Tech & Design Exploration: Builders

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

Come learn the building blocks of STEM in one of our most popular programs! For the first three days, campers will explore 3D Modeling & Printing, Digital Animation, Movie-Making with Sound Effects, 3D Architecture, and Coding Fundamentals in Scratch. Campers will then choose to dig deeper or continue to experiment as they create several small projects, such as a digitally-animated movie, a 3D print of an original object, or walk-through videos of their architecture design — all of which they can take home. They will also build the foundations for success with technology: the inspiration, confidence, and enthusiasm to continue learning and creating. This program has more than enough content to keep campers excited and learning for several weeks. Combine this camp with our Tech & Design Exploration: Creators camp to further expand your STEM knowledge.

Prerequisites: None.

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Tech & Design Exploration: Builders

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

Come learn the building blocks of STEM in one of our most popular programs! For the first three days, campers will explore 3D Modeling & Printing, Digital Animation, Movie-Making with Sound Effects, 3D Architecture, and Coding Fundamentals in Scratch. Campers will then choose to dig deeper or continue to experiment as they create several small projects, such as a digitally-animated movie, a 3D print of an original object, or walk-through videos of their architecture design — all of which they can take home. They will also build the foundations for success with technology: the inspiration, confidence, and enthusiasm to continue learning and creating. This program has more than enough content to keep campers excited and learning for several weeks. Combine this camp with our Tech & Design Exploration: Creators camp to further expand your STEM knowledge.

Prerequisites: None.

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Tech & Design Expedition

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

For middle-schoolers looking to explore a broad range of options, or those who want to dive a bit deeper into two or three topics, this is a perfect place to start. We will experiment with Video Game Design, Digital Animation, Stop-Motion Animation, 3D Art & Printing, 3D Architecture, and Coding/Programming Fundamentals in Scratch and Python. Campers will create several small to medium-sized projects, such as creating and printing a 3D model, producing a stop-motion animated film, or designing a playable video game. Campers build the foundations for success with technology: the inspiration, confidence, and enthusiasm to continue learning and creating! This program has more than enough content to keep campers excited and learning for up to three weeks and is an ideal way to start the summer as a lead in to some of our more focused programs for middle-school campers.

Prerequisites: None.

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Tech & Design Expedition

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

For middle-schoolers looking to explore a broad range of options, or those who want to dive a bit deeper into two or three topics, this is a perfect place to start. We will experiment with Video Game Design, Digital Animation, Stop-Motion Animation, 3D Art & Printing, 3D Architecture, and Coding/Programming Fundamentals in Scratch and Python. Campers will create several small to medium-sized projects, such as creating and printing a 3D model, producing a stop-motion animated film, or designing a playable video game. Campers build the foundations for success with technology: the inspiration, confidence, and enthusiasm to continue learning and creating! This program has more than enough content to keep campers excited and learning for up to three weeks and is an ideal way to start the summer as a lead in to some of our more focused programs for middle-school campers.

Prerequisites: None.

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Minecraft Exploration

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

One of our most popular programs! It isn’t just for gamers – it’s for explorers, designers, and builders, too! Campers will explore the basics of art, architecture, animation, and the patented Redstone circuitry on Minecraft’s Education Edition platform. They will build their own Minecraft world, collaborate on a friend’s world, design animated characters with command blocks, and take home digital files so that they can keep exploring their world after camp has ended. They’ll also gain an understanding of how one of the most popular platforms in the world works.

Prerequisites: Basic keyboard skills and ability to use a mouse

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Minecraft Exploration

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

One of our most popular programs! It isn’t just for gamers – it’s for explorers, designers, and builders, too! Campers will explore the basics of art, architecture, animation, and the patented Redstone circuitry on Minecraft’s Java Edition platform. They will build their own Minecraft world, collaborate on a friend’s world, design animated characters with command blocks, and take home digital files so that they can keep exploring their world after camp has ended. They’ll also gain an understanding of how one of the most popular platforms in the world works.

