a new environment, as well as provide them with additional resources that the school may not have available.

For anyone looking to get involved, Moran suggests getting in touch about volunteer opportunities. Additionally, full memberships are $55/month and provide full access to the spaces as well as a discounted price for classes. There are also working memberships that require the member to spend some time volunteering for Spark, but receive the same benefits as general members. Memberships are available to anyone over the age of 16. Before committing to a full membership, people are encouraged to tour the spaces and take classes.

To stay updated with Spark, follow them on Facebook, Twitter (@Spark_Makers), or subscribe to their email list on their website at www.spark.coop.