Tech Adventure Camp: Sphero Robotics & Scratch Coding!

Are you ready for a fun-filled day of learning, creativity, and tech exploration? Join us for an exciting camp where kids will dive into the world of robotics and coding!

📅 Schedule:

Morning (Sphero Robotics):
Get hands-on with Sphero robots! Learn to program these rolling robots, complete fun challenges, and even create your own obstacle courses. It’s a perfect mix of play and problem-solving that brings tech to life.
Key Activities:
- Robot programming
- Motion and sensor challenges
- Creative obstacle course design
Afternoon (Scratch Coding):
Unleash your imagination in the world of Scratch! Learn how to create interactive stories, games, and animations while mastering essential coding skills in a fun and friendly environment.
Key Activities:
- Game design basics
- Animation and storytelling
- Creative coding projects

Time	Activity
8:30 to 9:00	Arrival
9:00 to 9:15	Game of the day
9:15 to 9:45	Play Strategy Games
9:45 to 10:30	Morning Challenge
10:30 to 11:00	Snack Break
11:00 to 11:40	AM Focused Learning Session 1
11:40 to 11:50	Water Break
11:50 to 12:30	AM Focused Learning Session 2
12:30 to 1:00	Lunch (AM-only camp pickup/PM-only camp drop off)
1:00 to 1:40	PM Focused Session 1
1:40 to 1:50	Water Break
1:50 to 2:30	PM Focused Session 2
2:30 to 3:00	Snack Break
3:00 to 4:00	Exploration Time: Minecraft Education, Robot Building and Coding, Reading, Playing Strategy Games.
4:00 to 4:40	PM Focused Session 3
4:40 to 5:00	Clean up.

🎯 Who is it for?

This camp is perfect for kids aged 6-9 who are curious about technology, love solving problems, and want to explore the exciting possibilities of robotics and coding. No prior experience is required!

📍 Location:

2171 Ivy Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903

⏰ Time:

8:30 to 1:00/5:00

💻 What to Bring:

Enthusiasm for learning and exploring!

🌟 Why Join Us?

Hands-on activities with cutting-edge technology
Creative projects to spark imagination
Build problem-solving and critical thinking skills
Make new friends who love tech as much as you do!

Highlights of Camp Topics

Monday – Sequential Programming

Morning Activities:

Challenge: Learn about robot angles and heading through unplugged and hands-on activities.
Session 1: Solve problems with Sphero Bolt+ programming.
Session 2: Use pseudocode to design and debug programs.

Afternoon Activities:

Learn Scratch fundamentals by creating a game called "Cat and Mouse". Kids will program a cat sprite to chase a mouse, introducing them to motion blocks, loops, and scoring with variables.

Tuesday – Loops and Iterations

Morning Activities:

Challenge: Design costumes and programs for Sphero robots in "All About Me".
Session 1: Explore loops through unplugged activities.
Session 2: Program loops to create efficient code in "Thrown for a Loop".

Afternoon Activities:

Create Scratch animations and interactive games like "Picture Purrfect" to practice costumes, sprite interaction, and loops.

Wednesday – Conditionals

Morning Activities:

Challenge: Create an obstacle course for Sphero robots in "Obstacle BOLT+".
Session 1: Learn about conditionals through unplugged lessons.
Session 2: Use Sphero to program with conditionals in "On One Condition...".

Afternoon Activities:

Build a Scratch game like "Bear Fishing", introducing conditionals, animations, and game mechanics like gravity and sprite interaction.

Thursday – Events

Morning Activities:

Challenge: Design a balloon-popping mechanism for Sphero in "Balloon Pop".
Session 1: Learn events through unplugged lessons.
Session 2: Use events to trigger actions in programs ("Eventful Programming").

Afternoon Activities:

Create a platformer game in Scratch (e.g., "Tower Climber") and use events to simulate gravity, movement, and win conditions.

Friday – Variables

Morning Activities:

Challenge: Build and race Sphero chariots in "BOLT+ Chariot Challenge".
Session 1: Learn variables through unplugged activities.
Session 2: Use variables in Sphero programming, such as in "Fill in the Variable."

Afternoon Activities:

Create math-based games in Scratch, teaching concepts like angles and shapes using variables and the pen tool.