What says “family get-together” more perfectly than volatile, asphyxiating gas? Every year, Professor Fzz and his family get together over the Easter holiday and issue an “Easter Challenge.” Last year, they made an Egg Cannon. This year, they built a hydrogen balloon and suspended camera rig to take pictures of granddad’s house. I guess because part of the challenge awarded extra points for the “use of mad science,” they even produced their own hydrogen!

This summer, we’re going to be doing some content programming here on Make: Online around the concept of the MAKEcation, doing fun, educational, and geeky tech, science, and craft projects together with your family, as an alternative to the family get-away. This idea of issuing a family challenge to make and use something is really cool — altho the hydrogen production might be a little over the top for most. You might wanna think through that “use of mad science” clause in your challenge.

If you have fun ideas for family challenges and MAKEcation plans, we’d love to hear about them in the Comments.

Reconnaissance Balloon