Summer making can mean building a circuit, coding a game, filming a stop-motion video, or trying a simple flying machine. You do not need a dedicated makerspace: start with an idea that fits your supplies, workspace, time, and experience. “Summer of Making” is also the name of Hack Club’s youth program; its 2025 edition has ended, and the organization invites visitors to sign up for updates about future events.
What can you make this summer?
Summer projects do not have to be construction jobs or elaborate builds. Making can include software, electronics, hands-on experiments, and creative work. Hack Club’s Summer of Making program accepted websites, games, apps, and hardware projects; the Science Center of Iowa’s 2021 summer program included circuit experiments, stop-motion animation, and flying-machine activities. These are examples of documented activities, not a tested ranking of what is easiest or best.
Explore circuits or build a sensor project
A basic circuit experiment is a way to explore how components work together. The Science Center of Iowa lists circuit experiments, while Hack Club accepts hardware projects. Neither source provides a circuit diagram or parts list, so choose a documented beginner project before wiring anything. Match components to the specific build rather than buying a general assortment without a plan.
Make a stop-motion video
Arrange objects or figures, take a sequence of still images, and combine them into a short animation. A phone or camera could be used to capture images, but that is a practical suggestion rather than a stated requirement of the Science Center of Iowa activity. A simple story and a steady camera setup can make a small project feel complete without special workshop equipment.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute#1 Best Overall
- All-IN-ONE Complete Premium DIY Candle Making Kit: The candle making supplies are suitable for all levels and contain all you needed to make scented homemade candles: 480g Soy Wax (8 block soy wax, 1 block about 60g=1 jar of candle), 4 * fragrance oils, 1* candle pouring pot with anti-scalding handle, 50 * candle wicks, 50 * candle wick stickers,4 * wax dyes,8*candle tins,4* centering device,1*stirring spoon,4* insulation mats, 16* DIY stickers, 1 * user manual and and exquisite gift box
- Super Easy to Make, Perfect for Beginners: The ultimate candle making set for beginners is definitely in our shop. Whether you are a beginner or a candle making lover, owning our candle making kit is the first step to successfully making candles. The set includes step-by-step instruction and all necessary soy wax, dyes, essential oils and other accessories for making candles. Come and try this DIY candle making set to start your journey as a handmade candle designer
- Advanced and Superior Quality of Soy Wax : The candle making kit has 1OO% natural soy wax,and the completed candles will not easily deform or break,allowing for long-time clean burning. And soy wax has excellent aroma projection, making it an ideal choice for scented candles. Also,the candle making pouring pot use 304 stainless steel, strong rust resistance,high temperature and corrosion resistance. You can use the pot to melt more soy wax at one time. It meets the standard of food grade
- Making Colorful Aromatherapy Candles: The perfect combination of soy wax, scented oils and dyes allow you to create colorful and multi shaped scented candles, turning any space into your ideal comfort zone. The candle kit comes with four premium pure essential oils: rose,lavender,lemon and vanilla, and four dyes: green,yellow,red and purple. Fully unleash your creativity and make these colorful aromatherapy candles the best decor for your living room, bedroom, dining room,office and more
- Great Activities for Family and Group: What could be more enjoyable than making exquisite candles with family,children and friends? Invite your family to join this joyful candle making journey! During candle making process,it can also enhance children's creativity and hands-on abilities (but it needs to be done with adults). The completed candles can be shared with your family, neighbors,friends or colleagues, and you can write your blessings on the stickers. They will definitely be surprised
Try a simple flying machine
Building a flying machine was another activity listed by the Science Center of Iowa. Treat it as an experiment: change one design feature at a time and observe what happens. The cited program description does not provide a tested design or performance results, so it is inspiration rather than a set of flight instructions.
Code a game or small website
A game or website is a software-only option when you want to make something without buying physical components. Hack Club lists websites and games among the project types accepted for its 2025 program. GitHub’s 2020 announcement also used an open-source game as an example of a student project. A small, finished feature—such as one level or a single interactive page—can be a useful scope for a first project.
Rank #2
- 🧡 THE ULTIMATE SET FOR BEGINNERS: The natural soy wax candle making kit comes in a beautiful giftable box and has lots of extras including packs of soy wax, gorgeous colorful candle jars & tin cans, 7 fragrance oils, 10 dye blocks, beautiful candle labels, wicks, glue dots, melting pot, pipettes, stirring spoon, and much, MUCH more!
