WealthyKids.org kicked off Maker Faire OC in Costa Mesa today, teaming up with Tony’s Photography for our “Designer Pinhole Cameras & Darkroom Magic” booth — and the kids brought it. Literally every camera on our table today was hand-built and hand-decorated, and no two looked alike.
The Cameras
Each pinhole camera started as the same basic box, but the kids turned them into something completely their own. We had an elephant-and-safari-print camera wrapped in tiger, giraffe, and ostrich photos; a jewel-toned ocean scene with an octopus and coral reef; a forest camera with wood storks mid-flight against layered green pines; a black-and-gold floral design with a botanical, almost vintage feel; a purple-and-teal geode/agate pattern; a rose print in black and white; and a bright tie-dye build wrapped in yellow tape with a peace-sign vibe. By the end of the afternoon we had a whole tabletop skyline of finished cameras, stacked up and ready to shoot.
The Science Behind the Box
Alongside the build station, we set up a hands-on explainer on how a pinhole camera actually works — breaking it down into the basics: subject, light rays, and the hole itself. We also had our exposure guide on display, walking through reciprocity failure and how exposure time has to be corrected as it stretches from seconds into minutes (and even hours) in low light. A handful of sample long-exposure pinhole shots — moody, ghostly black-and-white images — were laid out so kids could see exactly what their finished cameras are capable of producing.
Repping the Mission
Our booth also proudly displayed our City of STEM partnership — “LA’s Official Science Festival” — with flyers already out for their next free event in April 2027. It’s exactly the kind of hands-on, science-meets-art programming WealthyKids.org exists to deliver: free STEAM experiences that put real tools in kids’ hands.
One day down at Maker Faire OC — more darkroom magic tomorrow.
Teens Teach Tech: A Note to Teachers and Parents
We repped Teens Teach Tech right at the booth today, actively recruiting new trainer teams for the year ahead. Also running year-round through WealthyKids.org: Teens Teach Tech, our mentorship program in partnership with Connected Nation. In this program, teens step into the teacher’s seat — training adults in essential tech skills, building real leadership experience along the way. We run three seasonal sessions a year, and we’re working to grow to 13 active trainer teams in the coming year.
If you’re a teacher looking for a meaningful leadership opportunity for a student, or a parent who wants to see your teen build confidence, communication, and real tech-mentoring skills, we’d love to have them join a team. Reach out to WealthyKids.org to learn how your student can become a Teens Teach Tech mentor.
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