100 students. 4 labs. 20+ real projects each. One public Maker Fair. April 1 – April 30, 2026.

MANGALURU – The Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL) and Early Learning Centre (ELC) are launching ‘Tinker Lab’, a four-week summer camp where children aged 8–16 build real things, run experiments, solve maths problems, and even run a small business, all on the CFAL and ELC campus in Mangaluru. The camp runs from April 1 to April 30, 2026, 9 AM to 2 PM, and is open to students from any school.

Tinker Lab is built around one idea: Every child leaves with something they made. By the end of the four weeks, each student will have completed more than 20 projects they can hold, show, and be proud of.

What Students Will Do

The camp has four activity labs. Each one is led by a specialist teacher.

  • Science Lab: Students run real experiments; building measuring instruments, testing chemicals, and building structures. They figure things out for themselves rather than just following instructions. This approach is based on the Nuffield method used in UK schools.
  • Maker Lab: Students build and program robots while exploring hands-on engineering and design. They also work on creative local projects such as making LED bottles, where lights are embedded into bottles to create decorative pieces, and tile painting, where students paint traditional Mangalore clay roof tiles. These projects encourage students to blend creativity with craftsmanship while appreciating local art and culture.
  • Maths Circles: Students solve puzzles and real-world problems in small groups. This is maths as exploration, not memorisation, inspired by the Berkeley Math Circle programme in the United States.
  • Tree Census: Students count, measure, and record every tree on the CFAL campus. The data they collect is added to a real ongoing research record, not a classroom exercise.

Business Day and Maker Fair

In the final week, student teams create a product, sell it, and track their income and expenses. On the last day, the camp holds a public Maker Fair where students present their projects to families and guests, give short talks about what they built, and receive awards.

The Maker Fair is open to everyone. Families, educators, and anyone curious about what children can do when given the right tools and time are welcome to attend.

“We looked at what the best learning programmes in the world actually do and asked: why should children in Mangaluru have access to anything less? Tinker Lab is our answer.”

– Mr. Vijay Moras, Director, CFAL

Quick Facts

  • Dates: April 1 – April 30, 2026, 9 AM-2 PM, Mon- Fri
  • Where: CFAL & ELC Campus, Mangaluru, Karnataka
  • Who can attend: Students aged 8–16 from any school
  • How many spots: 100 (limited)
  • Cost: Contact +91 6360238816/+91 9900520233 for fee details

About CFAL

The Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL) is a college built on the belief that children learn best by doing. CFAL runs a full academic programme as well as enrichment activities that connect students to real problems, real tools, and real outcomes. Tinker Lab is part of CFAL’s commitment to raising the quality of learning available to children in coastal Karnataka.

About ELC

ELC India (Early Learning Centre) is a Mangaluru-based school offering early childhood education from Playgroup and Daycare through to Grade 10. Built around open-ended, child-led learning, ELC believes children learn best when they are free to explore at their own pace, with teachers as guides rather than directors.