Category Archives: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

The Ultimate Guide to Summer STEM Camps for Kids: Unlocking the Future Through Education

Summer is just around the corner, and many parents are looking for fun and enriching activities for their kids. If you’re a parent looking for something that will not only keep your child engaged but also unlock his or her future potential, here are some key points you should consider before choosing a Summer STEM Camp for your child this summer.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and it encompasses a wide range of fields and skills that are critical to success in the 21st century. STEM education is becoming increasingly important as technology advances and the job market shifts towards more STEM-based careers. By enrolling your child in a summer STEM camp, you can give them a head start on developing the skills they will need to thrive in the future.

What are the benefits of Summer STEM Camps?

Summer STEM camps provide numerous benefits for children of all ages. Here are just a few:

Summer STEM Camps
  • Hands-on learning opportunities: STEM education is all about learning through doing. Summer STEM camps provide children with the chance to work on real-world projects, conduct experiments, and solve problems in a hands-on and interactive environment.
  • Boosting critical thinking and problem-solving skills: STEM education done correctly requires children to think critically and solve complex problems. By participating in a summer STEM camp, children can develop their analytical and problem-solving skills, which will be valuable in all aspects of their lives.
  • Teamwork and communication skills: STEM projects often require teamwork and collaboration. By working with other children in a summer STEM camp, children will learn how to communicate effectively, work as part of a team, and build leadership skills.
  • Inspires creativity and innovation: STEM education encourages children to be creative and innovative. By participating in a summer STEM camp, children will be exposed to new ideas and technologies that will inspire their curiosity and creativity.

How to Choose the Right Summer STEM Camp for Your Child?

Choosing the right summer STEM camp for your child can be a daunting task. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:

  • Consider your child’s interests: Does your child have a particular interest in science, technology, engineering, or math? Look for a summer STEM camp that aligns with their interests and passions. Are they into tech, hands-on activities, roller coasters, legos, robots, making games, etc? Are arts and design involved in some ways?
  • Age range and skill level: Make sure the camp is appropriate for your child’s age and skill level. Some camps are geared towards younger children, while others are more advanced and/or cater to older children with a higher level of knowledge and experience.
  • Safety and supervision: Ensure that the camp has proper safety measures in place and that there are qualified instructors and counselors supervising the children. Look for camps that have good/great ratings by the public, are accredited, or have a good safety record.
  • Location and transportation: Consider the camp’s location and whether transportation is provided or if you’ll need to arrange for transportation yourself. Make sure the camp’s location is convenient for you and your child.

Summer STEM camps are a fantastic option for parents looking to provide their children with an engaging and educational summer experience. Explore hands-on learning opportunities, build critical thinking and problem-solving skills, encourage teamwork and communication, and inspire creativity and innovation. 

By choosing the right summer STEM camp for your child, you can give them a head start on developing the skills they need to succeed in the future. Go ahead and check out our multiple camp locations and see if there’s one that’s right for your child. You never know, it could be the start of an exciting journey towards a bright and rewarding future in STEM and innovation!

Education, Uncategorized

Code like a girl!

Does your daughter love any STEM subject? Girls who learn how to code may help preserve and boost their confidence. Here’s why and how to start coding like a girl:

Girls have been historically underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields. According to a recent study from Florida State University, many young girls who love STEM subjects may wind up abandoning these interests before high school or college. 

The study shows that part of the problem resides in a tendency among girls to underrate their own abilities in subjects like math or engineering, which later leads them to pursue other interests instead. That’s why girls need extra encouragement regarding STEM interests. And the sooner the better because often girls begin to drift away from their STEM-related interests as early as fifth or sixth grade.

That’s a shame because STEM education and careers play a vital role in shaping the future of our world and improving the quality of life for people. It also means that many highly-intelligent girls won’t explore their talents in the job market for these fields—ones that typically offer excellent job security and higher-than-average salaries.

Code like a girl

So here are some reasons why it’s important for girls to be encouraged and supported in STEM:

Diversity:

Women bring unique perspectives, experiences and problem-solving skills to STEM fields. Gender diversity leads to a more innovative and effective work environment.

Closing the Gender Pay Gap:

Women who work in STEM careers often earn higher salaries than those in non-STEM fields, helping to close the gender pay gap.

Improving the Representation of Women in Leadership Positions:

Encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers can help increase the representation of women in leadership positions, leading to a more balanced and inclusive workplace culture.

Solving Global Challenges:

STEM fields are at the forefront of solving some of the world’s biggest challenges, such as climate change and access to healthcare. By encouraging girls to participate in STEM, we are giving them the tools to make a positive impact on the world.

Encouraging Creativity and Innovation:

STEM careers encourage creativity and innovation, helping girls to develop important skills that can be applied in many different fields.

In conclusion, it’s essential to support and encourage both boys and girls to pursue STEM education and careers. Exposing children to different learning experiences increases the opportunities for them to find the right fit for what they like to do. By doing so, we can create a more diverse, equitable, and innovative future. Check out our STEM classes and camps so your daughter can code like a girl!

