Community Good Projects
Welcome! This page has all of the information needed to start helping out the community by joining a team, working on a project, and seeing the impact that your work can have.
Frequently Asked Questions
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None! The only things we require are your energy and passion to help the community.
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Maker Works provides classes and memberships for Community Good volunteers, but funding comes from whoever gives us the project (which is often the nonprofit organization May We Help).
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Meetings are not on a set schedule, but we aim to have one every other week — we try to accommodate everyone.
How many hours we expect you to put in varies depending on the project. All projects have some sort of deadline, but some are sooner than others; see the current project (below) for more detail about what is expected from Community Good team members.
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For each project, we usually get roughly 6-10 people. If you want to join, please plan to stay with the project until its completion.
Summer 2025 Project
Adaptive dock-mounted fishing device
Project Overview
We have a request from Washtenaw Intermediate School District through May We Help to design and build at least two dock fishing devices for users with minimal motor function.
Users will interact with the device using their adaptive switch (a wheelchair-mounted button with a 3.5mm jack). Teachers and aides will assist with baiting and casting.
Device Design Concept/Parameters
Power System
The device will use a small battery pack, a solenoid, and a spring to minimize power consumption. When the user notices a fish bite, they will press their adaptive switch to activate the solenoid, which will release the spring mechanism and pull the fish up onto the dock.
Fishing Mechanism
The device will follow the principles of Japanese fly fishing, which eliminates the need for a reel. A long rod will be equipped with a line approximately equal to the rod's length. When a fish is hooked, angling the rod upward will bring the fish within reach without complex retrieval mechanisms.
Bite Notification
A bell will be attached to the rod to audibly notify users when a fish is biting.
Safety Measures
To protect users from the fishing hook, a safety bobber will be used. This bobber will drop down and cover the hook when the line is lifted out of the water.
Next Steps
Now that we have set some parameters, our next step is to design and build our first prototype! We need panfish experts, outside the box thinkers, hands on tinkerers, and all the help we can get! May We Help is providing us with a budget of $250.
Timeline
Project Start: April 13, 2025
Deadline: End of August 2025 (before the school year starts)
Expected Weekly Commitment: 0–4 hours
Compensation & Benefits
One free relevant Maker Works class of your choice
Maker Works shop access for all project-related work
Earn a personal day pass for every 3 hours of work (usable for non-project work)
Exchange 3 day passes for a 1-month membership
Main Tasks
Select best hook and bait for panfish at Argo Park
Test safety bobbers (and possibly 3D print custom versions)
Select the best rod & rod material that is easy to transport but can also lift panfish out of the water
Figure out how to…
attach the rod to the spring
arrange the solenoid and the hairtrigger
attach the whole contraption to the dock
(The dock railing at Argo Park is angled, so there should be some form of angle adjustment so it can be used elsewhere, too.)
Wire the electronics
Prototype the device
If none of the tasks listed match your skills but you want to help, still apply! We will find ways to involve everyone and teach necessary skills.