WE CAN OFFER OVER 20 TOPICS IN MANY FIELDS OF STEM AND DESIGN!

STEM and Design topics can meet in-person, online, or both. If you are interested in a topic for an individual or your own small group, please fill out our Topic Interest form.

CLASS SIZE: Class sizes will be limited to a maximum of 7 students, depending on topic and whether in-person or online. A minimum of 3 students is necessary to hold a class.

PREREQUISITE ABILITIES:  Be sure that your student meets any prerequisite abilities mentioned for desired topics.

STUDENT SOFTWARE ACCOUNTS:  Several topics require that an online account be created for software.

Select a topic category below or scroll through to browse all topics. Select individual topic titles to view details.

ROBOTICS | CODING | GAME DESIGN | DESIGN & BUILD | GRAPHIC DESIGN & ANIMATION | ELECTRONICS & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

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    ROBOTICS

    Introduction to Robotics using LEGO NXT or LEGO EV3

    Grades 3-6 & 7-12. 1-day workshops, or multi-day classes and week long summer camp, 2 hours/class. In-person only.


    Build a robot and learn fundamentals of programming and robotics engineering with LEGO’s programmable NXT or EV3 robotics system of controller, motors, sensors and Mindstorms software. The use of NXT or EV3 system will depend on the student’s age and experience. Students will work in pairs but exceptions may be allowed to work alone. Once students accomplish required tasks and simpler challenges, they can choose from higher level challenges or build a more complex robot of their own design or one provided by the instructors. Depending on availability, students may also be able to use robots to solve FIRST LEGO League competition missions. The final class will include optional robot battles within a 4 foot arena ring where students test mechanical design and programming strategies against each other.

    Learn more about LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 and NXT

    Included in our Mechanics & Robotics and Coding summer camp bundles, and our Girls Only summer camp

    Intermediate Robotics using LEGO NXT, EV3 or Spike Prime

    Grades 6-9 or by permission. Summer camps, 1 to 2 hour, multi-day classes, and 1-day workshops. Inquire about online options.


    Students explore more complex robots and programming in individual and/or group projects using LEGO NXT, EV3 or Spike Prime. If available, students will be able to solve missions on the 2023-2024 FIRST LEGO League competition table. For NXT, programming uses Mindstorms 2.0. For EV3, students can use EV3 Mindstorms or explore the new EV3 coding software for Scratch. For Spike Prime, use Scratch or Python. This topic is especially good for students wanting to gain skills for a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) or FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team, or who want to begin learning a new language and have a fun way to apply it.

    Learn more about LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 and NXT

    Offered during our 3rd week of summer camp

    Intermediate and Advanced Robotics using VEX V5

    Grades 6-12 or by permission. 1-day workshops, or multi-day classes and week long summer camp, 2 hours/class. In-person.


    For students wanting to explore larger and more complex robots using metal components, nuts and bolts, and hands-on electrical connections. This topic is especially good for students wanting to gain skills for a VEX or FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) competition team, or who want to learn a C-based language or Python and have a fun way to apply it.

    Learn more about VEX

    Learn about VEX V5

    Learn about VEXcode

    Offered during our 3rd week of summer camp

    CODING

    Introduction to Coding

    Grades K-8. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camp. In-person or Online.


    No keyboard skills necessary! We created this topic to help the youngest students learn very basic concepts of coding. Our goal is to provide the basic skills and understanding needed to allow them to begin our coding topics in Scratch, Java and Python. We use non-computer activities to illustrate some concepts. We use the online resources Code.org and Scratch to gain coding skills while playing and creating games. Students will also create accounts that will save their progress and projects, and work on them from anywhere from a computer or a phone or tablet.

    Learn more about Code.org

    Learn more about Scratch

    Included in our Coding summer camp bundle and Girls Only summer camp

    Programming in Scratch: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced

    Grades 3-9. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camps. In-person or Online.


