Every week, volunteers from each of our shop spaces offer Support Hours that are free and open to the public, including members.
Support Hours are an opportunity to learn more about a particular shop, get advice on a project, and meet the volunteers who manage that space.
They can also be an opportunity get support and gain practice in the shop in order to prepare for a Tool Safety Assessment that grants permission to use tools independently as a Maker+ Member or with a Day Pass.
Individuals who feel ready, can use Support Hours to take Tool Safety Assessments. Not sure what a Tool Safety Assessment is or why you'd ever want to take one? Come find out!
On your first visit to a shop, you will be given a Shop Orientation so you know where to locate important items, and how to use the space collaboratively and safely. Orientations are offered at the beginning of all scheduled Support Hours and generally take about 15-20 minutes.
If you are a Maker Member, you may also use Support Hours to work on your projects independently using ONLY the tools you have been signed off on via a TSA. This is a limited version of what Maker Plus (M+) members have access to 24/7.
Age Group: 18+
You will be asked to sign our General Liability Waiver if you do not already have one on file.
What Support Hours are Not: Support Hours are not meant to replace the purpose of membership or conflict with other public or private class opportunities. For example, Support Hours are not for getting something fixed or made by you or the volunteer on duty. If you have something that needs fixing, bring it in to Repair Cafe, a free event on the last Sunday of every month, 1pm - 4pm at Makers Mill. If that timing does not work or your project is outside the scope of a Repair Cafe, fill out this form: Make or Fix it at Makers Mill. Submissions will be shared with all Shop Members and they will followup directly to arrange next steps.
Other free events that offer a learning or fix-it opportunity include Fiber Mingle, Fine Arts Open Studio, and Jewelry Open Studio for Rock Lovers.
Please register by filling out the information below so that our volunteers have a sense of who's coming, and plan to arrive promptly at the start time.
Curious about Membership? Learn more by reading through the Makers Mill Handbook.