Prerequisites: Basic keyboard skills and ability to use a mouse

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Coding Exploration

Coding Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

One of our most popular camps, this is the ideal starting place for kids who want to code, but don’t quite know where to start. Campers will begin by learning Scratch, a drag-and-drop system, where they will learn key coding concepts and build a small video game or cool animation. After day three, campers will begin to apply these same coding concepts in Python, a professional, yet easy-to-learn scripting language. For campers who want to dig deeper, we recommend signing up for multiple sessions. Come find and develop your passion for coding!

Prerequisites: Basic keyboard skills and ability to use a mouse

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Coding Exploration

Coding Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

One of our most popular camps, this is the ideal starting place for kids who want to code, but don’t quite know where to start. Campers will begin by learning Scratch, a drag-and-drop system, where they will learn key coding concepts and build a small video game or cool animation. After day three, campers will begin to apply these same coding concepts in Python, a professional, yet easy-to-learn scripting language. For campers who want to dig deeper, we recommend signing up for multiple sessions. Come find and develop your passion for coding!

Prerequisites: Basic keyboard skills and ability to use a mouse

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Advanced Minecraft

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Bring your Minecraft builds to the next level using Redstone, commands, and modding tracks! Campers will show off their new skills by building complicated mechanisms and Rube Goldberg machines with long chains of reactions. And they’ll design and build custom made blocks. While having a blast, campers will be exploring real engineering concepts including design, circuitry and mechanisms.

Prerequisites: Prior Minecraft experience and love of Minecraft!

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Advanced Minecraft

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Bring your Minecraft builds to the next level using Redstone, commands, and modding tracks! Campers will show off their new skills by building complicated mechanisms and Rube Goldberg machines with long chains of reactions. And they’ll design and build custom made blocks. While having a blast, campers will be exploring real engineering concepts including design, circuitry and mechanisms.

Prerequisites: Prior Minecraft experience and love of Minecraft!

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Minecraft Modding with MCreator

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

Expand your Minecraft experience by creating your own mods! Always a big favorite, using MCreator software, campers will alter (“mod”) existing characters and designs, and build new, highly customized armor, tools, and building blocks. Then, they’ll step up to create more complicated modded objects such as volcanoes, waterfalls, new dimensions, or even a game version of themselves! Campers will examine how their new designs — saved in their own Minecraft world — influenced gameplay. This camp is perfect for anyone who loves Minecraft and wants to have even more control over what they can build.

Prerequisites: Prior Minecraft experience and love of Minecraft!

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Minecraft Modding with MCreator

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

Expand your Minecraft experience by creating your own mods! Always a big favorite, using MCreator software, campers will alter (“mod”) existing characters and designs, and build new, highly customized armor, tools, and building blocks. Then, they’ll step up to create more complicated modded objects such as volcanoes, waterfalls, new dimensions, or even a game version of themselves! Campers will examine how their new designs — saved in their own Minecraft world — influenced gameplay. This camp is perfect for anyone who loves Minecraft and wants to have even more control over what they can build.

Prerequisites: Prior Minecraft experience and love of Minecraft!

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Coding with Python 101

Coding Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

One of our most popular programs, Python 101 is perfect for kids interested in exploring all of Python’s capabilities. Campers will navigate the text-based programming in IDLE, Python’s integrated development environment, and learn to write key building blocks of code, such as variables, conditionals, and loops. They will then combine these elements to create video games to take home. More advanced students will tackle more complicated challenges including file I/O, arrays, and functions.

Prerequisites: None

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Coding with Python 101

Coding Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

One of our most popular programs, Python 101 is perfect for kids interested in exploring all of Python’s capabilities. Campers will navigate the text-based programming in IDLE, Python’s integrated development environment, and learn to write key building blocks of code, such as variables, conditionals, and loops. They will then combine these elements to create video games to take home. More advanced students will tackle more complicated challenges including file I/O, arrays, and functions.

Prerequisites: None

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Coding with Python 201

Coding Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Take your Python coding experience to the next level! Campers will create their own games and applications with graphics, sound, and more that use advanced data structures, while reinforcing camper skills in Python’s fundamental features like variables, loops, conditionals and functions. More advanced campers can also extend their skills into real-world programming challenges using Python’s wide variety of built-in libraries.

