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Crankin Engines Camp

Crankin Engines Camp is an exciting and engaging course that provides students with a hands-on approach to learning about small engines. During this camp, students will disassemble and rebuild an engine, allowing them to gain an understanding of its inner workings and how it operates. Crankin Engines Camp is for all ages, children and adults!

New this year: Crankin Engines 2!
An advanced course for those extending their study to overhead valves and bowl carburetors found in most modern equipment.

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Wrenches

how organizing

works

Thanks for organizing!

We'd love to have you join us in organizing Crankin Engines Camp 1 and/or 2! We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated people like you to help us organize our camps.

 

Camp availability depends on our organizers! You would be responsible for scheduling a location for the camp and helping us spread the word so that students can register.

 

Bonus perk for organizers: with a full camp of 13 other students, your student is free!

Learn more when you read the FAQs below.

What are the requirements

*Secure a location suitable for camp.

*Choose the ages for the camp from the provided choices.
*Reach out to your communities to draw the 13-14 students needed for camp.

*Work with Mandie to choose the time and days for camp (3 for CE1, 2 following for CE2).

*Communicate with the registered students' adults via email or text.

*Collect the funds by the deadline and send it to Mandie by 9am the next morning.

*Arrive at the location a few minutes early to welcome students.

Understand Fees/Terms

  • Registration closes 4 weeks in advance of 1st day of camp by 9pm. 

  • Crankin Engines 1 has an 13 student min / 14 student max. Crankin Engines 2 has a 6 student min / 14 student max.

  • The camp fee for Crankin Engines 1 is $185 in most areas, areas, depending on lodging and travel expenses, and Crankin Engines 2 is $150 in most areas.

  • A full refund will be provided if the instructor cancels due to an emergency.

  • Refunds are issued if the class cancels for not meeting the minimum number, otherwise there is a no refund policy.

See more information below!

FAQ

Question: What is required in a location? A dry place for students to stand around my two 8' tables placed end -to-end (so 16' of table space). This can be a shelter, porch, basement, fellowship hall, garage, shop, etc.

Question: How long is the camp? Crankin Engines Camp is a 3-Day camp, 4-hours each day. Crankin Engines 2 is a 2-day camp, 4 hours each day, and is an optional add-on for any host.

Question: What ages ranges are possible? Little Cranks: 5-10 years old with required adult participation Mixed age: 8-13 years old with required adult participation for the under 11-year-old student 11-19 years old to drop off OR stay and learn with them

Question: As an organizer, what methods of payment can I accept? Entirely up to you! Cash, check, Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, Zelle, whatever you already have. I ask that you send me electronic payment via Venmo friends and family by 9am the morning after the deadline. This prevents any excessive fees.

Question: What about inclement weather? As long as there is shelter, I will teach unless there is a drastic weather event. I've taught through hurricanes under a pavilion.

Question: What do organizers provide? Nothing else besides the space and a bathroom is required, but on hot days, a fan or three is always welcome. Same for heat in the winter. Students are asked to bring snacks and water, but a cooler of ice and/or water is also nice.

Question: What is Little Cranks? Like the name suggests, Little Cranks is the same small engine class, but for 5-10 year olds. It covers the same disassembly and reassembly, but without the focus on math, science, and diagnostics. We take it slower, and parents are required to be present and participate with their youngster.

Question: What if I have more questions? Just reach out! You can email me at mandie@crankinengines.camp, or call/text me: 336-701-2502

Question: What is provided for the students? I provide all materials - safety equipment, tools, push mower engines, tables, table covers, and storage boxes.

Question: What time is camp? Usually I prefer morning in the summer and afternoon in the winter. This optimizes heat and travel conditions for everyone. I am flexible on a camp-by-camp basis, but usually 8-noon or 9-1 are morning times, and 1-5 is my afternoon time.

Question: Can you come to my city/town/county/state? Sure! Since I might not have contacts in your area, I will be happy to help you draw the students in any way I can - Facebook, emails, or carrier pigeon. Word-of-mouth and personal requests are always best. When an organizer registers on the form, I create a graphic to share with their contacts and groups.

Question: What's everything an organizer needs to know all at once? Thanks so much for registering as an organizer for Crankin Engines this year! I'm Mandie, and I've been teaching this camp for 10 years all over NC and surrounding states! The curriculum I'm teaching can be found at crankinengines.com, and is written by my friend Rankin Barnes, a retired college automotive instructor. As a reminder, hosting involves five things: 1) Staying in communication with Mandie. 2) Securing the space for camp, whether indoors in extreme weather, under shade, or under cover. 3) Advertising locally to draw the 13-14 students required for camp. 4) Collecting funds from registrants and sending them to Mandie by 9am the morning after the deadline. 5) Introducing us to your bathroom. As a reminder, LOL, the perks of hosting include: 1) Free student registration with a full class of 13 other students (yours is the 14th). 2) You pick the date, time, and location. 3) Your students probably don't have to be ready until the last minute. Winning! Here are some suggestions about what other hosts have done in the past, *none* of which are required: 1) Setting up fans if we are outdoors and it's HOT, or heaters if it's cold 2) Providing a cooler of bottled waters 3) Having an area for parents who are staying to sit during breaks 4) Providing snacks (I will ask students to bring their own water and snacks.) Once you have registered and set up a date and time with Mandie, she will send you a graphic to use for advertising. She will also prepare your sign up form and post it on the website. Please send your people to CrankinEngines.camp to get to the FAQ, which they must agree to on the Student Registration form. The form is open to the public, so try to fill in your guaranteed students first, including your own. Remember that people can withdraw up until the deadline. We still need the minimum of 13 students. So, keep inviting until we have a few on the wait-list. I will arrive about 5-10 minutes in advance to set up on the first day. I will put up signage on the first day of class to direct parents where to go. It goes much faster as students help unload when they arrive. I have two folding 8' tables that will go end to end, as well as tarps and cardboard. I supply the Briggs and Stratton push mower engines, Sterile boxes for them to sit in, and tools. Students will have nitrile gloves and safety glasses that I also bring. Every guardian is liable for their own student. You can choose if I have to pack up camp each day and take it back to the airbnb, or if I leave it where it is. If there is an emergency on my end, I will refund money if I have to cancel class. Please let me know if there is an emergency on your end (it has happened), and we will do our best to reschedule.

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What Parents Say

"My son Caleb was in your camp last week in Southern Pines. He had an absolute blast. He said he thinks it was the best week of his life. LOL Thank you!!"
-Katharine G

"Just wanted to share a fun tidbit. All week Finn has been jonesing to figure out what is wrong with our weed whacker. Today, after class, he and Eli came home and attempted to fix it!  They problem solved and figured out that it needs a new spark plug! So grateful for all he is learning this week! Thanks for sharing your love and knowledge!  I’m grateful!" -Abby

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