The public library in Cincinnati is giving kids some unique options this summer. It’s true that teachers across the country have long complained that kids who are out of school for the entire summer end up losing much of the knowledge they learned through the year, and it’s also true that coding teaches kids a host of skills beyond coding, so this seems like a marriage made in heaven.
WCPO Cincinnati put together an article titled Kids are creating, coding, engineering — oh, and reading — at local libraries this summer. The author begins by detailing the ways that summer learning is about more than just reading. That’s why library workers in Cincinnati are looking for unique ways to tackle the issues that revolve around poverty and the “summer slide” for kids and teens. They’ve created a series of hands-on crafts and activities to keep kids interested and learning during the summer.
The city’s theme this summer is, “Read, Make, Create,” and the library has created a MakerSpace that’s the central part of many of their programs. There are 41 locations taking part in the summer activities and three of them have areas for MakerSpace. The main branch includes incredible equipment like a 3D printer, recording booth, vinyl printer, and much more.
They also have brain camps along with black rocket technology. Together these are the two more STEM-orientated programs. They focus on engineering, math, science, and technology by utilizing the tools in the MakerSpace area.
The library’s brain camps are a week long and come in two-hour sessions. Every week, kids who attend are tasked with learning about a unique theme through games, crafts, reading, and science and art experiments. For example, recent topics have included circuitry, electricity, photography, and 2D design.
The age requirements change every week to ensure kids have a camp they can attend sometime in the summer. Most camp sessions focus on helping kids in 1st –5th grades. There are also mini camps, like the computer technology and coding design camp, which was created for teens and pre-teens, lasts four days, and involves designing short films, mobile apps, and 3D video games.
At CodeREV we think these are fantastic programs. We’re proud to offer the best tech camps in Southern California as well as programs throughout the school year. Contact us today to get more information.