Summer may be coming to a close and fall classes are just around the corner, but we at The Coding Space wanted to take a minute to reflect on the success of Camp Coding Space Online and the incredible campers who joined us each week.
With the delay and cancellation of many in-person day camps, there’s little doubt that this summer was full of unexpected hurdles for families. Our team also faced a big decision: cancel in-person summer camp outright or offer a virtual program. Not wanting to disappoint our campers, we took a leap and moved our traditional summer camp entirely online.
Though the majority of coding instruction adapts well to a virtual environment, there were still some challenges. We wanted our campers to receive the top-notch coding education they expect from TCS while not missing out on important elements of the camp experience like hands-on fun and finding new friends. So our creative curriculum team got to work mapping out a solution: a virtual camp experience combining programming projects, team challenges, STEAM exploration, and unique physical activities. It looked good on paper, but then came the real test of running it past our experts: kids.
With the delay and cancellation of many in-person day camps, there’s little doubt that this summer was full of unexpected hurdles for families. Our team also faced a big decision: cancel in-person summer camp outright or offer a virtual program. Not wanting to disappoint our campers, we took a leap and moved our traditional summer camp entirely online.
Though the majority of coding instruction adapts well to a virtual environment, there were still some challenges. We wanted our campers to receive the top-notch coding education they expect from TCS while not missing out on important elements of the camp experience like hands-on fun and finding new friends. So our creative curriculum team got to work mapping out a solution: a virtual camp experience combining programming projects, team challenges, STEAM exploration, and unique physical activities. It looked good on paper, but then came the real test of running it past our experts: kids.
And the result? Eleven weeks of jokes, laughs, teamwork, friendship, creativity, problem solving, and of course, coding. Campers got to interact with a whole host of fun and interesting experiences, broadening their horizons and getting them moving. Here are just a few of the camper favorites.
| Our STEAM electives introduced kids to new concepts in the worlds of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. With multiple options available everyday and the opportunity to revisit their favorites at the end of the week, campers had the opportunity to explore and uncover their own passions. From creative outlets like graphic novel design, font making, and pixel art to deeper dives into topics like how computers work and where programming languages come from, these subjects opened the eyes and minds of our campers. |  Exploring the super cool world of graphic novel design during Elective hour. |
 Campers showing off what they've made (memory maps and origami) and the theme of the day: masks! | But the camp experience also meant playing fun games and embarking on cool projects, even if campers didn’t leave their house. Our kick-off and hands-on activities brought the fun to the kitchen table, dining room, or wherever our campers found themselves. Whether kids were doing Pokemon yoga, having a scavenger hunt around the house, whipping up a new culinary masterpiece, or showing off a funny hat for Theme Day, there was always something new to get them moving, thinking, and interacting with one another. |
In the end, kids crafted games, animations, stories, and even musicals which they proudly shared with everyone at the end of each week. All this fun only added to the heart of our mission: helping kids develop critical and creative thinking skills, tackle challenges, and express themselves through learning to code.
| The coding challenges this summer were self paced and as challenging as the individual coder needed them to be. Our team was there to help along the way with small group breakout sessions to keep coding instruction personal. We witnessed many achievements made by our campers, from taking their first steps in a new programming language, to offering constructive feedback to others on how to improve their projects, to discovering answers by asking themselves questions first. |  Projects were shared for play-testing on Fridays as a chance for campers to try out one another's creations. |
 Our TCS counselors getting in on the action. | This summer also was a magical experience for our counselors who never hesitated to join in on the fun. They brought tents and sleeping bags for Wilderness Day, helped their brave team of campers pull off digital Relay Race upsets, and revelled in the weekly TCS Cup competition, where campers faced a series of challenges throughout the week, even holding their own Counselor Cup in solidarity. The collective energy and social engagement among campers and counselors transcended the screen and allowed us all to leave with a sense of real connection. |
It’s always sad to see summer end, but this year, it’s bittersweet: while there was apprehension about taking our program online, our inventive, pioneering campers and counselors made it into a truly memorable summer. Now, looking ahead to our fall classes, which will be held virtually, we’re excited about the possibilities and can’t wait to share the experience with our coders. Thank you to our campers and their parents for such an awesome summer; we hope to see you in class very soon!