Uncategorized

Robot Building and Coding for kids

Robot building and coding and programming are two activities that are becoming increasingly popular among kids, and for good reason. Not only are they fun and engaging, but they also provide a number of benefits that can help kids develop important skills for the future.

First, let’s talk about robot building

When kids build robots, they are engaging in hands-on learning that allows them to apply concepts they have learned in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classes. For example, they can learn about how gears and motors work, how to use sensors, and how to program their robot to perform specific tasks. This hands-on learning approach is more effective than traditional classroom learning because it allows kids to see the practical application of what they have learned. This is why we focus so much on hands-on activities and project-based learning and exploration at CodeREV STEM Camps.

gorls building robots

In addition, robot building helps kids develop problem-solving skills. Building a robot requires kids to think critically and creatively to solve problems that arise during the building process. For example, they might have to figure out how to make their robot move in a straight line or how to make it respond to certain sensors. By working through these challenges, kids learn how to break down problems into smaller parts, think logically, and come up with creative solutions.

Another great thing about robot building is that it helps kids develop teamwork skills. Often, kids work in groups to build robots, like campers do at CodeREV STEM Camps, which means they have to communicate effectively, share ideas, and collaborate to achieve a common goal. This is a valuable skill that will serve them well in the future, whether they pursue a career in STEM or not.

Now let’s talk about coding and programming

Coding and programming are essential skills for the future, as technology is clearly becoming an increasingly important part of our lives. By learning how to code, kids can create interactive games, animations, and other digital projects. They can also create programs that can solve problems, such as sorting a list of numbers or analyzing data.

Coding also helps kids develop problem-solving skills, just like robot building. When kids code, they have to think critically and creatively to solve problems that arise during the coding process. For example, they might have to figure out how to make a character move in a game or how to make a program respond to user input. By working through these challenges, kids learn how to break down problems into smaller parts, think logically, and come up with creative solutions.

kids coding at camp

Another great thing about coding and programming is that it helps kids develop computational thinking skills. Computational thinking is a problem-solving approach that involves breaking down a problem into smaller parts, creating a plan to solve the problem, and testing the plan to see if it works. This is an essential skill for the future, as more and more jobs require the ability to work with complex data and solve problems using technology.

Additionally, coding and programming help kids develop CREATIVITY. With coding, kids can create their own games, animations and digital projects, they can express themselves in unique ways and turn their imagination into reality. It also helps them in understanding the logic behind digital products and how they are made, which in return can help them in creating better designs and products. Thus, turning our kids into active creators (rather than passive consumers)!

In conclusion

Finally, coding and programming can help kids develop persistence and determination. Learning to code can be challenging, and kids will inevitably encounter problems and errors along the way. However, by learning to persist in the face of these challenges, kids can develop determination and a “can-do” attitude that will serve them well in the future.

In conclusion, robot building and coding and programming are two activities that are not only fun and engaging for kids but also provide a number of benefits that can help kids develop important skills for the future. From hands-on learning, problem-solving, teamwork, computational thinking, creativity, persistence, and determination, these activities offer a wealth of opportunities for kids to learn and grow while helping them prepare for the future.

Uncategorized

Summer Tech Camp 2022

Is your child into computers, video games, and technology? But are you concerned about too much unsupervised screen time? Attending a summer tech camp with this focus is actually a great way for kids to explore this interest while living a new experience with kids their age and expert instructors to guide them in a safe and constructive environment that can direct their interests towards more productive activities. 

While your child learns how to create games, sites and applications with some of their favorite games like Minecraft or Roblox, they have the opportunity to learn completely new languages while exercising their logic. When you learn a new language like Java, Python, Javascript, Lua or other forms of code, you are learning a new way to think and solve problems.

By understanding how technology around them works, kids also learn to use and grow skills and qualities for the rest of their life, especially as technology’s prevalence continues to grow in the workplace. Here are some of the in-person and virtual classes your child can sign up for in CodeREV’s Summer Tech Camp 2022:

Minecraft Level Design & Engineering

Summer Tech Camps - Minecraft

Ages 6-11

Grades 1-2; 3-5

In our most popular class for this age group, students learn the ins and outs of level design and game design while learning to engineer in Minecraft by using Red Stone. Students even learn basic code commands too! This class offers thrills AND education alike as students explore their inner Da Vinci in a STEM format perfect for Minecraft lovers!

**Level 2** Dives into more complex Redstone, level design, and commands

Adventures in Programming

Summer Tech Camp - Adventures in Programming

Ages 6-9

Grades 1-2; 3-5

Students adventure through code as they begin exploring coding fundamentals by making games and animations using block-based coding in softwares such as Pencilcode, Scratch, Kodu and more. No prior typing experience or coding experience required. Kids sculpt their coding muscles in this adventure and leave having learned to code!!

