Coding Camp: Virtual Robotics and Scratch

Price: $899 (or $250 now + payments)
Age: 7 - 9
Skill Level: Beginner–Advanced
Format: iD Tech Camps | Small-Group, On-Campus
Duration: Weeklong program, 8 hours per day

About This Course

Build your own interactive and imaginative programs in a visual coding language designed by the MIT Media Lab. With Scratch and VEX VR, you’ll design code for games and program a virtual robot to navigate mazes on its own with sensors and adaptive variables. As you explore math and science concepts, your pathway to learning Python and C++ begins here—switch to the code editor in VEX VR to see behind the scenes and tweak your work. There’s no better way to dive into the exciting world of STEM!

Topics Covered

Develop a game design and programming skill set
Create variables and conditional statements
Work with mathematical operators and equations
Build dynamic code and interactive games

Sample Schedule

In this course, students will begin their journey into computer programming and game design with the interactive drag-and-drop coding blocks of Scratch and VEXcode VR.

Here’s a sample of what a week in the course could look like! Please keep in mind that students will progress at varying paces; this is a general outline of key material and the overall student experience.

Monday

Students will dive into the fundamentals of coding with Scratch’s visual code blocks. Using drag-and-drop coding, they’ll create animated sprites with motion blocks and then code their own music game with custom sounds.

Tuesday

Building on their Scratch skills, students will design variable-driven action games with a score that tracks the player’s progress as they blast away a meteor field or battle against an automated computer player.

Wednesday

Welcome to VEXcode VR! In this visual programming environment, students will code the virtual robot to navigate dynamic maps and obstacles, and use its built-in sensors to detect objects by color.

Thursday

Incorporating their knowledge of conditional statements, students will program the virtual robot to complete challenges like transporting magnetic disks. Then, they’ll switch over to the code editor to view and edit their work directly in the Python coding language.

Friday

Honing all of their visual coding skills, students will work independently on a project of their own design in either Scratch or VEXcode VR. Then, they’ll beta-test their projects with their peers at the showcase!

Portfolio-Boosting Diploma & Transcript

At the conclusion of your child's course, they will receive an official iD Tech diploma and course transcript outlining the skills they learned over the course of the week.

Learn from the best.

Passion for tech. Unmatched expertise. Personality that brings out the absolute best in your child. With 23 years of experience, we know there's no replacement for the best teacher. It's no surprise that iconic companies like Google, EA, Microsoft, and Disney hire the same talent we do. Our iD Certified instructors possess the whole package of skills that top employers seek.

100% USA-based, adult instructors
Recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU
Rigorous background and reference checks
Robust training programs and certification
Adherence to American Camp Association accredited guidelines

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer
at Google

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer
at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer
at Bethesda Softworks

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer
at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer
at Disney

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer
at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Scratch?

Scratch is a platform for kids to make games, but more educationally, it’s a tool for young minds to bring imagination and ideas to life with code. In fact, Scratch is one of the most popular “block-based coding” options out there, and it’s one of the best programming languages for kids. Learn more about making games on Scratch.

Why should my child learn with Scratch?

Learning to code can seem intimidating at first, but Scratch removes that barrier for kids. With adorable characters and straightforward block-based coding, Scratch is the ultimate introduction to the wide world of programming!

What college and career opportunities can this course lead to?

Scratch may be designed for younger kids, but the programming fundamentals they will learn through Scratch will set them up for more sophisticated programming and computational skills down the road! With block coding basics under their belts, kids will have an easier time learning Java, Python, C++, and other sophisticated, yet beginner-friendly, languages that unlock a world of possibilities in STEM majors and careers!

Is this course suitable for all skill levels?

Yes, this course is designed for beginner to advanced students. Our small class size ensures that each student receives individual attention and has the freedom to learn at their own pace.

What is the camp experience like?

At our on-campus programs, students get inspired by iconic architecture, learn in our next-gen labs, and get a taste of collegiate life. With our small classes, your child will progress at their own pace with the hottest software and hardware, while learning from carefully-vetted talent sought by companies like Google, Apple, EA, and Disney. They hire who we hire.

As the only STEM educator rooted in 23+ years of legendary camp traditions, we know that when learning is fun, kids and teens stick with it! At camp, students build relationships in a fun and inclusive campus setting, and in between sessions in the labs, can be found diving into high-energy outdoor games and video game tournaments, and bonding over legendary iD traditions like raffles, pie-your-instructor Fridays, and so much more.