    Our "Programming in Scratch" topic serves students who want to begin learning to code and also those wanting to learn fundamentals of game development and animation for games.

    Beginners (Level 1): No keyboard skills necessary! Scratch is a “drag and drop” programming language developed at MIT. It is free and easy to use with no risk to a home computer as it is done completely online. Scratch is excellent for learning all of the fundamental concepts of programming in any language and suitable for very young as well as older students. Scratch can be used to create very complex programs for games and simulations in many subjects like physics, math, computers, and engineering. Students will learn how to begin and save projects, and create simple programs and games like Maze and Pong. Students will learn how to find interesting projects online, see the actual code, and use and change the code to create their own games or animations.

    Intermediate and advanced (Level 2): Either as separate workshops or following a beginner-level workshop in Scratch, instructors will share their latest projects and examples from others that use high-level tools and skills. Students may also share their projects and get help as needed as they learn more skills and fundamentals of coding while creating more difficult games and animations. Advanced techniques include gravity, momentum and switches, and custom special effect engines. Advanced coding skills and concepts to be learned include lists, variables, operators, procedures, conditionals, and loops, and learning to debug problems in code.

    Students must create a Scratch account at home before the class or provide an email address that can be used to create an account during the first class.

    Learn more about Scratch

    Included in our Coding summer camp bundle (beginner level)

    Java Level 1: Fundamentals

    Grades 7-12 or by permission. Summer camps, 1 to 2 hour, multi-day classes, and 1-day workshops. Inquire about online options.


    Students will begin learning the Java language and syntax with simple programs of 5-20 lines. After learning the basics, continue with more complex and longer programs to build your knowledge of syntax, program structure and fundamental programming concepts like strings, integers, if/else and try/catch statements, and for and while loops. Java is a widely used language for many server and web applications and is also the basis for Advanced Placement (AP) programming and computer science classes in high school and many college classes. It is the most popular programming language for running the operations of businesses, schools and other organizations and is used on more than one billion devices worldwide. Java is more challenging to learn as a first language than Python but is more valuable for long-term involvement with coding, learning other languages and understanding how different languages work together in a single software program or platform.

    Java Level 2: Object Oriented Principles

    Grades 7-12 or by permission. Summer camps, 1 to 2 hour, multi-day classes, and 1-day workshops. Inquire about online options.


    Students will review basic skills, concepts and functions and then learn about methods, refactoring, objects, hierarchy and other important topics. Students will create more complex and longer programs, using interesting projects, to build a knowledge of important vocabulary, coding grammar (syntax), program structure and fundamental programming concepts.

    Requirements:

    - Prior experience with Java is required, such as in our Java 1 class, personal projects, on-line classes or a class at a school.

    - Keyboard (typing) ability is important for this class.

    - Installation of the Java editor Eclipse on the students home computer. Instructions will be provided for the software.

    Java Level 3: Applications of Java

    Grades 8-12 or by permission. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camps. In-person or Online.


    Advanced Java will review our Java 1 and 2 levels and continue on to abstract coding concepts like classes and interfaces, array lists, sorting, memory management, file reading, algorithms, recursion and other high order functions. Students will be introduced to the value and use of GitHub for learning and sharing code and collaborating on projects.  All of these concepts and skills are fundamental to programming and can be applied to many other languages besides Java. Many of the topics covered in this course are important in AP Computer Science A and introductory college-level computer science courses.

    Requirements:

    - Students are expected to have already taken Robotics And Beyond Java 1 and 2, or have adequate experience with Java. An interest in progressing in Java and learning abstract programming concepts is a must.
    - Keyboard (typing) ability is important for this class.
    - Installation of the Java editor Eclipse on the students home computer. Instructions will be provided for the software.

    Level 1 & 2 offered during our 3rd week of summer camp.

    Python Level 1: Fundamentals

    Grades 7-12 or by permission. Summer camps, 1 to 2 hour, multi-day classes, and 1-day workshops. Inquire about online options.


