Camps Planning, organizing, and running camps for elementary and middle school students. Nancy Moyers John Nguyen

Plan Where do you begin?

Planning  Target audience

Planning  Target audience  Staff  Available skillset

Planning  Target audience  Staff  Location

Planning  Target audience  Staff  Location  Lesson Plan  Standards  Interesting and interactive content

Show sample lesson plan

Planning  Target audience  Staff  Location  Lesson Plan  Budget

ItemCost Lunch$75 Support Staff$60 Room Rental$800 Travel Costs$50 Signage$20 Materials$20 Software$300 Total Cost $1325

Planning  Target audience  Staff  Location  Lesson Plan  Budget  Parent provided lunch  Sponsorship  Staffing costs  Help desk/Support staff  Travel costs  FOSS

Planning  Target audience  Staff  Location  Lesson Plan  Budget  Promotion  Relevant  Novel  Free  Pre/Post promotion  News articles  Word of mouth

Organize How do you get students to attend?

Organizing  Sign-up process  How  Through school  Online  Registration  Asking the right questions  Medications/Allergies  Special Needs  Photo/Video Permission

Organizing  Sign-up process  Communication  Principals  Tech Teachers  Parents  Word of Mouth

Communication Hi Nancy, I received information about your recent game design workshops and tried to register my son for the one in April, but it was full. I received an from his school that you were able to add another workshop. Is there still availability? If so, could you send me information about signing up? Thank you so much!

Communication Good Morning, The workshop we quickly became overbooked for our previous workshop, and are holding another to accommodate the overflow. At this time we will not have room to accommodate any extra students. If a spot becomes available in our June 8th workshop I will let you know. We will likely continue to hold these camps and I will keep you informed as to when the next one will be held that will have an open registration. I apologize for the inconvenience. All the best, Nancy Moyers

Common Questions  Can I bring other kids?  Can I sit in?  Can you do another date?  What if my kid is late?  Can I drop my kid off early?

Organizing  Sign-up process  Communication  People  Volunteers, classes, community service  Background checks  Incentivize  Extra credit  Class Credit/Assignments  Food

Run How do you run the camp?

Running  Parking

Running  Parking  Signage

Running  Parking  Signage  Maps  a few days before

Running  Parking  Signage  Maps  Parents  Contact information  Angry parents

Running  Parking  Signage  Maps  Parents  Handling students who are…  Uninterested  Advanced  Special needs  Upset

Experiences Looking back at the camps we have organized.

Chaires Working in Schools

Chaires  STEM Club  February - April  3 rd - 5 th grade  ~30 students  8 Visits

Chaires  STEM Club  Topics  Photo/Video Editing  Social Media  Security  Hardware  Robotics  Microsoft Office

Chaires  STEM Club  Topics  Unique Challenges  Held at their school  Teacher expectations  Students who had done it before

Computer Bugs Getting students interested in computer science and computer programming

Computer Bugs  CS Unplugged  Ruby  Hackety Hack  Relate complex material  Small, engaging programs

Robotics Teaching students the principles of AI

Robotics  YMCA

Robotics  YMCA  Pre-built  Time constraints  Focus on programming

Robotics  YMCA  Pre-built  Obstacle Course/Challenges

Game Design Giving students the basic skills to design their own digital playground

Game Design  March 30 th  6 hour workshop

Game Design  March 30 th  Over 100 students signed up within two days of opening registration  48 student capacity  2 nd workshop June 8th

Game Design  March 30 th  Over 100 students signed up within two days of opening registration  Schools started contacting us

Game Design  March 30 th  Over 100 students signed up within two days of opening registration  Schools started contacting us  News coverage

Game Design  Problems we encountered  Computers not working  Working with friends

Game Design  Problems we encountered  Computers not working  Crashes  Restarting/Troubleshooting

Game Design  Problems we encountered  Computers not working  Crashes  Kids who just showed up  Explain to parent  Find room

Girls’ Technology Camp Fostering a passion for technology in middle school girls

Girls’ Tech Camp  Objectives  Stimulate an interest in technology among young women  Get the community involved

 Objectives  Topics  Monday - Hardware and Media  Tuesday – Web Design  Wednesday – Game Design  Thursday - Coding  Friday – Security/Privacy Girls’ Tech Camp

 Objectives  Topics  Differences  Guest speakers from the community each day  Week long camp Girls’ Tech Camp

 Objectives  Topics  Differences  Unique Challenges  Had to skip Audacity  Parking  Early drop off/Late pick up Girls’ Tech Camp

Future Plans Where do we go from here?

Future Plans  Girl Scouts  Advanced Game Design  Chaires  Marianna/Gadsen  Reutiger  More Coding Camps

Lessons What we learned from this

Lessons  You’ll never be completely prepared (but try)

Lessons  You’ll never be completely prepared (but try)  The kids will only be as invested as you are

Lessons  You’ll never be completely prepared (but try)  The kids will only be as invested as you are  Be flexible, but try to stay on schedule  They will notice if you don’t do what you say you will

Lessons  You’ll never be completely prepared (but try)  The kids will only be as invested as you are  Be flexible, but try to stay on schedule  Follow up  Give additional resources  Ask for feedback

Thank You