- 💛 A GREAT ACTIVITY FOR THE FAMILY: What better way to enjoy some creative DIY time with your family than by making scented candles together, enjoying real quality time, and making beautiful candles for decoration or as presents for friends (Gift individual candles or the whole kit!)
- 💚 YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT CANDLE MAKER TO MAKE STUNNING CANDLES: Too many DIY craft kits end up causing confusion with missing or ambiguous instructions. Our scented candle-making kit however is the perfect place for a beginner candle maker to start. The instructions simply couldn’t be easier to follow.
- 💙 BEAUTIFULLY PACKAGED GIFT: Our soy candle-making kit for adults makes an amazing and thoughtful gift – especially for Christmas, Mother's Day, Birthdays, and anniversaries. Our kits are also perfect if you are looking for a thoughtful and creative thank you present, made with that wonderful touch of TLC.
- 💜 THE PERFECT FRAGRANCE AND COLOR FOR YOUR HOME: Our candle making kits are available in SEVEN alternative scents with 10 color dye blocks too so you can not only pick the scents you like best, you can pick the colors too and add up to 3 different dried flowers for decoration - lavender, osmanthus, rose-buds. In addition, it comes with preprinted labels to match the scents.
Build a hardware project, such as a robot
An Arduino-powered robot appeared as an example of a student project in GitHub’s 2020 announcement. It can serve as inspiration, but the cited material does not include tested build instructions, a bill of materials, or wiring guidance. Choose a specific, documented design before purchasing parts or assembling electronics.
How do you choose the right project?
Compare the project with the time, supplies, workspace, and skills you actually have. The documented examples above do not come with standardized cost, difficulty, or completion-time ratings, so treat those as questions to answer for your chosen design rather than assume one project is universally cheapest or easiest.
Rank #3
- WHAT YOU WILL GET:The Diamond Painting Kits contains all the necessary tools:1 diamond HD canvas,1 diamond pen,1 diamond tray,1 wax, additional 30% of round diamonds to prevent the occurrence of insufficient diamonds.It is equipped with all the necessary items to help you quickly complete your diamond art painting！
- QUALITY HD CANVAS:Our diamond art set is made of canvas,waterproof,moisture-proof, wrinkle-free,and is covered with a layer of plastic film on the surface,which allows the diamonds to adhere more firmly to the canvas,which is strong and durable, ensuring that the drill bit does not fall off,The gem art adopts high-definition canvas, make reading symbols and letters effortless,making our creative process easier.
- DIAMOND DOTS WALL DECOR:The Diamond Art painting kit Perfect Decora your living room, bedroom, study or office, making it more colorful. gem art is also the best choice for friends and family on birthdays,Halloween,Thanksgiving,Christmas, and theme parties.This diamond painting kit is easy to read, 5D diamond painting with sparkle diamond dots, shining in the light, bringing the whole picture to life. then you can get your own outstanding works!
- DIAMOND ART KITS:Diamond painting kits as for your friends and family , For example(birthdays, mother's day, and christmas)and adults who are interested in art can enjoy it. diamond art can be used as wall decoration to relieve stress and ease anxiety. It can also cultivate patience,stimulate creativity, enhance practical skills, and share happy moments with family or friends, Even for those who are trying it for the first time, they can enjoy the smooth and pleasant production experience. The completed work is not only an art piece worth preserving, but also a unique testimony to this wonderful creative time.
- 5D DIAMOND PAINTING AFTER-SALES SERVICE :We attach great importance to the quality of our diamond art kit products, If your diamond art painting kit encounters any problems, includ diamond loss or other issues, please contact us,we solve your problem,please feel free to buy.
- Software or physical build: A game or website avoids a physical bill of materials; a circuit, flying machine, or robot needs components or craft materials.
- Cost and supplies: Check what you already own before buying tools or parts. A project is not automatically low-cost just because it is small.
- Time and skill: Read the full project instructions and identify unfamiliar steps before starting. Scope the result so you can finish and share a working version.
- Workspace: Software and animation can often be done indoors; physical builds may require a suitable work surface and room to test. Check the requirements of the particular design.
- Demonstration: Decide how you will show the result—a playable game, a short video, a working circuit, or a record of an experiment.
What supplies do you need to start making?
There is no universal maker supply list. Begin with the project’s instructions and gather only the materials and tools they specify. For a hardware build, verify component compatibility and what is included before ordering. For example, Hack Club’s shop listing for the Raspberry Pi 5 says the board does not include a power adapter or an SD card; those are project-specific considerations, not supplies required for every summer activity.