    This class begins with an introduction to the four basic concepts common to every language of programming. Students will work through a series of exercises to understand the concepts and begin to learn the Python language syntax and structure. Following this class, students will be ready for more advanced classes in Python or be well prepared to begin learning other programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, C or HTML with Robotics And Beyond, in school or online.

    Python is an excellent first language for text-based coding and for learning fundamentals of programming and is also becoming the Language-of-Choice at more and more universities for introducing programming concepts and skills. Python is also very valuable for careers and personal interests. Python is a common language for Linux-based operating systems and software and for Raspberry Pi microcomputers, and even for movies.

    Requirements:

    - Some prior coding experience in any language (including Scratch or activities at Code.org) is helpful but not required.

    - Some keyboard (typing) ability is important for this class since students will enter and copy lines of code and fix errors using their keyboard.

    - Installation of the Python editor on the student’s home computer to allow continued work at home. If needed, help will be provided with loading the software.

    Learn more at the Python website and to download the required software to program.

    Python Level 2: Important tools and skills

    Grades 7-12 or by permission. Summer camps, 1 to 2 hour, multi-day classes, and 1-day workshops. Inquire about online options.


    This class will review basic skills and concepts and move on to more complex and longer programs, using interesting projects, to build a knowledge of important vocabulary, coding grammar (syntax), program structure and key tools and programming concepts.

    Python is an excellent first language for text-based coding and for learning fundamentals of programming and is also becoming the Language-of-Choice at more and more universities for introducing programming concepts and skills. Python is also very valuable for careers and personal interests. Python is a common language for Linux-based operating systems and software and for Raspberry Pi microcomputers, and even for movies.

    Requirements:

    - Basic experience in Python is required, such as our Python 1 class, online tutorials or personal projects in Raspberry Pi or other topics.

    - Keyboard (typing) ability is important for this level of class.

    - Installation of the Python editor on the student’s home computer to allow continued work at home. If needed, help will be provided with loading the software.

    Learn more at the Python website and to download the required software to program.

    Python Level 3: Applications

    Grades 8-12 or by permission. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camps. In-person or Online.


    Advanced Python serves as a review of Robotics And Beyond Python 1 and 2 and teaches the use of Python to implement algorithms and abstract programming concepts. These tools and skills are important for successful coding in all  other programming languages. Topics covered will introduce upper-level high school and beginning college computer science material. Students will be introduced to real-world applications for Python used in careers in manufacturing, publishing and other fields.

    Requirements:

    - Students are expected to have already taken Robotics and Beyond Python 1 and 2, or have adequate experience with Python.

    - Good keyboard (typing) ability is important for this class due to the amount of code entry and debugging involved.

    - Installation of the Python editor on the student’s home computer. If needed, help will be provided upon registration for loading the software.

    Learn more at the Python website and to download the required software to program.

    Level 1 & 2 offered during our 3rd week of summer camp.

    Introduction to App Coding

    Grades 3-12 in grade-appropriate concepts and activities. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camp. In-person or Online.


    App Lab is an excellent, free programming environment (from Code.org) for building and sharing apps that will work on phones or tablets. Apps can be as simple or as complex as the student wishes to create and include animations, graphic art, user interaction and more. The workshop and classes are designed to quickly introduce App Lab as a fun and powerful tool. Students learn fundamental coding concepts and how to create and control buttons, text, images, sounds, and screens. Coding is done using simple-to-use programming blocks chosen from menus of blocks. The blocks can be easily converted to JavaScript code, allowing students to grow into their first text-based coding language.

    After learning some basics, students can begin a simple app project like "Choose Your Own Adventure", "Greeting Card", or "Personality Quiz" app. They can also view and learn from more projects featured on the code.org/applab page. All multi-session classes will include a mini “hackathon” where students collaborate to create an app for a specific goal, and share their project with the other teams.

    Included in our Girls Only summer camp

    GAME DESIGN

    Programming in Scratch: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced

    Grades 3-9. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camps. In-person or Online.