Prerequisites: Python 101 or equivalent experience

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Coding with Python 201

Coding Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Take your Python coding experience to the next level! Campers will create their own games and applications with graphics, sound, and more that use advanced data structures, while reinforcing camper skills in Python’s fundamental features like variables, loops, conditionals and functions. More advanced campers can also extend their skills into real-world programming challenges using Python’s wide variety of built-in libraries.

Prerequisites: Python 101 or equivalent experience

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Minecraft Expedition

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Minecraft isn’t just for gamers – it’s for explorers, designers, and builders, too! Campers will explore the basics of art, architecture, animation, and the patented Redstone circuitry on Minecraft’s Education Edition platform. They will build their own Minecraft world, collaborate on a friend’s world, build logic gates and redstone contraptions, design animated pixel art using advanced commands, and take home digital files so that they can keep exploring their world after camp has ended. They’ll learn several key STEM concepts and gain an understanding of how one of the most popular platforms in the world works.

Prerequisites: None

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Minecraft Expedition

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Minecraft isn’t just for gamers – it’s for explorers, designers, and builders, too! Campers will explore the basics of art, architecture, animation, and the patented Redstone circuitry on Minecraft’s Java Edition platform. They will build their own Minecraft world, collaborate on a friend’s world, build logic gates and redstone contraptions, design animated pixel art using advanced commands, and take home digital files so that they can keep exploring their world after camp has ended. They’ll learn several key STEM concepts and gain an understanding of how one of the most popular platforms in the world works.

Prerequisites: None

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm.

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Roblox: Game Design

Video Game Design Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

For kids entering grades 2-4

For kids entering grades 2-4

For kids entering grades 5-8

NEW FOR 2021!

Modify your own Minecraft characters, mobs, and more in this exciting new camp! Always a big favorite, campers will alter (“mod”) existing characters and designs to create something completely new. Campers will expand their mod skills by creating characters like swamp-dwelling sludge monsters or sky-roaring dragons, then using Java code, will customize their mods even further, creating radioactive jetpacks or superhero power granting foods. Campers will examine how their new designs — saved in their own Minecraft world — influence gameplay. This camp is perfect for anyone who loves Minecraft and wants to have even more control over what they can build.

Prerequisites: Prior Minecraft experience required.

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Minecraft Modding with Java

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Explore all things STEM in our Tech & Design Multi-Week Adventure! During this 2-week adventure, campers will explore a wide range of fun technology and begin to identify their areas of greatest passion. Campers will explore 3D Modeling & Printing, Movie-Making with Digital Animation and Stop-Motion Animation, Coding Fundamentals in Scratch, Video Game Design, and 3D Architecture. In collaboration with their peers, campers will have the opportunity to create several small projects, such as a digitally-animated movie, a playable video game, a 3D print of a unique object, or a video of their architecture design. This camp brings together the best in STEM and art!

Camps Included:
Tech & Design Exploration: Builders
Tech & Design Exploration: Creators

Prerequisites: None.

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Tech & Design Multi-Week Adventure

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

Explore all things STEM in our Tech & Design Multi-Week Adventure! During this 2-week adventure, campers will explore a wide range of fun technology and begin to identify their areas of greatest passion. Campers will explore 3D Modeling & Printing, Movie-Making with Digital Animation and Stop-Motion Animation, Coding Fundamentals in Scratch, Video Game Design, and 3D Architecture. In collaboration with their peers, campers will have the opportunity to create several small projects, such as a digitally-animated movie, a playable video game, a 3D print of a unique object, or a video of their architecture design. This camp brings together the best in STEM and art!

Camps Included:
Tech & Design Exploration: Builders
Tech & Design Exploration: Creators

Prerequisites: None.

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Tech & Design Multi-Week Quest

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Explore all things STEM in our Tech & Design Multi-Week Quest! During this 3-week technology quest, campers will explore a wide range of fun technology, learn to make movies, and design in three dimensions. Campers will experiment with Video Game Design, Digital Animation, Stop-Motion Animation, 3D Art & Printing, 3D Architecture, and Coding/Programming Fundamentals in Scratch and Python. They will also tap into their imagination with Adobe Rush and Adobe Animate to make their own movies. Finally, campers will have a chance to learn best practices in 3D printing, designing and printing their own unique creations. This camp brings together the best in STEM and art!

