A note from Doug Stowe:
Dale, I enjoyed meeting you at the maker faire and hands conference at Dearborn. I would like to introduce you to my blog on hands-on learning and discuss the idea of writing for Make. I am currently working on my 7th how to book, this one on making small cabinets for Taunton Press. It is so very important that our children of all ages be taught to make. One of my favorite things at the Maker faire was to see a grandmother with her grandson, both learning to solder. If you can do one thing well, you can do practically anything, and the thing most kids are missing is that starting spark.
I have participated in many craft shows over the years, with the quality of work being over the top. What was missing was a means to get the visitors engaged in making. If you don’t make, you don’t understand the value of the work made by others. The maker faire formula is one I will be discussing with friends in the industry.
My blog address is http://wisdomofhands.blogspot.com
Dale Dougherty 
Interesting observation–which also applies to some climate modelers with little or no hands-on climate measurements experience. #science