    Our "Programming in Scratch" topic serves students who want to begin learning to code and also those wanting to learn fundamentals of game development and animation for games.

    Beginners (Level 1): No keyboard skills necessary! Scratch is a “drag and drop” programming language developed at MIT. It is free and easy to use with no risk to a home computer as it is done completely online. Scratch is excellent for learning all of the fundamental concepts of programming in any language and suitable for very young as well as older students. Scratch can be used to create very complex programs for games and simulations in many subjects like physics, math, computers, and engineering. Students will learn how to begin and save projects, and create simple programs and games like Maze and Pong. Students will learn how to find interesting projects online, see the actual code, and use and change the code to create their own games or animations.

    Intermediate and advanced (Level 2): Either as separate workshops or following a beginner-level workshop in Scratch, instructors will share their latest projects and examples from others that use high-level tools and skills. Students may also share their projects and get help as needed as they learn more skills and fundamentals of coding while creating more difficult games and animations. Advanced techniques include gravity, momentum and switches, and custom special effect engines. Advanced coding skills and concepts to be learned include lists, variables, operators, procedures, conditionals, and loops, and learning to debug problems in code.

    Students must create a Scratch account at home before the class or provide an email address that can be used to create an account during the first class.

    Learn more about Scratch

    Game Development with Unity

    Grades 7-12 or by permission. Summer camps, 1 to 2 hour, multi-day classes, and 1-day workshops. Inquire about online options.


    This topic provides a good introduction to Unity and its use for game development and the application of the programming language C# to a specific project. New students will learn fundamentals of the software platform tools and libraries and each build their own level of one group game. Experienced students will work on their own complete game. Students will download the Unity development software to take part in this class.

    This class will not teach coding fundamentals (see “Requirements” below).

    The benefit of Unity: Unity is a development platform for creating graphics and animation in 2D, 3D, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). It has very wide use in industry for creating video games, films and animation for many applications. Because working in Unity involves the use of code libraries written in the language C#, it also provides a great learning path to higher levels of coding in general. Unity has a very large user base and is well supported with tutorials and forums that provide great sources of information and help.

    Requirements:

    - A personal interest in game design and learning about an industrial-strength game development platform.

    - The class is focused on learning to use the software platform Unity and applying C# to the subject of game development. The class does not have time to teach coding fundamentals. Therefore a high comfort level with at least one programming language is necessary to be allowed to join the class. C# is ideal, Java and any other C-based language are the next most relevant languages.  Strong ability in Python or Java Script is also acceptable.

    Optional but highly recommended:

    - Installation of the free Unity development software on a laptop or desktop computer from your home. Our staff can help with installation during the classes.

    - Creation of a personal Unity account to allow projects and learning to continue at home. The accounts are free and we will provide guidance on the account setup.

    - Creation of a GitHub account to allow collaboration with other students and our instructors, and access to code from many other designers. The accounts are free and we will provide guidance on the account setup.

    Learn more about Unity

    Offered during our 3rd week of summer camp.

    Minecraft World and Quest Building

    Grades 7-12 or by permission. Summer camps, 1 to 2 hour multi-day classes, and 1-day workshops. Inquire about online options.


    The concept for Robotics And Beyond’s Minecraft OASIS originated from the virtual reality world OASIS that was the backdrop in the book and movie Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. This is a long-term project that we expect to last for several years.

    The OASIS is stored on an AWS (Amazon Web Server).

    Participants can choose from three roles.

    1. Server software, permissions and other “back-end” functions

    2. Design and building of worlds, structures and properties

    3. Strategies and prizes for quests and games

    Our OASIS universe consists of 27 square “sectors” arranged like a Rubik’s Cube. Each sector will eventually contain a number of planets. Our plan is to create a large-scale game with the following features.

