High school summer experiences in 3D design and entrepreneurship
Real clients, real products, and work worth showing. We're planning small-group summer experiences for students entering grades 9 to 12. Join the interest list to hear first and help shape what we build.
The short answer
Z-Access is planning summer 2027 experiences for high school students. Small groups design original products, work with real clients, and pitch or sell what they make. Built for teens who are past camp and ready for real work.
Run like a studio
Each experience starts with a brief and ends with something real: a product, a published design, a delivered part, or a pitch.
- Small groups: a brief, a deadline, and direct feedback on the work.
- Real stakes: clients, customers, or a panel of local business owners.
- Professional tools: CAD software such as Fusion, calipers, and a real print queue.
- Something to show: photos, notes, and a finished piece for a portfolio or college application.
Four experiences we're planning
Three with a business focus, one engineering build. Every one ends with a showcase for families and guests.
Launch Lab
Invent a product, cost it, and pitch it.
What you'll do
- Find a problem worth solving and interview people who have it
- Prototype, test with users, and redesign
- Work out the cost to make it and set a price
- Pitch to a panel of local business owners
You leave with: A working prototype, a one-page business sheet, and a pitch you've delivered.
Run the Shop
Run a real print shop, deadlines and all.
What you'll do
- Take orders from real clients
- Quote a price and a delivery date, then meet it
- Schedule the print queue and handle failed prints
- Check quality and deliver
You leave with: A shop report with orders filled and on-time rate, and real operations experience.
Creator Studio
Design, license, and publish original models.
What you'll do
- Design models other people would want to print
- Test, refine, and photograph each design
- Learn who owns a design and choose a license
- Write listings and publish, with a parent's approval
You leave with: A portfolio of original, published designs.
Client Build
Solve a real problem for a local business or nonprofit.
What you'll do
- Interview the client and write the brief
- Measure, design, and prototype
- Test, find what failed, and redesign
- Deliver the part with a one-page spec
You leave with: A delivered part and a case study for your portfolio.
Formats we're considering: a one-week intensive, or a few hours a week across the summer. Dates, location, and price go to the interest list first.
Questions we hear
Is this a camp?
No. It's a small-group summer experience built around real work: clients, customers, and a pitch or showcase at the end. Our camps, for ages 7 to 17, are where kids design and print their own projects.
Who can join?
Students entering grades 9 to 12 in fall 2027, and 2027 graduates.
Does my teen need 3D printing experience?
No. Tell us their experience in the form, and we'll group students so beginners and experienced designers both get the right challenge.
Do students sell what they make?
Some experiences include selling or taking orders. Before registration opens, we'll share exactly how that works, including where any money goes.
When and where, and how much?
Not set yet. The interest list hears first, before anything is posted.
Can a student sign up on their own?
Yes, if they're 13 or older. Please add a parent or guardian's email so we can include them on dates, prices, and registration.
Can our high school or youth program host one?
Yes. High schools, clubs, and youth programs can send a program request, and we'll follow up.