Youth as young as 8 years of age can become Makerspace members!
For the safety of everyone in our Makerspace community, please note that all member responsibilities, safety guidelines, rules, shop etiquette, and policies outlined in the Makerspace Membership Agreement also apply to our members from 8 years and older. If you have any questions, please ask for a copy of the agreement (We strongly recommend doing so as the agreement is periodically updated).
Minors must be between 8 to 17 years of age to be eligible for membership and access to classes.
All minors (including guests of members) must have a Waiver and Release of Liability for Minors signed by a parent, legal guardian, or authorised adult before they will be allowed to attend classes or work on-site.
Minors, like all other Makerspace members, must abide by the member responsibilities, safety guidelines, rules, shop etiquette and policies outlined in the Membership Agreement. All minors must act responsibly and respectfully and follow all directions from staff members and instructors.
As there are different levels of inherent risk in both the environment and the operation of Makerspace's various tools and equipment, designated shop areas and classes have varying age minimums, and some equipment requires successful completion of a Safety and Basic Use (SBU) class prior to independent use.
Class Access
- All members, including minors, must take and pass a Safety and Basic Use (SBU) class in order to access select tools and equipment.
- Adults supervising minors, must take and pass the SBU class alongside the minor, for all pieces of equipment they will be utilising (see below Area & Equipment Access for more information).
- Supervising adults must pay for their seats at a reduced rate (exceptions will be made for adults who have previously taken the class.
- Makerspace Staff are NOT supervisors of minors (exceptions are made in our Youth Programs).
Memberships, Area & Equipment Access
Minors under 8 years of age are NOT eligible for membership but can attend special events and facility tours under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or authorised adult.
- They may NOT utilise any equipment and areas of the shop, not even under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or authorised adult.
Minors 8 to 11 must be on the Soft Arts Access Membership and under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or authorised adult at all times while on-site. Minors are NOT allowed in the Hard Arts Areas at all.
- Minors are permitted to attend selective classes in Soft Arts Areas, when under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or authorised adult.
- Minors may utilise designated equipment in Soft Arts Areas ONLY under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or authorised adult.
Minors 12 to 14 can get any membership (Access will vary depending on the desired workshop area).
- Minors can take classes and access the Soft Arts Areas independently. They may utilise designated equipment in the Soft Arts Areas independently once they have passed the required SBUs.
- Minors are only allowed in the Hard Arts Areas under supervision from a parent, legal guardian, or authorised adult. Any class in the Hard Arts Areas must be taken under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or authorised adult. They may utilise designated equipment in the Hard Arts Areas ONLY under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or authorised adult.
Minors 15 to 17 can get any membership and are allowed everywhere in the shop.
- They can take any class independently and may utilise any equipment and area of the shop independently once they have passed the required SBUs.
Supervised
Highlighted fields in the table indicate that minors in that age range are permitted in those classes and shop areas while under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian or approved adult.Solo
Minors ages 15 to 17 are permitted access to these areas without parental supervision once the associated Safety and Basic Use requirements have been met.
Changes to our Minors & Shop Access
If we decide to change our Minors and Shop Access, we will post those changes on this page, and/or update Minors and Shop Access modification date below. This policy was last modified on October, 2020.
Contacting Us
If there are any questions regarding this policy, you may contact us using the information in Contact us.
