CyberCamps Are Fun Computer Camps For Children of ALL Ages

Giant Campus' summer camps give kids the essential 21st century skills needed for success in today's tech-driven, global marketplace. While we're teaching kids how to program a computer, build a robot or design a Web site, we're also encouraging them to think critically, work collaboratively and communicate effectively - igniting their potential and building character.

Cybercamps Academy (ages 10-17) - Held on 50+ college campuses nationwide, this team-building, problem-solving learning environment using research-proven curriculum infuses technology training with fun, physical activities. Use this promo code to earn a discount when you register: (w00t180)

Livewire (ages 14-18) - This epic week at the Walt Disney World® Resort is a dynamic mix of VIP access, hands-on learning and full-throttle fun. Use this promo code to earn a discount when you register: (w00t180)

Cybercamps (ages 6-11) - Select Pump It Up locations host an introduction to the world of technology, exercising kids' minds and bodies. Use this promo code to earn a discount when you register: (w00t180)

I attended CyberCamps Academy at the Lewis and Clark College Campus. The courses offered by CyberCamps ranged from Game Modding to Graphics Editing including Game Design, 3D Game Design, Flash Animation, Robotics, Programming, and Web Design. All the Courses are self-paced and allow for an individual to challenge themselves to go beyong what they could have imagined doing when they arrived at camp.

The courses are self-paced tutorials that each camper works on independently with help from the staff and other campers. The program is flexible which is evident as multiple campers, including myself, switched from their original courses to go into another (I went from Web Design to 3D Game Design).

The staff were very helpful and helped the campers improve on skills related, and unrelated to their coursework. The camp focused on teaching the technology at hand as well as important other skills such as leadership, independence, creativity and many others that are essential to have in the 21st Century.

1. Meet New Friends - There's a Reason that you're at the same camp... You like the same stuff!
2. Check Out College Campuses! Residential campers get to stay in the dorms!
3. Have fun while learing Whatever Course you want! Work at your own pace!
4. Learn Game Design & Modding! Take control of the games ! Create your own 2D or even 3D games!
5. Create Your Own Flash Animation! Unleash the artist in you! Make a game with it!
6. Learn Lego Robotics! Use NXT to make any robot you want!!
7. 15? 16? 17? Become an intern or learn to be a counselor! Interns get free access to the courses!!
8. Fun extra-curricular activities!! Water Gun Fights! Machinima! Stop Motion Animation! Podcasting!
9. It's YOUR experience! Do WHAT you want to do! WHEN you want !!

3D Game Design was the course that I took for most of the week at CyberCamps Academy. 3D Game Design uses the software "GameCore Editor" to create a variety of three dimensional games that are as fun to make as they are to play.

The 3D Game Design Course shows campers how to create:
- Racing Game
- Marble Game (like Marble Blast)
- Adventure Game
- First Person Shooter Game

The course shows you how to add scenery, characters, cars, roads, rooms, tunnels, or mostly anything that comes to mind.

Final Statement:
I went into camp knowing absolutely nothing about 3D game design, and I left knowing how to create four different types of games.

THANK YOU CYBERCAMPS ACADEMY

The general "camp" stuff was fun. On Wednesday everyone went outside and brought water guns and the entire camp had a big water fight. We also did "GeoCaching", which is finding coordinates with a GPS.

Another Activity was "YouChoose.team". It was an elective where the choices were stop motion animation, machinima (creating a story with video games), podcasting, and CyberTV. The camp works on YouChoose.team every day for an hour after lunch

***There are examples of the finished products of Machinima and Lego animation below.***

Something else that we did at camp was "Copyright Courtroom". It's a mock trial where the campers discuss copyright laws and the "Fair Use Act".
Children take roles as the jury, witnesses, prosecutor's and defendant's lawyers, and the prosecutor and defendant.

On Friday afternoon, parents come to see their children's work and then view their YouChoose.team work.

***There are examples of the finished products of Machinima and Lego animation below.***