For information about Coder Kids classes and camps, including online coding and gaming topics, visit register.coderkids.com/onlineclasses.

Before we jump right into our list of great summer camps, first let’s take a quick look at why summer coding camps are a fantastic idea for your kids!

Why Learn to Code?

Did you know that engineering and technology graduates make around $72,000 per year? That’s over $20,000 more than what humanities, business, and social science graduates earn!

Studies show that computer science graduates typically land a lucrative full-time job early on. Many of their peers from other disciplines report having to work several part-time jobs.  

 The long-term financial and career success for STEM graduates is impressive, right? The best way for kids to get involved with STEM is to have them start young and to make it fun!

Why Should Kids Take Summer Coding Classes? 

There are numerous benefits to learning how to code and deal with technology. The simplest and most important one is that we live in a digital world. Knowing how to navigate and control the parameters of this new reality is a huge plus. Who wouldn’t want that for their kids?

Here are a few more reasons why kids should take part in summer coding classes. 

• Kids learn best when they’re having fun

• It’s easier to learn a new skill if you see someone else doing it

• Learning how to work within a team can only be achieved in a group

• There’s a variety of courses to pick and choose from 

• Kids get to explore several coding languages and applications

• The direct interaction with an instructor guarantees constant feedback and guidance

• The skills kids acquire from coding reflect positively on the other academic subjects

• Summer camps can build a child’s self-esteem and social skills 

• Children who are comfortable with STEM subjects could grow into tech success stories

What Do They Learn? 

Coding camps topics may vary depending on company and location, but there are some common topics you’ll notice in most of them. 

Basic programming

The three basic programming languages are Javascript, Python, and Scratch/Scratch Jr.. Grown-ups might feel that learning how to code using these commands is like learning a foreign language. Kids, however, deal with it the way they learn how to play a game. 

Kids as young as 7 or 8 years old can start a fun-filled coding journey. They can actually create simple games and animations after a few days at camp!

Game design

Development software, like Game Maker Studio, facilitate game design. Using this type of software, a child can invent a fully operational computer game. This type of camp is usually best suited for 10-14-year-olds.  

Mobile app design

This is a fun category too. Most kids own smartphones, and it’s so cool to be able to create their own mobile apps. 

Robotics 

Writing code to control a car or a drone remotely sounds pretty impressive. That’s why it’s such a cool project for kids to work on!

Online Summer Coding Camps vs. In-Person Summer Coding Camps

There are a lot of online and in-person summer coding camp options out there. How do you know which is a better fit for your child? Let’s look at the benefits of each, so that you can choose the best option for you!

Online Summer Coding Camps definitely have some impressive benefits. There is no cummute or time restraints for parents. Kids get to learn in their own home, and parents don’t need to worry about scheduling pick up or drop off. There is also less risk of disease transmission if kids are staying in their own home. Another bonus to online summmer coding camps is that there are no geographic restrictions. If you move, or if there aren’t many options in the area you live, online summer coding camps are a perfect option!

However, the interactive and collaborative nature of in-person coding classes remains a notable plus. Having an instructor there in person with you to encourage and challenge students is important. The social benefits of an in-person class are important, too.

Online and im-person coding camps should cover the same basic topics and principles. The main difference is the delivery of the class sessions themselves. The perks of a coding summer camp (whether in-person or online) and the importance of coding seems like a win-win activity for both parents and kids!

The Best Summer Coding Classes for Kids

Here’s a roundup of the best summer coding camps (in-person and online) for kids. They’re fun and educational, all in one package! 

Coder Kids (Online and In-Person)

This Texas-based camp has been actively building a strong coding curriculum for kids since 2016, and expanded to include online camps and lessons in 2020.

Coder Kids understands the importance of teaching the full skill set of programming. Fun and learning are integral to Coder Kids Camps. They were even mentioned in the news a few times for their success in that regard. They offer summer camps, after school classes, private lessons, online camps and online private lessons.

Coder Kids is offering online and in person Summer Camps this year, so you can choose whichever works best for you! Their online offerings are just as impressive and extensive as their in person camps, but you can participate from the comfort of your own home! These online camps are a great option for students who don’t live in the area, don’t have a way to get to a location or who can’t participate in in person camps because of the pandemic. To check out all of their online or in person summer camps, click here.

Coder Kids offers in person and online summer camp courses in interactive games, animation, web design, and mobile app development, in addition to some of the more popular coding languages. 

The younger kids will find Scratch Jr. appropriate for their age and abilities. Teens and late teens can explore the limitless possibilities of coding with Python and Java. 

They’ll get the chance to dabble with familiar games like Minecraft and use Game Maker Studio to create their own adventures.     

There’s a nice selection of engaging activities and essential skills in the Coder Kids’ curriculum. Coder Kids offers scholarships to participants and hires qualified instructors from the community. The best part is that this company offers camps for grades PreK- 12 (specific camps for each age groups), so you are almost guaranteed to find one that works for you! To check out all of their summer camp options, click here.

National Computer Camps (In-Person)

These camps have been around since 1977. Actually, the founder, Dr. Michael Zabinski, was the first to call these coding classes ‘Computer Camps’. There are branches of the NCC in several states, so there’s a good chance you’ll find one near you. 

National Computer Camps is planning to hold only in-person camps in 2021. However, because of the uncertainty of COVID-19, they may instead have virtual camps (this is what they did in 2020). Kids get access to the same cool topics in the virtual camps, and campers from all around the USA and world can join.

The courses offered include fun stuff like 2D and 3D game design and Minecraft Modding. Kids can get busy creating Android apps and learning Web page design. 

