This document outlines a proposal for hosting coding camps at libraries to teach kids software development skills. It notes that proficiency in coding at a young age helps with problem solving and STEM skills. Libraries are well-suited to host low or no-cost camps using open source tools like Scratch, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi. The camps could teach skills through projects and expose kids to potential tech careers with growing job prospects and pay. Partnerships with local schools and tech groups could help promote and support the camps.

1. Tech Camps
at the Library
Nicole C. Engard

2. Why Kids Should Code
• Give kids a head start in coding because:
• Proficiency and fluency learned early on can
help with problem solving and independent
thinking
• It’s the foundation and building block for all STEM
• Early success is needed for strong algebra skills
and higher level math & science classes

3. STEM Job Pay
http://college.usatoday.com/2015/02/02/the-5-highest-paying-degrees-of-2015/

4. Careers in Software Dev
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm

5. STEM Job Increases
http://www.ed.gov/stem

6. We Need More Experts
• Demand is there, but supply is not
• There were only 48,700 undergraduate computer
science graduates from accredited US
universities in 2014.
• In 2015, the coding bootcamp market was
estimated to grow by 2.4x, to an estimated
16,056 graduates in 2015, up from 6,740 in 2014.

7. What Can We Do?
• Libraries are known for their programming to help
educate their communities
• Coding camps for kids (like Bootcamps for adults)
can get more people interested in software
development
• For little or no cost you can host these camps to
teach software development and/or robotics

8. Not A Programmer?
Stencyl and Scratch make it easy

9. Coding Tools
• Scratch (scratch.mit.edu)
• Tynker (www.tynker.com)
• Stencyl (www.stencyl.com)
• Greenfoot (www.greenfoot.org)
• Blocky Games (blockly-games.appspot.com/)

10. Let’s Play!!!

11. Circuit Tools
• LittleBits (littlebits.cc)
• LilyPad Arduino (lilypadarduino.org)
• Snap Circuits (www.snapcircuits.net)
• Circuits Scribe (www.electroninks.com)

12. Robotics Tools
• Finch (www.finchrobot.com)
• Hummingbird robotics kit (hummingbirdkit.com)
• Raspberry Pi (bit.ly/1UgmoTl)
• Arduino (bit.ly/22l22gO)
• VEX (www.vexrobotics.com)
• Lego Mindstorms (mindstorms.lego.com)

13. For Toddlers
• Code-a-pillar www.fisher-price.com/codeapillar/
• Cubetto www.primotoys.com

14. Potential Projects
• Create a website
• Create a story in Scratch
• Create a light up monster with the Lilypad
• Build your own Lego robot
• What are you ideas?

15. Possible Languages
• HTML/CSS
• Javascript
• Python
• Ruby
• MySQL

16. Costs
• Computers or tablets for each student (already in
the library or BYOD)
• Open source software for programming ($0)
• A trainer ($0-$100/hr)
• Hardware ($16/e LilyPad Arduino, $200/e LittleBits
Kit, $36/e Raspberry Pi, $99/e The Finch)
• Misc tools and supplies ($200-$1000)

17. Volunteers / Donations
• Find volunteers using Idealist, VolunteerMatch,
AllForGood or other such sites
• Request donations on sites like GoFundMe or
YouCaring
• Create an Amazon wish list for your organization
(for example: http://amzn.com/w/NF8ABQSCGRDI)
• Of course you can just ask!

18. Structure
• One Off: Have a project for everyone in attendance
• Hackathon: Have an 8 -12 hour event
• Over time: Have a project a day (every few days)
or have a goal that has to be completed in a period
of time. This might be a robotics or coding club.
• Look in to starting a Dojo : coderdojo.com

19. Promotion
• Many conferences offer free tables to non profits
• Meetup.com
• Social media
• Local universities and colleges
• Partnerships
• Swag

20. Partnerships
• Talk to :
• coding/tech/stem groups/meetups
• area tech companies
• coding bootcamps
• maker/tech shops
• schools with stem programs

21. Final Tips
• Write a code of conduct
• Have parent’s permission (note any security risks)
• Take into account level of experience of attendees
• Offer different levels of events if necessary
• Create tutorials (Guide on the Side)
• Create evaluations (LimeSurvey)

22. Additional Resources
• Free coding courses for kids : http://bit.ly/22mSqPk
• Choosing a summer coding camp : http://bit.ly/1PcklrF
• 45 places to learn to code for free : http://bit.ly/1Vd58xQ
• 12 sites to learn to code for free : http://entm.ag/1ROFyK7
• Cool products for teaching kids to code : http://huff.to/
1pM1bV9
• Teach your kids to code : http://edut.to/1R3E9je

23. Nicole C. Engard
nengard@gmail.com
http://web2learning.net
http://austin.chicktech.org