Disclosure: I am a Windows Champion and have a working relationship with Microsoft.
Microsoft Store Summer Camps
Youth Spark Summer Camps are getting ready to gear up for a fun filled day camp experience for children between the ages of 8-13. The camp is being offered at 58 of the Microsoft Stores and are FREE. The camps run from June through August and offer young code writers an opportunity to flex their skills and pick up some new ones.
This is the perfect opportunity to let a youngster get their feet wet or soaked in a high tech environment that is going to be a load of fun for anyone that is inclined to enjoy their summer break and get some free instruction while they are at it.
Two Age Groups
Campers are broken up into two age groups in summer camps, so that what they are learning and the fun is age appropriate. There will be subjects covered like game coding and movie making! Code, program and play is the theme of the camps because that is exactly what campers get to do.
They will have fun filled time at the store and get to go behind the scenes and learn things like smart photo taking, smart game designing, smart game coding and other programming based activities.
Registration
Your camper has to be registered for Microsoft’s summer camps to be able to participate. You can register online. You locate the store nearest you and you can register for that store for the dates and times that are most convenient for you. You can download the participant agreement form right online as well.
The participant agreement form has to be presented on the first day of camp. The agreement has to be signed by the parent or guardian.
Other Requirements
A parent or guardian must remain in the Microsoft store during the camp hours which are typically 2 hours at a time. Each day camp (depending on the store) is conducted between Monday-Friday and usually offers either a morning session or an afternoon session.
Options
The camps are offered for two age groups although some children are ready for more of a challenge earlier on while other children need to start out a little slower so while the age group is a suggestion it is not really mandatory. You can pick and choose which courses you think would be perfect for your child.
- Digital Movie Madness: Go from script to screen – and all the movie-making steps in between.
- Storyteller Studio: Write short stories, create games, and design slideshows and custom creations.
- Digital Art Smarts: Inspire artistic vision and creation through graphic design and photography.
- Game Masters: Mastermind a gaming world as the programmer, designer and producer.
- Game App: Plan, Create, design and publish game apps like a pro.
This is a great opportunity to do something fun over the summer that will get your child really thinking!
