Technology Exploration Sessions

9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Check your registration packet for your specific session assignment.

Intro to Web Development
This technology exploration session introduces first-time Tech Camp students to the basics of web development including HTML, CSS and JavaScript as they complete a simple hands-on project of creating a digital piano. Ta-dah!
Facilitated by Kevin Holmes, Sr. Technical Architect and Devon Kooker, Software Engineer at QCI

3D Game Development
Introduce students to the basics of game design and development as they create a 3D PacMan clone in PlayCanvas.
Facilitated by Garritt Grandberg, Vice President Technology & Engineering at Visionary and passionate indie game developer

Arduino
Students will be introduced to Arduino, an open-source hardware platform for building digital devices and complex solutions.
Facilitated by Shayne Rich, Sr. R&D Lead Engineer at Corteva Agriscience

Web Apps with React
Help students quickly create their own personal web site by using Next.js (a React JavaScript framework) and some other tools web developers use on daily basis such as GitHub and web hosting.
Facilitated by Luke Dunscombe, Software Consultant at Lean TECHniques

Agile & Software Delivery
Tech Camp students in their last year of the program will be introduced to the various methods and tools of Agile as they develop a role-based software product “for management.” Technical mentors will be assigned to a small team of students as they work to mob program a prototype using front-end web development tools.
Facilitated by Cecil Williams, Director of Training at Industrial Logic Inc.

Lunch & Grade Activity

12:00 noon to 1:00 pm

TBD

Group Challenge

12:20 pm to 1:00 pm

Rubberband Racers

Technology Exploration Sessions

9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Check your registration packet for your specific session assignment.

Intro to Python
Help introduce first-year camp students to the Python programming language and basic coding principles as they create simple, interactive programs.
Facilitated by Jessa Sparks, Software Engineer III at Principal Financial Group

Finch Robots
A favorite at Tech Camp for many years, students in this technology exploration session will program Finch 2.0 robots with Microsoft MakeCode to sense, think and act as they complete fun activities and challenges. Robot soccer anyone?
Facilitated by Aisha Steege, Engineering Lead at John Deere

AWS DeepRacer
Students and mentors will form teams and compete as they train and evaluate reinforcement learning (RL) models in Amazon Web Services. After simulation, teams will deploy their models to an AWS DeepRacer vehicle for autonomous driving around a track.
Facilitated by Kevin Smith

Agile & Software Development
Tech Camp students in their last year of the program will be introduced to the various methods and tools of Agile as they develop a role-based software product “for management.” Technical mentors will be assigned to a small team of students as they work to mob program a prototype using front-end web development tools.
Facilitated by Cecil Williams, Director of Training at Industrial Logic Inc.

Lunch

12:00 noon to 1:00 pm

TBD

Group Challenge

12:20 pm to 1:00 pm

Projectile Launcher

Technology Exploration Sessions

9:00 am to 12:00 noon

Check your registration packet for your specific session assignment.

Physical Computing with micro:bit
First-time Tech Camp students are introduced to the BBC micro:bit computer and its capabilities in this technology exploration session on physical computing.
Facilitated by JJ Sandvig, Director of Product Engineering at Bunchball

Design Thinking and User Experience
Students will explore how companies like Apple and Google design awesome products by learning about solving problems and validating ideas through the proven process of design thinking.
Facilitated by Barry Closser, UX Consultant at LeanTECHniques

Python Graphics
Students will learn basic Python syntax and utilize the Turtle feature to build creative projects, with an emphasis on expression and customizing drawings.
Facilitated by 

Cybersecurity
Being Social in Cyber Security is key. Students will learn about social engineering, methods used, and how to avoid it.
Facilitated by Katie Hoff, Cyber Security Specialist and Erin Reese, Security Awareness Enthusiast with Falkor Security

Agile & Software Development
Tech Camp students in their last year of the program will be introduced to the various methods and tools of Agile as they develop a role-based software product “for management.” Technical mentors will be assigned to a small team of students as they work to mob program a prototype using front-end web development tools.
Facilitated by Cecil Williams, Director of Training at Industrial Logic Inc.

Lunch & Group Pictures

12:00 noon to 1:00 pm

Lunch TBD

Wear your Tech Camp 2024 shirt with all your new friends as we get some snaps.

Closing Session

1:00 to 3:00 pm

In this closing camp session, attendees will hear the story of the Chief Technology Officer from a local FinTech startup. The closing session will also include special recognition of seniors and scholarship recipients as well as student project demonstrations from Tech Camp 2024. Family is invited.
Remarks by
Address by
Facilitated by 

Celebration

After closing ceremony

Celebrate camp and enjoy some yummy cake! Family is invited.