Camps included:
Tech & Design Expedition
Movie Production Expedition
3D Modeling & Printing

Prerequisites: None.

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Tech & Design Multi-Week Quest

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Explore all things STEM in our Tech & Design Multi-Week Quest! During this 3-week technology quest, campers will explore a wide range of fun technology, learn to make movies, and design in three dimensions. Campers will experiment with Video Game Design, Digital Animation, Stop-Motion Animation, 3D Art & Printing, 3D Architecture, and Coding/Programming Fundamentals in Scratch and Python. They will also tap into their imagination with Adobe Rush and Adobe Animate to make their own movies. Finally, campers will have a chance to learn best practices in 3D printing, designing and printing their own unique creations. This camp brings together the best in STEM and art!

Camps included:
Tech & Design Expedition
Movie Production Expedition
3D Modeling & Printing

Prerequisites: None.

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Minecraft Multi-Week Adventure

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

Develop a passion for coding in our Coding Multi-Week Adventure! During this 2-week adventure campers will begin by learning Scratch, a drag-and-drop system, where they will learn key coding concepts and build a small video game or a cool animation. Campers can then use their new coding skills to program their own robot! Packed with programmable sensors and a colorful LED light matrix, Sphero BOLT will keep campers engaged as they learn to aim and drive their new robot, use the light matrix to display characters or play games, and even talk to other Sphero BOLTs using infrared communication. Camp fee includes Sphero BOLT.

Camps included:
Coding Exploration
Robotics with Sphero

Prerequisites: None

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Coding Multi-Week Quest

Coding Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Develop a passion for coding in our Coding Multi-Week Quest! During this 3-week quest, campers will start by exploring all of Python’s capabilities, navigating the text-based programming in IDLE and learning to write key building blocks of code, such as variables, conditionals, and loops. Next, campers will build their own Minecraft world, then using Java code, campers will modify their own Minecraft characters and mobs to create characters like swamp-dwelling sludge monsters or sky-roaring dragons. Finally, campers will have fun creating their own Roblox video game, using Lua, Roblox’s programming language, to code game mechanics. Campers will unleash their creativity by building out custom game objects such as traps or power-ups, or add characters in their environment. Have fun while building your coding knowledge this summer!

Camps included:
Coding with Python 101
Minecraft Modding with Java
Roblox: Coding with Game Design

Prerequisites: None

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Coding Multi-Week Quest

Coding Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Develop a passion for coding in our Coding Multi-Week Quest! During this 3-week quest, campers will start by exploring all of Python’s capabilities, navigating the text-based programming in IDLE and learning to write key building blocks of code, such as variables, conditionals, and loops. Next, campers will build their own Minecraft world, then using Java code, campers will modify their own Minecraft characters and mobs to create characters like swamp-dwelling sludge monsters or sky-roaring dragons. Finally, campers will have fun creating their own Roblox video game, using Lua, Roblox’s programming language, to code game mechanics. Campers will unleash their creativity by building out custom game objects such as traps or power-ups, or add characters in their environment. Have fun while building your coding knowledge this summer!

Camps included:
Coding with Python 101
Minecraft Modding with Java
Roblox: Coding with Game Design

Prerequisites: None

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Video Game Design Multi-Week Quest

Video Game Design Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Calling all gamers in our Video Game Design Multi-Week Quest! During this 3-week gaming quest, campers have fun while building the foundations for success with game design technology. Campers will start with Roblox, creating 3D worlds using Roblox’s built-in editor, and then learn Lua, Roblox’s programming language, to code game mechanics. Next is Minecraft, where campers will alter (“mod”) existing characters then expand their mod skills by creating new characters like swamp-dwelling sludge monsters or sky-roaring dragons. Finally, campers will explore Python and learn to write key building blocks of code, such as variables, conditionals, and loops. They will then combine these elements to create video games to take home.

