The Santa Barbara community is invited to The Riviera Ridge School’s campus for the sixth annual Maker Fair, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 20.

A young boy wearing a blue sweater sits at a table with five bananas that have colorful cords inserted in them.
How can you compose a piece of music with a banana? is among questions to be posed at Riviera Ridge School’s Maker Fair. Credit: Courtesy photo

The morning of free activities includes exploring more than 20 hands-on stations, each posing a fun scientific question that visitors will solve with a quick and engaging project.

“Businesses are increasingly valuing creativity and innovation as top skills necessary for future employees,” said Melissa Wilder, director of academic innovation.

“At our school and in each station at our Maker Fair, students are actively learning to hone their problem-solving and creative thinking skills so that they are ready for any challenge the future holds,” she said.

Maker Fair attendees can meet with Riviera Ridge faculty from all disciplines, who will partner with a current student at each booth.

Students and teachers will help guide people in using STEAM2 (science, tech/engineering, the arts, mathematics, and movement) concepts to figure out the answer to each query.

These investigations include questions like “How can you make ice cream in a bag?” “How can you compose a piece of music with a banana?” and “How far can you make a rocket fly?”

“Our Maker Fair involves subjects from every discipline, allowing visitors to let their individual interests, strengths, and curiosities guide them,” Wilder said. “Our STEAM2 curriculum at Riviera Ridge also follows this model, providing opportunities for students to ask questions, find solutions, and discover the magic of innovation.”

Riviera Ridge’s Center for Design, Engineering, and Creativity, which includes a full kitchen, 3D printer, backyard garden, and ocean views, will be open to explore as well. There will be booths to visit from Explore Ecology, Santa Barbara Botanical Garden and UCSB.

For more, email info@rivieraridge.org or call 805-569-1811 ext. 131.