Things get quite interesting with the courses offered in the fields of Cybersecurity, QR code programming, and Arduino electronics lab. 

Coding isn’t the main attraction in this camp. Sports are just as pivotal for kids, and that’s why they occupy a big part of their activities in the camp. There’s a selection between basketball, soccer, and frisbee that each kid can pick as they please.  

This camp supports a scholarship program financed externally for talented kids. Check out their application form, maybe your kid could win one of these spots!

Coding With Kids (Online and possible In-Person)

These camps are flexible in every way. Time-wise, you can enroll your kids almost anytime throughout the year. They are online, so scheduling is flexible as well. As for the courses, they cover the basics that kids from 5-18 would enjoy. 

This versatility usually comes in handy, especially when your kids show interest in several different subjects. Experimenting and working hands-on in many projects is possible in this camp. Every week there are new things to learn, so your kids can extend their learning spree as long as they like. 

The main activities revolve around coding, gaming, robotics, and web development. There are more than a dozen available courses for each age group. Even the very young ones will find something they can build and operate. 

There’s a good mix between software and hardware, especially for older kids. The wiring and circuitry parts will certainly appeal to them.

In 2020, Coding with Kids made the shift to online course offereings only. They are currently monitoring the local COVID-19 health guidlines to determine if they will offer in-person coding camps in 2021.

Digital Media Academy Tech Camps (Online and In-Person)

This is one of the major academies that offer top tech courses. They have active locations in the West Coast, East Coast, Canada, in addition to some central spots. They offer self-paced and instructor led online summer coding camps that you can sign up for on their website. Their in-person camps vary from location to location in topic, schedule, availability, and COVID-19 restrictions. Check their website for up to date info on in-person camps.

Their camps are best suited for teens and late teens, so kids from 12 to 18 will find these camps pretty cool. 

The courses include the basic introduction to coding, gaming, and mobile app development. They go all the way to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and applied data science. 

This is the leading edge of computer studies, so it’s seriously great that kids can start on them early on. There’s actually an evident shortage in skilled people to fill the available jobs in AI and data science. That means knowing this stuff will be highly coveted for quite a while.   

The younger teens will have an opportunity to build Lego robots. Then they’ll learn how to program and control them. That’s awesome, right?

Kids 4 Coding (Online and In-Person)

There are several locations for these camps. If you are around Massachusetts or Georgia, you should certainly check out their summer programs! Kids 4 Coding has also started to offer online coding camps for those who find that easier or necessary.

Kids ages 7-14 will find a variety of tech stuff that they’ll want to try. Games are of course on the  top of the list. They can design the worlds that they imagine, and create a 3D model for them. 

Coding robotics and developing mobile apps are available too. There’s naturally the basic part of learning the essential programming languages. So they can learn Python, Java, and JavaScript. 

The addition we see here is the virtual and augmented reality projects. This tech is still new, so we’re impressed that it’s offered in a coding class. 

The instructors are among the pluses in this camp. There’s an 5:1 student to teacher ratio in each class of max 16 kids.  

Embry-Riddle summer camps (Online and In-Person)

The campsites in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona welcome students from anywhere around the globe. The housing facilities allow kids far and near to take part in this interactive coding camp. 

There are several day camps and overnight camps at Embry-Riddle. Besides coding, there’s aviation, aerospace, engineering, and several other highly specialized tech venues. They added several online coding camp options in 2020, and will continue them for summer 2021. Based on the COVID-19 situation, Embry-Riddle will make a decision about holding in-person camps for 2021 on April 5, 2021.

The flagship programs are in cybersecurity, Arduino, and intermediate computer programming. These courses are a bit too specialized, so kids from 14 to 18 would benefit from them the most.

The 7-13 age group will find the advanced robotics courses engaging if they do have previous knowledge of the subject.  

Emagination Camps (Online and In-person)

Emagination Camps offers in-person overnight and day coding camps in Conneticut, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania for kids ages 13-17. They also offer tech camps for kids ages 8-17.

In-person coding camps offer kids instruction in Java and they learn to build a variety of applications for Windows, web services and client server applications. Kids can also sign up for their Tech Camps, where they can choose different tech topics to learn about inlcuding digital art and media, coding and game design. In-person class sessions are 1 or 2 weeks long.

At Emagination in-person camps, outside recreation is a big part of the day. Kids play games like dodgeball, capture the flag and others to get their bodies moving and to interact with one another.

They offer online camps for kids ages 8-17 that cover a wide variety of topics as well. Their new 2021 summer virtual schedule is currently being finalized and is not yet listed on the website (as of 3/23/21).

Classroom Antics (Online and In-Person)

Classroom Antics offers summer camps for kids ages 7-13 years old. They provide in-person camps in Michigan and Ohio, and virtual camps nationwide.

Their in-person camps are topic specifc and include animation, Makey Makey, game design, LEGO Bots, Minecraft and YouTube. Currently, their online camps include courses in animation, game design, and Minecraft.

In-person camps have a maximum of 12 students and online camps are capped at 5 students. Classroom Antics hires qualified teachers for their camps and focuses on interactive acitvities and projects to help kids learn. They also offer Financial Aid for those who may need it.

Conclusion 

Coding is now pretty much as essential as knowing how to add and subtract. Almost everything around us has code!

The best way to learn is through fun and games. Summer camps are a great way to encourage or start a love of coding in your kids! If you can’t wait until summer (or want to get a head start), check out our list of the Top 10 Free Coding Programs for Kids.

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