Camps included:
Roblox: Coding and Game Design
Minecraft Modding with Java
Coding with Python 101

Prerequisites: None.

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Minecraft: Coding with Redstone and Commands

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

Looking for the next level of Minecraft challenge? Come create amazing builds to share with your friends. Using Redstone circuitry and commands, campers will create complicated mechanisms like a mini-game, roller coaster or Rube Goldberg-like machine. While having a blast, they’ll be exploring real engineering concepts including design, circuitry and mechanisms.

Prerequisites: Prior Minecraft experience required.

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Minecraft: Coding with Redstone and Commands

Minecraft Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

Looking for the next level of Minecraft challenge? Come create amazing builds to share with your friends. Using Redstone circuitry and commands, campers will create complicated mechanisms like a mini-game, roller coaster or Rube Goldberg-like machine. While having a blast, they’ll be exploring real engineering concepts including design, circuitry and mechanisms.

Prerequisites: Prior Minecraft experience required.

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

3D Modeling & Printing

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Campers will love our introductory 3D class and the chance to explore essential and complementary ways to design in three dimensions. We’ll start with Tinkercad, where we will apply the concepts of geometry towards designing a solid, often linear and symmetrical objects — such as furniture, wrench or a chess piece. Next, we’ll build in virtual clay, using Sculptris, and gain exposure to conceiving of 3D rounded surfaces as a collection of flat triangles or other polygons. To complete these fun projects, campers will learn best practices in 3D printing — to ensure that their designs are printable — and how to design objects that are structurally sound.

Prerequisites: None.

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

3D Modeling & Printing

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 5-8

Campers will love our introductory 3D class and the chance to explore essential and complementary ways to design in three dimensions. We’ll start with Tinkercad, where we will apply the concepts of geometry towards designing a solid, often linear and symmetrical objects — such as furniture, wrench or a chess piece. Next, we’ll build in virtual clay, using Sculptris, and gain exposure to conceiving of 3D rounded surfaces as a collection of flat triangles or other polygons. To complete these fun projects, campers will learn best practices in 3D printing — to ensure that their designs are printable — and how to design objects that are structurally sound.

Prerequisites: None.

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

STEM Multi-Week Adventure

STEM Journey Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

Explore all things STEM in our STEM Multi-Week Adventure! This 4-week adventure is a great opportunity for campers to take a big step towards STEM knowledge. Starting with Minecraft, campers will explore the basics of art, architecture, animation, and the patented Redstone circuitry on Minecraft’s Education or Java Edition platform. Next up is Coding, where campers will begin by learning Scratch, a drag-and-drop system, learning key coding concepts and building a small video game or a cool animation. After day three, campers will begin to apply these same coding concepts in Python. Finally, campers will explore a variety of different technology platforms creating several projects, such as a digitally-animated movie, a 3D print of a unique object, or a video of their architecture design.

Camps included:
Minecraft Exploration
Coding Exploration
Tech & Design Exploration: Creators
Tech & Design Exploration: Builders

Prerequisites: None.

Available: LIVE Virtual Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

STEM Multi-Week Adventure

STEM Journey Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

Explore all things STEM in our STEM Multi-Week Adventure! This 4-week adventure is a great opportunity for campers to take a big step towards STEM knowledge. Starting with Minecraft, campers will explore the basics of art, architecture, animation, and the patented Redstone circuitry on Minecraft’s Education or Java Edition platform. Next up is Coding, where campers will begin by learning Scratch, a drag-and-drop system, learning key coding concepts and building a small video game or a cool animation. After day three, campers will begin to apply these same coding concepts in Python. Finally, campers will explore a variety of different technology platforms creating several projects, such as a digitally-animated movie, a 3D print of a unique object, or a video of their architecture design.

Camps included:
Minecraft Exploration
Coding Exploration
Tech & Design Exploration: Creators
Tech & Design Exploration: Builders

Prerequisites: None.