    - Non-combat and PVP (player vs. player) worlds or regions
    - Private properties to be bought by players and developed as they desire
    - Quests and other games where players can earn credits and artifacts or special abilities
    - Teleportation between places on a world and between worlds
    - Frequent references to names, places, games, music and movies that were part of the book Ready Player One
    - A set of governing rules

    The first class will introduce the concept of the OASIS, how it is hosted, discuss the overall design, choose roles for each student and begin working. The remaining classes will focus on designing and finishing quests and games so they are fully operational. Team members will be allowed to work on the project between classes during limited hours. Collaboration and discussion between team members will be essential and is an important goal for the project.

    Requirements:

    - A deep interest in Minecraft world building or the design of strategic quests and game plots and stories within the worlds.
    - Ability to work as part of a team, collaborate respectfully, proper online conduct, and follow through on responsibilities for your effort on the project.

    Offered during our 3rd week of summer camp.

    DESIGN & BUILD

    Tinkercad - Introduction to 3D modeling and 3D printing

    Grades 3-12 or by permission. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camps. In-person or Online.


    Tinkercad is a great way for students interested in 3D modeling and design to get a feel for what working in a 3D environment is like! Tinkercad is a free, introductory educational software created by engineering software company Autodesk. Tinkercad runs in your browser so it requires no software download and allows you to create an account and save your projects. Students will learn how to create, dimension, combine, and customize pre-generated and custom drawn geometric shapes to create basic models, parts, and inventions. Tinkercad has many other fun uses like electronics and “brick building.” Tinkercad is also the perfect start for moving up to Autodesk Fusion 360, which is our choice for teaching higher levels of 3D modeling, product design, mechanical design and making prototypes. Each student can choose one suitable model to be printed by Robotics And Beyond and picked up in New Milford or mailed to the home.

    Requirements:

    - Computer access (Windows, Mac, or Chromebook all work!)
    - Access to Google Chrome (other browsers may work but Chrome is what we base our classes on, so certain aspects may differ on Safari, Firefox, Edge, etc.)
    - An Autodesk Tinkercad account (a tutorial for making the account will be sent to parents before classes begin)

    Learn more about Tinkercad

    Tinkercad Wikipedia

    Included in our Mechanics & Robotics and Design summer camp bundles, and our Girls Only summer camp

    Autodesk Fusion 360: Introduction and basic skills

    Grades 7-12 or by permission. Summer camps, 1 to 2 hour, multi-day classes, and 1-day workshops. Inquire about online options.


    Students will learn the basic functions of Fusion 360 to create sketches, geometries, and 3d shapes and original designs, and learn how their models are fabricated through 3D printing. Fusion 360 is Autodesk’s flagship mechanical design software, with design, machining, rendering, and blueprinting software all in one, cloud enabled package. Fusion 360 offers a free 3-year license to students and is our best recommendation for exploring and growing career skills in 3D modeling.

    We hope to allow each student to choose one model to be printed by Robotics And Beyond and picked up in New Milford or mailed to the home. This is not certain and will depend on the availability of our 3D printer for the camp or class.

    Learn more about Autodesk Fusion 360

    Requirements:

    - Experience with Robotics And Beyond class using Tinkercad or experience with any 3D modeling software such as Sketchup, Blender or Solidworks. Tinkercad will allow the easiest transition to Fusion 360.

    Optional but highly recommended for use of Fusion 360 at home:

    - An Autodesk Fusion 360 account: (We will send you a tutorial on how to get an account with autodesk)

    - A suitable computer: Computers will be provided for in-person classes but students may bring their own laptop. We encourage students to continue work with the software at home after the camp. Either a PC or MAC with at least 4GB RAM is needed, or preferably 8GB. Chromebooks will not work with Fusion 360. A dedicated graphics card is not necessary. If your computer runs any application or game with graphics like Minecraft, Blender or Sketchup then it should work well with Fusion 360. Computers purchased after 2014 will generally be fine.

