Tech & Design Exploration

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 2-5

This is our most popular program and the ideal starting place for elementary school age kids who want to explore a wide range of fun technology. Campers will have numerous options to explore, including Video Game Design, Digital Animation, Stop-Motion Animation, EV3 Robotics, 3D Art & Printing, 3D Architecture, Digital Audio Production, and Coding/Programming Fundamentals in Scratch and Python. Campers will create several small projects, such as a digitally-animated movie, a playable video game, or a 3D print of an original creature — all of which they can take home.

Prerequisites: None. Basic keyboard skills and ability to use a mouse are recommended.

Empow was proud to be highlighted as a partner in Boston public schools’ efforts to boost student academic achievement.

My son does a various summer camps and this one is always his favorite! He was really happy with his project and was able to learn new programs. Eric is a fantastic camp director: he is really patient, understanding and has a genuine interest in connecting with and supporting the kids. Thanks!

–Maureen in Concord

I had two boys at your camp. One focused on robotics and the other on music. They both had great fun and learned too!

– Parent in Belmont

My son attended this week, and the entire staff was great… He was really happy to go – never something we take for granted!… Celebrate yourselves! You deserve it!

-Steve in Needham

My son attended this week, and the entire staff was great… He was really happy to go – never something we take for granted!… Celebrate yourselves! You deserve it!

-Steve in Needham

Learning game design and robotics at Empow really encouraged my creativity, and taught me that creativity and science could be done together. It opened up paths and college and my career that I didn’t know existed. Thanks!

– Camper Alumni

Thank you and your outstanding and creative staff for such a wonderful experience! My son couldn’t wait to get there in the morning and never wanted to leave.

–Megan in Newton

Thank you and your outstanding and creative staff for such a wonderful experience! My son couldn’t wait to get there in the morning and never wanted to leave.

–Megan in Newton

If I could come here all the time, I definitely would!

– Student

My child had a phenomenal experience! He RAN intro camp everyday and did not stop talking about it for the entire night upon his return home. We were so pleased to find a program where the instructors were fun, engaging and supportive, and where each child was able to work at his own level and to really be challenged. I can’t believe how much got accomplished in one week!

–Donna in Belmont

My child had a phenomenal experience! He RAN intro camp everyday and did not stop talking about it for the entire night upon his return home. We were so pleased to find a program where the instructors were fun, engaging and supportive, and where each child was able to work at his own level and to really be challenged. I can’t believe how much got accomplished in one week!

–Donna in Belmont

My daughter thought your program is one of the best she has ever been in.

– Westborough parent

Coding – Python

For students who have mastered Scratch, Python is a great first step into professional-grade, text-based programming languages. Python is both widely used and, we believe, the most accessible, user-friendly and intuitive text-based program. Students will learn to apply the programming concepts they learned in Scratch using Python’s syntax. More advanced students will tackle more complicated challenges including variables, arrays and methods for efficient algorithm design.

Prerequisite: Scratch

Digital Arts – Digital Animation

For students excited about making their own movie or inspired by digitally animated movies like Toy Story, Minions and Frozen, this is a great place to start. Using Stykz – a program accessible to beginners – every student will design unique characters, storyboard a scene, map out the action, and create a complete digitally-animated movie. More advanced students can produce longer scenes with background music and sound effects. All students can choose to upload their movie to YouTube when they’re done!

Computer Aided Design – TinkerCad

TinkerCad is brought to us by Autodesk, the industry leader in 3D design and engineering software, as an easy and intuitive first entry-point. Students will engineer 3D objects which can be printed on a 3D printer and learn the important 3D concept of Constructive Solid Geometry.

Coding – Scratch

This is the ideal starting place for kids curious about coding, kids with a little coding experience, and kids who have learned Scratch at school but have not yet mastered its most advanced capabilities. Students will use this accessible, block-based programming language to make a video game or a short animated scene, and learn basic techniques common to all programming including loops, conditionals and events.

Digital Arts – 3D Sculpting

Did you know that you can take a sphere of virtual clay and shape it into whatever you want? The program we use, Sculptris, was designed to be the ideal first step for those new to the world of digital sculpting. Students’ finished projects can be imported into digital animation programs or printed on a 3D printer!

Designer: Minecraft Mod Makers

$424

Campers of any skill level can use our custom Minecraft worlds to learn concepts in electrical engineering, computer science, and 3D modeling. We start with architecture and pixel art, and then guide the more experienced campers through the secrets of Redstone and Command Blocks. The expert campers can explore modding, learning to code in a drag-&-drop environment.

Experience: Just a curiosity or love of Minecraft

Course Details

Location: Acton, MA
Grades: 2 – 3
Dates: June 29 – July 3
Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Course Status: Open