Free resources

Things to make, read and plan

Activities for young builders, plus real next steps for older students: colleges, Michigan camps, and money for school.

For kids For older students and grown-ups
For kids, ages 6 to 10

The free Ribbonfield activity pack

Print it at home or school. Three activities to start, with new ones added as the books come out.

Two kids color a neighborhood coloring page at a sunny kitchen table
1

Color Ribbonfield

Coloring pages of the Long Block, the Spool Factory and Keystone Bridge.

A girl with twists draws her dream city block on grid paper
2

Design your block

A grid-paper sheet for drawing the street you wish you lived on, with a list of who it's for.

A family on a neighborhood walk, pointing at a bench and sketching
3

The neighborhood walk

Wren's "Who decided this?" checklist to take on a walk around your own neighborhood.

Get the free activity packAll three activities plus eight career cards and a certificate. 11 printable pages, free for home and classroom use.Download the pack (PDF)Get new activities by email:
The Ribbonfield book listPicture books and chapter books about building, design and neighborhoods →
For older students and grown-ups

From "I want to build that" to a real career

For teens, parents and school counselors. Every career in Ribbonfield is a real job, and here's how to get there.

Start hereCareer roadmapsWhat to do in elementary, middle and high school, college and after, for all eight careers. Classes, licenses, how long it takes, and what each job pays.See the roadmaps →NationalColleges and degreesAccredited bachelor's programs for every Ribbonfield career, with Michigan schools and HBCUs called out.Find a program →Detroit and MichiganCamps and youth programsSummer camps, after-school clubs and mentor programs near you, sorted by age from elementary to high school.See programs →National + MichiganScholarships and grantsMoney for school from design and building organizations, with who qualifies, how much, and when to apply.Find funding →
High schoolPortfolio guideWhat design schools want to see, how to photograph your sketches and models, and example layouts.Coming soon
Free for studentsFree design toolsThe software the pros use, free for students, with a start-here guide for each one.Coming soon
For teachersRibbonfield classroom kitsLesson plans built around the five steps in every Ribbonfield story: the spark, the look, the snag, the trade and the open. Made for grades 1 to 5. Join the list to try the first kit.

Coming soon: Meet a real one (Q&As with women in each field), More than one way in (community college, career-tech and apprenticeships), and Student organizations.

The careers in Ribbonfield

Eight real jobs, one for every kid in the crew

Architect
Designs whole buildings and how people move through them.Study: Architecture (B.Arch)
Developer
Brings the money, land and people together so a project can happen.Study: Real estate, business or planning
Interior designer
Shapes how the inside of a space looks, feels and works.Study: Interior design (CIDA)
Lighting designer
Plans daylight and electric light so spaces are safe and beautiful.Study: Architectural engineering, lighting or theater design
Landscape architect
Designs parks, streets and outdoor spaces that grow over time.Study: Landscape architecture (BLA)
Engineer
Makes sure it stands up, stays dry and works.Study: Civil, structural or architectural engineering
Specifications writer
Writes down exactly what gets built and how well, so the drawings and the promise match.Study: Architecture, interior design or construction, then a specifications certificate (CSI)
Builder
Leads the crews and schedule that turn drawings into a real place.Study: Construction management