    - An installation of Fusion 360: We will send a tutorial on installing Fusion 360, which is free for students and hobbyists alike. You will get a free three year license allowing your student to continue using Fusion beyond our classroom.

    - Internet Access: Fusion 360 does not rely on a browser but it needs online access to Autodesk’s cloud resources.

     

    Autodesk Fusion 360: Intermediate and Advanced

    Grades 7-12 or by permission. Summer camps, 1 to 2 hour, multi-day classes, and 1-day workshops. Inquire about online options.


    Students will take their basic modeling skills to the next level, learning how to make more complex geometries, assemblies based on multiple parts, renderings of their parts, and drawings of their final designs. Students will be encouraged to work on a project of their choosing, using each day’s lessons to enhance their work, leading to a final “product” with schematics, renderings, and designs.

    Advanced students will choose and work on an advanced project to solve a real world problem relevant to their own lives. Using complex sketch geometries, advanced assemblies, and cloud enabled simulations, students will learn to create a digital project from start to finish. Each class will include both technical instruction and free work time, where students will be able to work with their instructor, one-on-one, solving problems and learning design skills while applying them to a real world use.

    We hope to allow each student to choose one model to be printed by Robotics And Beyond and picked up in New Milford or mailed to the home. This is not certain and will depend on the availability of our 3D printer for the camp or class.

    Learn more about Autodesk Fusion 360

    Requirements:

    - Experience with Fusion 360 from a class with Robotics And Beyond or any other source. Significant experience with any 3D modeling software such as Solidworks, Sketchup or Blender is also adequate but will involve more of a learning curve.

    Optional but highly recommended for use of Fusion 360 at home:

    - An Autodesk Fusion 360 account: (We will send you a tutorial on how to get an account with autodesk)

    - A suitable computer: Computers will be provided for in-person classes but students may bring their own laptop. We encourage students to continue work with the software at home after the camp. Either a PC or MAC with at least 4GB RAM is needed, or preferably 8GB. Chromebooks will not work with Fusion 360. A dedicated graphics card is not necessary. If your computer runs any application or game with graphics like Minecraft, Blender or Sketchup then it should work well with Fusion 360. Computers purchased after 2014 will generally be fine.

    - An installation of Fusion 360: We will send a tutorial on installing Fusion 360, which is free for students and hobbyists alike. You will get a free three year license allowing your student to continue using Fusion beyond our classroom.

    - Internet Access: Fusion 360 does not rely on a browser but it needs online access to Autodesk’s cloud resources.

     3D design. Intermediate level offered during our 3rd week of summer camp

    ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

    Grades 3-6. Offered as 1 to 1.5 hour sessions in week long summer camps. In-person only.


    In this topic, campers are able to design and build models of their own ideas, models of pre-designed famous buildings, and experiment with other materials. For free-style building, campers will use a special LEGO architectural design set, containing only white and clear pieces as bricks, windows, and other imaginative shapes. Campers may choose and assemble complex LEGO models of famous buildings and automobiles. Using Studio 2.0 by LEGO/Bricklink, campers may explore creating digital designs of their own ideas. Using a variety of natural materials, campers will also experiment with balancing of rocks and other objects to create towers, arches and other designs and see examples of what artists have created in this medium.

    Included in our Design summer camp bundle

    Engineering and Design Challenges

    Grades 3-6. Offered as 1 to 1.5 hour sessions in week long summer camps or after school and weekend workshops. In-person only.


    Using basic materials or LEGOs, students will be given a variety of challenges and then design and build solutions for them. The challenges may be structural, functional or simply artistic, but the focus will be on coming up with original ideas, discovery and aesthetics, as well as solving the problem given by the challenge. Working alone, in pairs or as a group, students will be encouraged to let their curiosity and imagination lead them to create innovative designs for each challenge.

     

    Included in our Mechanics & Robotics and Design summer camp bundles 

    LEGO Engineering Challenges

    Grades K-5. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camps. In-person.


