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Summer Colonial Coding Camp draws students, highlights STEM and accessibility
Summary
Staff reported on the first Colonial Coding Camp (June 24–28), a regional grant-funded STEM program that served rising grades 4–7 and emphasized collaboration, accessibility and career connections with corporate and military volunteers.
Staff told the board about the division's first Colonial Coding Camp, held June 24–28, which brought hands-on robotics and coding experiences to rising fourth through seventh graders.
Stephanie Clevin (elementary tech coach) described hands-on work with Lego Spike kits, Sphero obstacle courses and iRobot Root devices; campers built seesaws, accessible features and code-driven shapes. "They made their Lego seesaws accessible so one mini figure in a wheelchair could participate," she said, describing how students added accessibility design features without prompting.
The camp was supported by the Southside Virginia Technology Consortium and a grant coordinated through Longwood University; staff also cited volunteer support from three high-school students (Josh Bley, Nicholas Kety and Zach Humphries) and a demonstration by Sergeant First Class Homes from Fort Greg Adams who brought an EOD-training robot.
Staff reported 16 students in the fourth–fifth group and 15–16 in the sixth–seventh group; every student had an adult supporter during the caregiver showcase. A pilot Family Camp day served a small number of families and will inform future family offerings. Staff said many parents requested kit links to buy at home and that division 'rooms' communication groups were used to share daily updates.
Board members applauded the program and staff said they plan to run the camp annually with adjustments based on this pilot.
