Tynker Launches New CodeMaker Camp™ Program to Enable Educators Across the U.S. to Offer STEM Summer Camps for Kids

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tynker, Inc, the leader in enabling kids to use code to become Makers, today announced the launch of a new program for educators to operate summer coding camps for students ages 8-16 starting in May 2019. The Tynker CodeMaker Camp™ program provides free training, turnkey marketing support, technology tools and a calendar of daily camp activities to enable educators to establish standalone camps during the summer vacation months. Tynker’s CodeMaker Camps enable educators to earn supplemental income in the summer while inspiring kids to use code to power a range of games, animations, and devices. Tynker is already used by over one-third of all U.S. K-8 schools and over 90,000 schools globally.

“Hundreds of thousands of educators have already used Tynker in the classroom to teach students valuable coding skills tied to in-class projects and other learning outcomes,” said Kaustav Mitra, Vice President of Educator Programs at Tynker. “Many of these educators need to supplement their income during the summer vacation months and our new CodeMaker Camps give them the perfect opportunity to do so, with all the training, tools and support they need to leverage their teaching skills to offer paid maker camps within their communities.”

CodeMaker Camps are suited to students in 3rd through 10th grade and provide 10-12 hours of overall instruction and activities, most commonly offered in weeklong half-day or full-day camps. CodeMaker Camps feature over a dozen fun technology activities that inspire young learners to create games, program LEGO® WeDo robots, build games, fly drones and create Minecraft® mods. Advanced learners can learn to create apps using real-world languages like JavaScript and Python, and build their own websites using HTML and CSS.

Educators from accredited K-12 U.S. schools can join the Tynker CodeMaker Camp program for free and receive an 80% commission on camp fees from Tynker for each student enrolling in their camps. Educators need no prior coding experience or experience with Tynker in the classroom and can get started right away at https://www.tynker.com/camps/. Upon registration and approval, educators receive the following:

• Comprehensive training in camp operations, logistics and best practices;
• Full Tynker lesson plans including prep, instructional guides, daily activities, fun exercises and more to turn students into Makers;
• Custom marketing tools to create a personalized Tynker CodeMaker Camp website, conduct email campaigns in their community and produce branded flyers, brochures, posters and T-shirts; and
• Administrative support to enable easy parent communication, student registration, tracking of all legal and medical forms, and direct deposit of camp fees.

“Tynker has become a critical part of our classroom curriculum because it empowers kids to build engaging projects that connect their passions to the core coding skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives,” said Evonne Hackett, Computer Science educator at Lakeview Middle School in Catoosa County, Georgia. “With Tynker’s new CodeMaker Camps, educators are now empowered to keep doing what we love during the summer months: engaging with families and students while earning money during the months when we don’t receive a salary.”

The Tynker CodeMaker Camp program was designed from the ground up and is distinct from Tynker’s regular home subscriptions and school offerings. Instructor guides are detailed with guidance on how to lead sessions and instructors then have the freedom to determine their own CodeMaker Camp schedule, how long the camp will run, the class size and price per student or family.

To operate a Tynker CodeMaker Camp, educators must secure their own camp location with high-speed Internet access and a strong WiFi network - ideally with computers at the location. CodeMaker Camp training for educators will be online and on-demand and supplemented by webinars on conducting camp operations.

As part of the CodeMaker Camp program, Tynker has worked with the American Camp Association to offer educators the ability to earn a full ACA Day Camp Director Certificate or a Tynker CodeMaker Camp Director Certificate. The training, which usually costs $300, is offered for free to educators and includes modules on Business Management and Practices, Risk Management, Health and Wellness, Family & Community Connections, Cultural Competence and Human Resources. Teachers who complete the training will also receive a badge to use on their personalized CodeMaker Camp website.

“Tynker CodeMaker Camps are a great way for educators to leverage their free time in the summer to help kids become Makers through the use of code,” said Amy Katzenberger, Chief Program Officer, American Camp Association. “Through our collaboration with Tynker, teachers will have access to the expertise and knowledge to run highly successful camps that will lead to fun and engaging activities for kids in their communities.”

About Tynker

Tynker empowers kids of all ages to become Makers by enabling them to develop coding skills to design, develop, and power animations, games, toys, smart devices and more. The company’s award-winning platform helps to engage students at home, at school, and on the go, so they develop the critical thinking, reasoning and programming skills that turn them into the Makers of today and tomorrow. Tynker’s highly successful STEM teaching platform has been used by one in three U.S. K-8 schools, 90,000 schools globally and over 60 million kids across 150 countries. Tynker’s partners include some of the world’s most respected brands including Apple, Microsoft, Mattel, PBS, Lego, Code.org and more. Tynker is accessible from any computer with an Internet browser, as well as via the Tynker and Tynker Junior mobile apps, and offers both a free and paid subscription option. For more information, visit www.tynker.com.