Blake Swensen

After spending 25 years in the computer business, half of which was spent running his own, Blake Swensen and his wife switched roles. He became a stay-at-home dad on a mission to improve his boys' elementary school experience. Being involved closely in the public schools as a volunteer, PTA president, chess club coach, classroom teacher and community organizer (to name a few stints), he discovered that, although public schools are good at many things, kids whose learning strengths don't fit inside the box often struggle. He set out to create a program that would give kids confidence, tenacity and courage so they would be prepared for whatever the school system offered. The non-profit, Tinker Camp, that he founded is in Portland, Oregon and at www.tinkercamp.org.