Today is the day of learning. We learn how to use the tools, what a full day of tinkering is like, and finally… the project!

Side note: Flickr is waay ahead of the blog - pretty much up to date. Also, it has so many more photos than the ones featured in the blog! So check it out here.

First we get up and have morning circle.

Your Daily Collaborator: While everyone is assembling, Josh gets in a quick moment of rest. — Your Daily Collaborator: While everyone is assembling, Josh gets in a quick moment of rest.

Josh makes a speech about tools and why it is important to use them safely, efficiently, and without damaging them.

Tool training consists of three sections: chop saw, drill, and clamps.

Chop saw training is almost all about safety. We learn how to not cut our fingers off and other useful safety things.

Drill training is more about not breaking the drills than safety, but there is still danger when using them.

Clamps are pretty intuitive, but there are definitely better and worse ways to use them.

To learn how to make best use of the clamps, we have three challenges.

Clamp two pieces of wood together

Reed successfully completes the first challenge — Reed successfully completes the first challenge

Clamp two pieces of wood at a right angle

There is an abundance of Katherines at the clamp station.

Clamp a chair the smallest person can sit on

Winter and Allison can both fit on this clamped seat.

After everyone rotates through all of the stations, we start our mini starter project - benches (screwed in this time.) As of now, the fire pit is all alone, so we are going to make benches to surround it. That and we’d like somewhere to sit.

We split into five bench teams.

Bridget’s group works on their bench: a plywood contraption.

Bridget, Leo, Allison, Anya, and Cameron clamp and screw.

Connor and Lauren’s team's bench has a super-comfy but hard to make paracord back.

Connor poses for the camera as we try out the bench.

Jenny’s group has a 2x4 seat.

Harrison and Jack work together to complete the seat

We have lunch in the MU.

Lunch is pretty fun, full of stories, jokes, and sandwiches.

After that is siesta, a time to relax, regroup, and rejuvenate.

During siesta, everyone stays in their yurts (almost) silently. — During siesta, everyone stays in their yurts (almost) silently.

Then right back to bench building.

Rhodey and Hannah’s group

This bench ended up with arm- and footrests.

Sayer’s group gets right to work and starts measuring and cutting wood.

Now it is time for the biggest reveal of the whole week: what is the project?

Just for some backstory, it is tradition at Tinkering School that the project is kept a secret. Anticipation builds all day as Josh keeps a tight lip.

"No, I will not tell you what the project is yet."

And the project is…

*dramatic pause*

An obstacle course!

Each team is given a quarter of the distance from the top of the slope to the playground, and they have to create an obstacle course that allows a person to get from one side to the other while playing The Ground is Lava (i.e. cross the asphalt without touching the ground).

Some people start with paper and sketches,

Sayer takes notes while he and his group brainstorm — Sayer takes notes while he and his group brainstorm

and others start getting things in their hands.

Kira and Sarah start making balance beams of three different difficulties

Finally, we have to clean up and head to dinner. After dinner, we have free time. The camera was left in the cafeteria, but everyone had lots of fun playing four-square, reading in their bunks, finishing final steps on benches, and starting personal projects.

Sleep time is getting closer and closer, and we start getting ready for bed. Heads are spinning with ideas, and there will be many dreams of obstacle courses.

Session B: Day 2