Camps getting creative with technology

Two local summer camps are focused on technology — one using YouTube, the other using coding

Two new summer camps are giving young people a chance to get creative using technology.

Mohawk Creator’s Camp — powered by the college’s entrepreneurship hub SURGE — is offering high school students a chance to tap into the business side of YouTube.

Next week, creators from 13 to 18 will produce content and learn from Canadian YouTube talent about how to turn their hobbies into a business.

Natalie Reid, project co-ordinator for SURGE, said, “All students want to be YouTube celebrities or they at least watch YouTube.”

Attendees will work with technology, like using phones to shoot video, and get the creative juices flowing through workshops. They’ll learn from YouTube talent and create their own channels, which parents will be invited to view during a showcase.

In partnership with the M.I.G.H.T.Y Entrepreneurship Program, students will also work on skills to help launch, manage and sustain their businesses.

The idea is to spark the entrepreneurial mindset and teach students how to use social media in an effective way, said Reid.

For more information, contact surge@mohawkcollege.ca.

Codify Zone — a new organization that aims to teach kids and teens about computing and problem-solving in STEM — is holding two summer camps in addition to the 12-week courses it offers throughout the school year.

Throughout July and August, the camps will give students a chance to learn about coding using free, open-source tools while also building leadership skills, said founder and CEO Linda Smith, who is a computer engineer.

“Learning to code is like learning a new language,” said Smith, noting that by the time this generation grows up, they’ll need to know basic code for just about any job.

The Sports Meet Technology camp run out of the Ancaster Sports Centre gives kids from ages six to 14 a chance to code and create their own games while also playing sports and enjoying bouncy castles.

The Coding & Gaming Camp — based at Mohawk — offers kids a fun introduction to coding by programming their own game.

It also offers a chance to work on math and keyboarding skills, play outdoors and make arts and crafts.

To learn more about Codify Zone’s camps and courses, visit codifyzone.com.