Join us for a week of learning about how you can reduce the plastic waste in your life and make your own zero waste toolkit!
Design and create all the tools you need to reduce your impact on the environment. Kids will learn about the importance of reducing waste, then, we’ll put it into practice and make our very own zero-waste kits. From sewing to woodworking, we’ll learn all kinds of new skills that will help us design and make our own lunch boxes, containers, cutlery, reusable bags and more!
Camps are open to kids 8-12 years old and run from 9 am – 4 pm.
At the Ottawa Tool Library Tinkering School we have a low child to instructor ratio (6:1 or better). We’re committed to environmental education through hands on, experiential, and collaborative activities that allow children to learn through making.
Pre and Post-Care is available from 8:30am – 9:00am and 4:00pm – 4:30pm for an additional $25
Save when you register for multiple camps, or register multiple children:
Buy one week of camp and get $50 off the second OR receive $50 off when you register a second child. Contact the Tinkering School Coordinator for details.
Our second week of summer camp is Aug. 10-14th, 2020.
Note:
The OTL Tinkering School is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable learning experience for all.
Before selecting and signing up for a workshop, please be sure that your child understands that the activities will require their attention and maturity. We are working with tools that must be used carefully to ensure everyone’s safety. If you have any questions, please be sure to contact us.
We are committed to making our programs available to everyone. We are able to offer financial assistance to one student. Please contact the Tinkering School Coordinator prior to registration for more information.
As you may know, at the end of November, we had to halt our operations and store all of our tools, benches, materials and more. We put the call to our volunteers, members and supporters that we urgently needed to move. Our thanks to local media outlets, community newspapers, and everyone else who helped spread the word via social media.
We’re so thankful for the outpouring of support – from community groups, businesses, and generous individuals – who contributed their brawn, talents, transport, storage, and more. With your help, all of our inventory and stuff is safely stored with our friends at Dymon Storage, Beyond the Pale Brewing, Brezach Solutions, McGuire Agency, and Just Food. Thank you to everyone who responded to the call … we truly couldn’t have done it without you.
A Continued Hibernation & Lockdown 🐻❄️
For the moment, our tools are in storage. We did managed to continue with some of our workshops in December thanks to KJP Select Hardwoods, and our Tinkering School thanks to Ottawa School of Art. However, the latest lockdown has also put these efforts on hold. Our webstore is offline, but we’re examining ways to return to offer online merchandise and surplus tools during our closure. Our series of Repair Cafés remain suspended until we can host them safely.
We’re very sorry for the inconvenience our closure has obviously caused for our members are our community. Thanks to everyone for your patience and support. Most importantly, the OTL will return. We’ve always been solvent and paid our bills, but the outpouring of support in December has highlighted the value that you, our friends and neighbours, put on access to the tools, advice and skills we provide to the community.
Space Quest! 🚀👩🚀🔭
We’d already begun looking at different spaces before we had to move, but affordable light commercial warehouse space is a rarity in Ottawa. Our operations necessitate certain parameters: ground level, high ceilings, accessible by bus and transit, parking, and accessible to those with mobility issues.
So, the OTL continues to look for a new space to resume operations as soon as possible in the new year. Ideally, we’re seeking the following:
1,200-1,500 sq ft of ground level, accessible unfinished space with a large entrance door (either a wide person door, or an overhead garage door, or both).
Adjacent and free parking
Affordable rent of $10-$15/sq ft (plus utilities).
The space would ideally also allow for a small workshop (300-500 sq ft) to be set up to host our many DIY workshops and seminars.
Centrally located, preferably West of Centretown, as many of our members and volunteers are located in the area bounded by Bronson, the Ottawa River, Greenbank and Baseline.
We’re working with a broker to scour the city and have toured a lot of spaces in Ottawa, but haven’t yet found a suitable home. Given the low city-wide availability, our best bet is to learn about spaces before they’re listed. Do you have a suitable space for the OTL in Ottawa, or know someone who might? Contact us.
We’re also appealing to local community groups, social enterprises or non-profits who may be interested in co-locating with us in a larger space. We’re most interested in collaborating with those involved in the sharing/circular economy, promoting environmental sustainability, or teaching skills in our community. If you and your organization are interested, please get in touch.
What’s Next & How to Help 💪🏽
Foremost, if you want to be the first to know about the OTL’s next chapter, subscribe to our newsletter. We’ll do our best to keep you updated about our space hunt, programming, webstore, and what’s next for the OTL.
Not everyone has a spare warehouse to fill, but there are many other ways to show your support:
If you’d like to help us fit up a new space and move in, or regularly volunteer with our operations or behind the scenes, join our volunteer list.
If you’re making, building or fixing at home, be sure to mention us (@yowtoollibrary) and tag #otlmade to show us what you’re working on. After all, #makersgonnamake.