For software projects, you may be able to start with a computer and the tools named in the project documentation. For animation, a phone or camera is a reasonable option if available, but it is not a sourced requirement. The right setup depends on the chosen project; the activity descriptions do not establish a universal materials list or safety guidance.
Rank #4
- 【Premium Mosaic Kits for Adults & Beginners】 Explore our mosaic kits for adults, a perfect craft kit for adults women and beginners. Each package contains 4 unfinished wooden coasters, vibrant glass mosaic tiles for crafts, safe glue, caulk, sponge, and gloves. Everything you need for a satisfying mosaic craft kit experience is included.
- 【Easy Coaster Making Kit with Guided Steps】 This coaster making kit is designed for simplicity. Just glue, grout, and wipe to reveal your stunning creation. It's an incredibly fun and easy DIY craft project, making it one of the most enjoyable girls night activities for women or a relaxing solo hobby kits for seniors.
- 【The Ultimate Relaxing Craft for Stress Relief】 Immerse yourself in a calming creative flow. This activity is a wonderful way to relieve stress and experience the pride of creating functional art. It's a deeply rewarding crafting kits experience that promotes mindfulness and a sense of accomplishment.
- 【Ideal Group Crafts & Thoughtful Gift Choice】 A fantastic choice for group crafts for adults, family bonding, or classroom projects. The finished personalized coasters make for unique and craft gifts for women, men, and anyone on your list for birthdays, holidays, or anniversaries.
- 【Unlock Your Creativity with a Complete Kit】 More than just an adult craft kit, this is a gateway to exploring new craft ideas. Whether you're looking for arts and crafts for adults women or a meaningful activity, our all-in-one package provides the materials and inspiration to create beautiful mosaic crafts for adults.
What is Hack Club’s Summer of Making?
Hack Club’s named Summer of Making is a youth program, distinct from the general idea of doing maker projects in summer. The official page says its 2025 edition has ended and offers updates about future events. It does not establish that a 2026 edition exists.
The current FAQ for the ended 2025 edition says eligible participants were high schoolers or younger, participation was free, and shipping for prizes was covered. Those statements describe that edition only; they should not be read as confirmed terms for a future event. The page’s FAQ also said: “The only requirement is that you share your progress and log your hours.” That requirement likewise refers to the ended 2025 program.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Best Value
- PRECISION. POWER. POSSIBILITY: Unleash your creativity with the Craft Culture EtchMate — a precision engraving pen designed for wood, glass, metal, leather, and more. With 31 pro-grade bits, an LED work light, and adjustable speeds up to 20,000 RPM, it transforms everyday objects into personalized works of art.
- ALL INCLUSIVE KIT: Complete kit includes the EtchMate engraving pen with a protective cap, 30 bits in an organized storage case, 1 carbide burr bit, charging cable, 4 test pieces (metal, wood, leather, acrylic), stencils (letters, numbers, shapes), and an illustrated 36-page guidebook with beginner projects.
- 30 PROFESSIONAL BITS INCLUDED: From fine detail to bold textures, the set of 30 professional-grade engraving bits (plus carbide burr) covers every style and finish. Each tip is designed for smooth, precise results.
- CORDLESS POWER & CONVENIENCE: Enjoy hours of engraving freedom with long-lasting rechargeable power and fast charging. No cords, no hassle — charge and create wherever inspiration strikes.
- ERGONOMIC DESIGN & SMART DISPLAY: Designed for comfort and control, the EtchMate features a balanced grip for extended sessions, a clear digital display to track speed and battery, and an easy-tap power button positioned to avoid accidental presses.
GitHub’s May 28, 2020 announcement described an earlier, separate remote program as open to teenagers aged 13–18 around the world and running for six weeks, with mentorship and hardware support based on need. Those are historical details of the 2020 edition, not current eligibility or program terms. In that announcement, organizer Sam Poder, then described as 15 and based in Singapore, said the online community helped him find peers with shared interests; his comment is about that 2020 experience, not a promise about later editions.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Hack Club: Summer of Making — current event status and updates.
- Hack Club: Summer of Making FAQ — terms stated for the ended 2025 edition.
- GitHub’s May 28, 2020 announcement — historical program details and student project examples.
- Science Center of Iowa: Summer of Making — activities listed for its 2021 program.
- Hack Club Shop — Raspberry Pi 5 listing and included-items note.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
