Makers Mill offers a spooktacular special on bat houses built by middle-schoolers from Girls Leadership Camp

WOLFEBORO — Makers Mill, a community-based makerspace that fosters creativity and skill development, is hosting a spooktacular Halloween sale featuring bat houses built by 30 enthusiastic middle-schoolers from the Girls Leadership Camp.

Through October, these double-chambered bat houses are available and purchase supports vocational education and skill development for the next generation, but also provides essential habitat for bats, which is of increasing importance, especially for the endangered northern long-eared bats.

Creating the bat houses was just one of many important outcomes of the collaboration. The Girls Leadership Camp at Makers Mill encouraged campers to challenge stereotypes by introducing them to power tools, empowering these young girls with valuable life skills. For some participants, this experience marked their first time using power tools, and they exceeded all expectations. The camp's theme was "trusted teams," so the build-day emphasized effective communication and teamwork.

The bat houses were pre-cut and prepped by Stockman Builders, who utilized their state-of-the-art Laguna CNC machine to ensure precision. Payde Stockman joined on build day, guiding the campers through the staining and assembly. Amidst the focused work, the campers enjoyed laughter, impromptu dance-offs, jokes, riddles and an educational video underscoring the importance of protecting bats and their habitats.

Many young girls are unfortunately socialized to believe that power tools are solely for boys, limiting their exposure to these empowering skills. Makers Mill, inspired by organizations like Girls at Work, is dedicated to challenging this stereotype, and we look forward to continuing our mission next year.

Support the next generation of empowered builders and protect our local bat populations by purchasing a bat house from Makers Mill during this limited Halloween special between now and the end of October. 

Installation tips for your bat house:

Placement: Choose a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, preferably facing south or southeast.

Height: Mount the bat house at least 10-15 feet above the ground to ensure bats' safety and accessibility.

Accessibility: Ensure that the bat house is easily accessible for bats by placing it near a water source, as bats consume insects that often congregate near water.

Maintenance: Regularly inspect and clean your bat house, ideally during winter when bats are not hibernating.

Patience: It may take some time for bats to discover and inhabit your bat house, so be patient and enjoy the benefits of natural pest control once they do.

For cost or other information or to purchase a bat house, call 603-569-1500 and ask for Carol Holyoake or email Josh Arnold at info@makersmill.org.

Learn more about Makers Mill at makersmill.org or attend one of the free public tours offered each Friday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and on the first Saturday of the month at the same time at 23 Bay St.