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Video Game Design Multi-Week Adventure

Video Game Design Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

For kids entering grades 7-12

Virtual Reality is the next exciting tech frontier! Become a VR pioneer in this TWO week program for grades 7-12. Students will explore best VR practices, code a game in C#, and build 3D environments using the Unity Engine that can be later showcased in virtual reality. Campers will take home a copy of their VR game and a hands-on, foundational education in a rapidly-expanding industry loaded with potential career pathways.

Prerequisites: Prior text-based coding experience with Python, Java, or C#

Available: On Campus Full-Day 9am-4pm; LIVE Virtual Full-Day 9am-4pm; Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm. LIVE Virtual is focused on the Unity portion.

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

3D Game Development w/ Unity & C# (2 Weeks)

Video Game Design Path

For kids entering grades 7-12

Virtual Reality and 3D games are the next exciting tech frontier, with many popular games built in the Unity engine! Become a 3D gaming pioneer in this TWO week program for grades 7-12. Students will explore best practices with 3D design, code a game in C#, and build 3D environments using the Unity Engine that can be later showcased in virtual reality. Campers will take home a copy of their VR game and a hands-on, foundational education in a rapidly-expanding industry loaded with potential career pathways.

Prerequisites: Prior text-based coding experience with Python, Java, or C#

Available: LIVE Virtual Full-Day 9am-4pm; Half-Day 9am-12pm or 1-4pm. LIVE Virtual is focused on the Unity portion.

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Coding – Python

Name: Tech & Design Exploration
Start: 2020-08-03
End: 2020-08-07
Location: Newton

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

Robotics Using Spike Prime

Robotics Path

For kids entering grades 3-5

Ideally suited for new robotics campers entering grades 3-5, this program explores the design and programming of robots and gives campers an understanding of how they work. Campers will design and program robots that can drive, park, detect potential collisions, and follow coded paths. They’ll take a deep dive into the LEGO Education Spike Prime platform, and code using Scratch 3.0. Campers will absorb engineering concepts like friction, traction, drive train, and center of gravity. Kids will learn how code works and develop logical thinking skills and technology literacy. At the end of the week, campers will take home the code and a video of their projects in action!

Prerequisites: Basic keyboard skills and ability to use a mouse.

CHECK LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE

Digital Animation

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

This program is ideal for kids who are excited by animation and have an emerging curiosity about how digitally-created characters are produced and animated. They’ll explore the principles of digital animation and basic movie editing through planning, designing, animating, and ordering — supplying them with a foundation for exploring storytelling and visualization. Campers will complete their own, digitally-animated scenes using the easy-to-navigate program Stykz. They’ll design unique characters and storyboards, and map out their plot/action, adding background music and sound effects. Their finished movie can be uploaded to YouTube.

Prerequisites: Basic keyboard skills and ability to use a mouse

Available: On Campus and LIVE Virtual

Digital Animation

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

This program is ideal for kids who are excited by 3D animation and have an emerging curiosity about how digitally-created characters are produced and animated. They’ll explore the principles of digital animation and basic movie editing through planning, designing, animating, and ordering, supplying them with a foundation for exploring storytelling and visualization. Campers will complete their own, digitally-animated scenes using the easy-to-navigate program Stykz. They’ll design unique characters and storyboards, and map out their plot/action, adding background music and sound effects.

Prerequisites: Basic keyboard skills and ability to use a mouse.

Digital Animation

Tech & Design Path

For kids entering grades 2-4

This program is ideal for kids who are excited by 3D animation and have an emerging curiosity about how digitally-created characters are produced and animated. They’ll explore the principles of digital animation and basic movie editing through planning, designing, animating, and ordering, supplying them with a foundation for exploring storytelling and visualization. Campers will complete their own, digitally-animated scenes using the easy-to-navigate program Stykz. They’ll design unique characters and storyboards, and map out their plot/action, adding background music and sound effects.

Prerequisites: Basic keyboard skills and ability to use a mouse.

Empow was proud to be selected as among the top five best programs for science-loving kids in Boston.

Empow was proud to be selected among the editors picks for best Massachusetts STEM programs in 2020.

Empow was asked to contribute to article helping parents find the best technology camp for their kids.

Empow was proud to have our partnership with MIT on teaching artificial intelligence to kids profiled.

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

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

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

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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

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