    Using basic LEGO parts, LEGO Technics and a wide range of other building materials, students will design solutions to a variety of challenges. Working alone, in pairs or as a group, students will be encouraged to let their curiosity lead them to innovative designs for each challenge. Designs will be as simple or complex as their imagination and materials will enable.

    Requirements:

    - Only an interest in coming up with solutions to problems and thinking like an engineer or scientist!

    Offered as a half–day summer camp called LEGO Makers

    GRAPHIC DESIGN & ANIMATION

    Introduction to 2-Dimensional Graphic Design and Animation with Fire Alpaca

    Grades 3-12. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camps. In-person or Online.


    Explore true artistic graphic design, in 2-dimensions, with the free, open-source software FireAlpaca, and learn to create animations of your work. Students will create their own account and can continue using the software year-round. Student projects from summer camps will be stored as a video on our YouTube channel. FireAlpaca is an open-source graphic art alternative to Photoshop and has the added benefit of animation. This  is a great way to start learning about graphic art software and animation concepts and skills in general like layering, textures, color palettes and much more. This topic provides a great basis for learning about more capable animation software in our other camp topics like Krita and Pro-Create.

    Requirements:

    - The only requirement is an interest in graphic art and creating your own, original art and animations.
    - Keyboard (typing) ability is needed only for saving and opening design files.
    - Installation of Fire Alpaca on the student’s home computer is required. The software is safe to download and use. Instructions will be provided for downloading and installing the software if needed.

    Learn more about FireAlpaca

    Included in our Design camp bundle and Girls Only summer camp

    Intermediate and Advanced 2-Dimensional Graphic Design and Animation with Procreate (iPad Only

    Grades 5-12. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camps. In-person or Online.


    Students will gain higher skill levels and learn more advanced concepts in graphic design and animation using the iPad app, ProCreate.

    ProCreate in the App Store is $9.99, and should be used with the Apple Pencil/Stylus. (See below for iPad compatibility with Apple pencils).

    - 6th and 7th generation iPad is compatible with the 1st generation Apple Pencil
    - 3rd generation iPad Air is compatible with the 1st generation Apple Pencil
    - 1st and 2nd generation iPad Pro ONLY supports 1st generation Apple Pencil
    - 3rd and 4th generation iPad Pro ONLY supports 2nd generation Apple Pencil
    - Stylus for iPads may also be used in place of Apple Pencil

    Learn more about ProCreate

    Offered during our 5th week of advanced summer camp topics

    ELECTRONICS & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

    Introduction to Circuits and Soldering

    Grades 6-10 or by permission. Summer camps, 1 to 2 hour, multi-day classes, and 1-day workshops. In-person only.


    Circuit boards are the heart of every electronic device we encounter. In this class, you will learn about every step of the process, from design to prototyping to fabrication. Learn the basics of simple circuits, and soldering electrical components like resistors, capacitors and LED lights onto circuit boards and see them work. Learn the simple equations and math that are the basis of electricity and circuits. Learn to use the free software TinkerCAD for designing and testing electrical circuits. Students will also work with a breadboard to make circuits without soldering and learn to solder using commercially produced boards designed by former Robotics And Beyond students and mentors who went on to design iPhones at Apple.

    Also available: Students can arrange to bring their own electronic projects to work on and have assistance as needed.

    Offered during our 3rd week of summer camp

    Energy and Electricity

    Grades 3-12 in grade-appropriate concepts and activities. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camp. In-person only.


    This topic uses fun and engaging activities to introduce interesting concepts of energy, the different forms of energy and changing one form of energy to another. The activities open young minds to what energy and power really are, and how renewable forms of energy can be used to create the power their world needs. Examples of energy sources or forms are mechanical, thermal, wind, solar, and electrical.

    Students will also learn basic concepts of electricity and very simple circuits, and learn what soldering of circuits is all about.

    Offered during our Girls Only summer camp

    Do you want to schedule a STEM and Design topic or have a question about one? Submit our form below.

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