November 30, 2016

 MSUB Kids on Campus logo

MSUB’s Extended Campus offers selection of youth winter camps

Camp options include Raspberry Pi Intermediate Camp (6-9 grades) and three Robotics Camps, all geared for area fourth through 9th graders

 

Contacts:

Extended Campus, 896-5890

University Relations, 657-2266

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Looking for a different and exciting holiday present for the youth in your life?  Or looking for ways to engage them over the winter school break?  Cure winter-break boredom by signing them up for a fun and educational Winter Program, sponsored by Montana State University Billings Extended Campus.

 

Extended Campus is offering a variety of youth winter camps geared for fourth through ninth-graders. 

 

wrapped gifts
The first set of winter youth camps is a trio of camps geared around award-winning robots. Children can take one, two, or all three of the camps during the week; a discounted rate of $380 applies if all three camps are taken.  The cost for each camp includes instruction and the robot, so children can continue learning and playing at home!

 

All of the robotics camps are taught by Darla Williams, K-12 extended studies educator and take place at the College of Education on the University Campus.

 

an Ozobot
For the first day-long camp on Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (cost of $115), campers will be introduced to Ozobot. This robot teaches children the basics of coding in a fun and interactive way. An Ozobot has two “skins” to change appearance and markers to create challenging obstacle courses.

 

The Meet Edison day-long camp takes place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 28 and costs $100. The Edison features a free, online programmable software that students will use to learn how to program their robot on their own. This robot can be changed up with LEGO bricks, so kids can keep the fun and learning going at home for hours and hours! 

 

The final camp, (a two-day camp), is the Arduino Gamer Camp, $205, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 29 and 30th. Here, students will receive the Arduino Gamer Kit, a basic circuit board that can be programmed to play games like Tetris and Snake!

 

Attendees should be sure to bring a snack, lunch and water bottle for these day-long camps.

 

The second option is the I THINK Raspberry Pi Intermediate Camp, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., December 27- December 29, at City College room TECH B056. The cost of this camp is $165 and picks up where the Raspberry Pi Beginner camp left off last summer. Youth interested in this camp must have either taken the Beginner camp in 2015 or 2016 or get permission from the instructor.

 

Instructing this exciting camp is Bruce Brumley, computer systems technology instructor at City College.

 

The camp will focus on delving into more programming, both traditional and using SCRATCH, as well as also using the device as an external controller with electronic automation and to build and control electronic projects and motor controls.

 

Attendees of this camp should note that equipment is NOT provided and students will need to bring their Raspberry Pi from the Beginning camp, all cables/materials, headphones, snack, water bottle and lunch.