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Scratch camps near you

We list Scratch camps across Canada. Use our advanced search to discover camps in your city or region, including the following selections:

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More than just summer camp

For the truly enthusiastic Scratcher, there are a number of different ways to engage learning, including programs run year round and camps that offer a weeklong (or longer) immersion in this programming language. Use our site to find different options below.

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What is Scratch?

Scratch was developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2003-2004, intended as a simple introduction for children, to get them excited about code from an early age. Today, it’s the world’s largest coding community for kids. It offers users a simple visual interface that allows them to create digital stories, games, and animations, which they can share with people from all over the world. Scratch teaches children creativity, collaboration, and logic. The Scratch language and website are continually developed and moderated by a nonprofit organization called The Scratch Foundation.

The benefits of Scratch camp

Personalized learning. Scratch camps operate in a small group setting, averaging 3 to 5 kids in a camp, which allows ample time to give each child one-on-one, individualized coaching. Camps offer self-paced learning with certified, knowledgeable instructors, so kids get the most out of their experience.

Immersive, hands-on education. It’s no secret that, with the rise of the internet and digital technology, we live in a predominantly visual society. In the age of iPads, we all know how difficult it can be to get your child to learn from a textbook. Scratch camps give your child a break from words, supporting them to learn completely visually and through active, experiential activities. In Scratch camp, kids learn through play, allowing kids to just be kids while acquiring valuable skills and sparking brilliance.

Nurture the curious brain. Kids are naturally curious. Scratch camp teaches kids the building blocks to explore their creativity and understand how their favourite games, animations and other computer programs are created. Their minds activated, they develop a love for learning in fun and creative ways. Allowing your child’s natural curiosity to prosper can result in a newfound passion that can be carried into adulthood and future careers.

Future careers. In today’s digital society, coding is an in-demand skill that opens up the door to many promising career paths, including web and mobile app development, software engineering and computer science. Learning these skills in their formative years gives your child a head-start to a rewarding professional life. Coding is a great career for kids who want to leave a tangible mark on the world—not to mention that it is a very well paid industry!

Develop a creative outlet. Albert Einstein famously said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Scratch camps give kids’ tools to let their imagination run wild. They have the opportunity to bring their own ideas to life through Scratch, creating lively animations and games all on their own.

What will your child learn in scratch camp?

Fundamental coding concepts. Kids use graphical coding to learn basic coding concepts, such as loops, user input, scenes and stages, events and messaging, functions, sprites, variables and conditional statements. Graphical coding is an easier, more intuitive form of coding that allows children to build code using pictures and symbols, rather than lines of text-based code. These basic concepts learned in the Scratch platform are transferable to other languages. Put simply, coding is a set of instructions given to a computer to execute a specific task, providing the basis for the creation of mobile and web applications, games, VR, robotics, and much more.

Story-telling and game-building. By learning these fundamental coding concepts, children learn how to create an animation or computer game of their own. Kids begin with animated stories and starter games, and as their skill level improves, it will progress to creating more advanced games and interactive animated stories. They’ll then be able to share their creations with the online Scratch community!

Problem-solving skills. To help teach your child the basics, Scratch camps include a variety of coding challenges designed to encourage them to analyze a problem and experiment with different approaches to find the solution. Learning through trial and error challenges kids to think strategically and reason systematically. Developing problem-solving skills through code can be a great benefit to everyday life as they can be applied to real-life situations as well.

Math skills. Math is not every child’s favourite subject. While your kid does not need to be a math whiz to learn to code, they’ll pick up skills that will boost their grade in math class. Coding requires them to use logical thinking to break down the problem into smaller, more manageable tasks; much the same way a complex math equation is solved.

Independence. Scratch camp gives kids the opportunity to create a game or animation project from ideation through to execution and completion all on their own (supported by knowledgeable instructors, of course!). Fostering independence in a fun and supportive environment promotes confidence and self-esteem in a child, giving them space to become better decision-makers, and affirming them as competent, resilient, independent individuals.

Collaboration. Scratch camp also provides space for collaboration with others. Coding often involves tackling complex problems, best solved when we can put our heads together. When kids learn the same skills in a group environment, they’re able to help each other out, share tips and provide feedback to improve their individual projects.

Programming languages. In addition to the Scratch platform, these camps introduce kids to other programming languages such as Python, Java, C# and C++. These same programming languages are used by professionals, giving kids a fantastic early advantage.  

Camps related to Scratch camps 

OurKids.net lists hundreds of different kinds of kids’ camp experiences, and we encourage every child and parent to investigate the many possibilities. Expand your horizons by starting with the list of suggestions below:

Gaming camps offer a weeklong or longer immersion in the gaming experience, where kids meet and compete with others from their area. 

Minecraft camp lets kids explore this uber-popular building environment in weeklong (or longer) sessions, surrounded by fellow builders and modders. Camps and programs range from introductory classes for very young kids, to programs that intensively explore Minecraft design and building.

Roblox camps offer intensive activities centered around this also-very-popular game-building platform, where they engage in game creation, terrain building, and Lua coding. 

Video game design camps enable kids and teens to develop skills with a variety of platforms and coding languages, ranging from programs that introduce them to specific languages and game-making platforms, to those with intense instruction for kids and older teens with career ambitions in this area.

STEAM camp and STEM camp apply a curriculum blending science, technology, engineering and math (as well as arts, in the case of STEAM). Camps listed on our site present this at the level of kids’ understanding, ranging in age from 6 to 18 and up.

Consult more information from OurKids.net: 

Learn more about Scratch for kids from around the web

Scratch (programming language). Wikipedia.org. 

What is Scratch Programming? Youtube.com

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Scratch camps are there?
There are 8 programs specializing in Scratch. In addition, there are 39 programs offering scratch as an activity. Use the filters to narrow by age and program type, then click on matched programs to see daily activities, dates, rates and registration information.

What are the fees to attend Scratch camps?
Fees for Scratch camps range from $34 to $160 per program (program types and lengths vary). Use the filters here to narrow programs by age and type.

What age do Scratch camps start at?
There are programs available for children aged 5 through 17.

Where can parents meet with Scratch camps?
Meet with program directors and staff at the Our Kids Camp & Program Expo. The Expo is held annually in February, and is a fun and informative day for parents, kids, and teens. Find event details and free tickets here.