EUGENE, Ore. — Starting in summer 2016, Lane Community College’s Spark Academy brings technology and arts-focused summer youth programming to Lane’s Downtown Campus in Eugene. Lane recognizes that to grow the sharpest minds of the next generation our youth need quality exposure to STEM and creative arts learning.
Hosted by Lane’s Continuing Education department, the Spark Academy offers June and July summer day camps on computers and coding, 3D game design and digital music. Appropriate for youth ages 10-15 entering fourth through eighth grades, the day camps will teach computer-based skills through fun activities that kids love, like video games and digital world and character development. In addition to tech skills, summer day camps are designed to encourage skill development in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving—all while having fun.
Both half-day and full-day camps begin June 20. These stimulating camps will include Adventures in Minecraft, Digital Music Making, 3D Level Design and more. Of the new venture, Interim Dean of Extended Learning Russ Pierson says, “This is so much more than mere day care for tweens. Spark Academy offers parents a safe and healthy environment for their kids to learn about what they love, all while developing capacity in the virtual-world along with those all-important real-world skills.”
“Coding and computer skills are absolutely essential for the workforce of tomorrow, and Eugene has a growing technology sector offering stable, good-paying jobs. LCC Spark Academy is one way we are supporting the local economy in the future, and our community today. It doesn’t hurt to know that the kids will be having so much fun while gaining these skills!” says Spark Academy Program Coordinator Bliss Newton.
Registration for the camps begins April 18 at www.ce.lanecc.edu with early bird pricing April 18 through 30. A limited number of partial scholarships are available, and complete camp and registration information can be found at www.lanecc.edu/ce/spark-academy or by calling (541) 463-6100.
For more information about Lane Community College:
Lane is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabilities Employer
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