GUS / Kit for Little explorers

Exploration kit for kids made in Guadua, a type of bamboo that grows in Colombia, South America

Cool facts...
Bamboo is one of the world’s most sustainable resources, of out more than 1000 species, Colombia has over 100, being one of them Guadua (Angustifolia kunth). It is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet. It can be harvested annually and will then regenerate itself from the roots, replacing the crop naturally without the need for replanting or crop rotation. Because bamboo is a grass and not a tree, it can grow a full meter a day and fast maturing, after about 3 or 6 years, depending on the species. Its tensile strength makes it a good construction material, and it is also used for furniture, flooring and textiles, among other things.
So, how do you take advantage of the plant (guadua) to make sustainable products, but at the same time deliver an ecological message? after long nights of brainstorming, coffee and pizza, we realized one of the best solutions to learn and teach is by playing. So, we decided to create something for young kids to be taught and interact with nature by playing. We selected the range between 3 – 5 years old because at this point most children have covered the areas of mobility, gaming, speech, conduct and they are starting to learn and wonder more about their surroundings. The idea is to aim against sedentarism and loneliness that a digital world creates and bring back the basics of interacting and learning directly from nature taking advantage of 3 basic concepts : Exploration, Observation and Recollection
GUS is an interactive approach to truly “interact” with nature, elements such a shovel, small rake, a magnifying glass with multiple colored filters and a coloring note book to register findings among other elements, allowing the kid to create a real bond with nature. It was designed to take advantage of flexible manufacturing processes such as CNC cut and 3D machining. All the plastic parts are 3D printed in PLA, a biodegradable plastic derived from renewable resources such as corn or sugar cane. These combination of manufacturing processes allow individual customization in colors and some details of the product.
Proof of concept 
We tested our assumptions about what items to create by making mock ups and giving them to an army of kids. We ended up being taught by them, learning what worked, what didn't and what needed to be included.
Learning about the material. Going from Bamboo tree (Guaduato planks
We partnered with a local plywood manufacturer to understand the manufacturing process of going from a Bamboo tree to an usable flat plank of material. We wanted to keep the manufacturing processes as flexible as possible so it was crucial to learn the advantages or disadvantages of the material. 
Iterate, Test, Break, Repeat...
Through out the whole process we tested and mocked up our ideas in multiple materials, tested shapes, and sizes to ensure each part was perfect for kids hands and bodies. We wanted to make sure the whole product was carefully thought. From the fitting of the 3D printed parts to the radii for the CNC. We are really proud of the final product :)

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