Since the beginning of the month, a small group of local kids has been meeting four hours a day, four days a week at the Lodi Public Library.
Code {STEAM} Tech Camp started on June 7, and ended on Thursday. The camp grew out of a weekly workshop held at the library during the spring semester, where students designed simple sidescrolling video games, complete with original characters and stories.
At the Code {STEAM} Tech Camp, they took it a step further, creating complex “choose your own adventure” games for release as smartphone apps. The students learned about story creation, game design, coding and other skills.
A few of the students are still working on their games, but as they finish, the games will be released on the Google Play store.
The summer camp was sponsored by local businesses and donors.
NEWS-SENTINEL PHOTOGRAPHS BY BEA AHBECK
Instructor Claire Bhakta, right, works with student Mason Lewis, 10, of Lodi, during the last day of the Code {STEAM} Tech Camp at the Lodi Public Library on Thursday.
Above: Instructors Jateen and Claire Bhakta laugh as Jessie Jay, 14, poses while receiving his certificate on the last day of camp. Left: Mom Lenor Mier looks on as Gabriella Mier, 3, tries out her brother Jorge Mier’s game. Campers designed and coded...
Top left: Cody Jay, 14, left, shows fellow campers Finn Moran, 10, center, and his twin Jessie Jay, also 14, his game on a laptop after Code {STEAM} Tech Camp’s final session on Thursday. Bottom left: Shania Kharufeh and Dania Rasheed, cousins of...
Leila Kharufeh, 11, of Lodi, works on her game during the last day of the camp.
Joaquin Quinones, 11, and Cody Jay, 14, both of Lodi, work on their games.
Cody Jay, 14, of Lodi, works to finish his game on the camp’s last day.