In the Soap Box Day Camp, children ages 7 to 15 learn to construct functional, eco-friendly soap box racers out of recycled materials. Under the strict supervision of our watchful counselors, campers are introduced to a variety of tools, from the basic nails, hammers, and hand saws to drills, screws and power sanders.

We encourage children to plan their design on paper with sketches, notes, and calculations and to think out of the box! Time is spent outside collecting found objects and additional building materials, and the cars are tested at each stage.

During the lunch hour the kids are brought down to the playground to eat and have free play, or time is spent with kids continuing work on their cars depending on their progress.

The workshop culminates in the annual Soap Box Derby on 17th Street in South Slope, Brooklyn (the same street as Open Source Gallery) – participants, families, friends, and neighbors and invited to the Derby and all are encouraged to participate.