Teen Build It

Teen Build It is coming to the Lawrence Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library on Thursday, November 19, from 3:45 PM to 5:15 PM. It's a woodworking workshop for teens, run in partnership with Deeply Ingrained, and the whole point is to walk away with something you actually made. By the time the session wraps, you'll have a functional planter box to take home.

If you've never picked up a tool before, that's fine. The workshop is built around learning basic woodworking skills, so you'll get a handle on the fundamentals as you go. You don't need to bring your own gear, either—all the materials, tools, and equipment are provided on-site. The only thing you'll need to bring is yourself, and the organizers recommend wearing closed-toe shoes for safety while you're working. Since the planter box is functional, it's not just a project to leave on a shelf; it's something you can actually use for plants.

It's also worth knowing where you'll be. The Lawrence Branch has a bit of a story: it first opened in 1967 on North Franklin Road in a storefront that used to be the Lawrence Post Office, making it the first branch to open within an incorporated town in Marion County. A larger, permanent 13,500-square-foot facility opened in 1983, and the branch was renovated in 2020. The workshop runs from 3:45 PM to 5:15 PM on Thursday, November 19, at the Lawrence Branch, 7898 Hague Road, Indianapolis, 46256.