**LEVEL 2** Level 2 dives deeper into coding concepts and assumes prior coding experience.

MathCraft

Summer Tech Camp - Mathcraft

Ages 6-10

Grades 1-2; 3-5

Can you say win-win?! MathCraft is the class where both parents and students truly win as parents get to watch their students thrilled to do math! This class is a must for any parents who want their kids to enjoy math more and learn math more deeply. Students actually build math problems inside the game of Minecraft, and solve them using our one-of-a-kind, amazing MathCraft program. CodeREV is currently training teachers across America in this program, and even presented this groundbreaking class at conferences such as Minecon and the renowned ISTE EdTech conference! Math content is scaffolded so students work with their grade level relevant math to match age and ability.

Game Design

Summer Tech Camp - Game Design

Ages 8-10

Grades 3-5

Enter the world of Game Design, where students build amazing games. Students create multi-level games and learn to use programming concepts such as local and global variables, and the basics of object-oriented programming. We also teach students to animate characters to model whatever they want and can create games that look and feel great. Check out our Game Design video reel to view student work!

Roblox Studio Game Design (Micro)

Summer Tech Camp - Roblox

Ages 8-10

Grades 2-4

Roblox is one of the hottest places in the universe to make games, with cutting-edge graphics and new, amazing, game-building tools. In our Roblox Game Design course, kids use Roblox’s built-in editor to create 3D worlds and then use the popular LUA coding language to code game actions, elements and mechanics. CodeREV Roblox campers also learn how to publish and share their game to the Roblox community worldwide!

**Level 2** Assumes prior Roblox coding experience and focuses on building more complex games (such as simulators), game actions, and effects.

See more classes

Save your spot for Summer Tech Camp and use code SUMMER22 to get 10% OFF on virtual or in-person camp*

*Offer valid through May 15.

Coding Education, Education, Skills, Uncategorized

Computer Science Learning Statistics

With COVID-19, Computer science education has become more important than ever. The pandemic has highlighted our need for computing use and its power to help us all innovate and adapt. From small businesses to families, companies, and education, we all relied on the advantages of technology to survive unprecedented times. Yet, at the same time, it has shown the disparities, especially, in schools to provide students with computer education.

Today, computing-related jobs are the number one source of new wages in the U.S. economy. In fact, there are currently 400,000 open computing jobs across the United States. Yet, the problem is that the education system as a whole still isn’t actually providing the needed access to this crucial subject.

Take a look at some of the most relevant statistics about Computer Science taken from the Annual report on K-12 computer science in the United States.

Every child should have the opportunity to access high quality computer science lessons that will eventually help them develop foundational 21st-century skills for their future. Sometimes, the best way to get this is by learning from experts in the field, like the people who may teach after school enrichment and camps. Check our After-School Classes where your child will find coding, design, animation, math and many other computational skills to explore in a safe environment guided by our industry expert mentors.

Uncategorized

Roblox: what is it and why is it so popular?

“Two-thirds of all U.S. kids between 9 and 12 years old use Roblox, and it’s played by a third of all Americans under the age of 16” (Roblox Corporation, 2020). Roblox has been recognized as the world’s most popular game you’ve never heard of. Actually, this online game recently exceeded Minecraft’s user numbers. But what is Roblox about and why has it become so popular?

What is Roblox about?

Roblox launched in September 2006 and it advertises itself as an ‘Imagination Platform’. With 64 million players every month and an estimated total of 178 million accounts on the platform, Roblox is one of the most popular online games worldwide. What makes it different from any other game in the industry is that the games are made by its users. A site created for gamers by gamers. 

On Roblox, the fun doesn’t just come from playing the game, it comes from making the game. Currently, the official Roblox website states that its users have published over 20 million games on the platform. Besides being a place to let your imagination run free, Roblox is made for socializing. On Roblox, users are encouraged to make friends with other online players while creating their own 3D worlds. The site inspires its users to “Imagine, socialize, chat, play, create, interact and relate with others in many ways.” 

Roblox for kids

Because of its socializing nature, Roblox has been used to stay connected with friends during the pandemic. In fact, in March 2020 Roblox saw a 40 percent increase in users. And just three months later, that number grew from “a third” to “over half” of all Americans under 16 years old. Besides the unique characteristics that make this game incredibly popular, there are other good reasons why it’s worth exploring it.

Roblox is a gateway to code

Roblox isn’t just a fun way to create 3D worlds and play, it can be a useful tool to introduce children to the fundamentals of coding according to their age. The coding language used in Roblox is called Lua. This is an extremely powerful and versatile language for young children and teens, as well as adults. Lua is a popular and easy-to-learn programming language used in many programs apart from Roblox. For example, World of Warcraft, a very popular game, has Lua embedded in it. 

Almost all of the features you see in Roblox are coded with Lua. Your child can master variables, functions and events just by building in Roblox. Roblox Studio allows players to write their own written lines of code to create and control individual objects. The combination of visual world-building options, as well as pre-set shapes and menus, lets players explore code and grow more confident as they create more complex and exciting things. 

STEM skills

Unlike what we’ve usually been told, video games can help develop useful skills in children. The unlimited creative potential that Roblox has along with its educational uses create a perfect duo to develop STEAM skills. Designing 3D worlds has everything to do with engineering and design. Coding and mathematics often go hand in hand. Coding is the language of the future and as our world today is heavily reliant on technology, being familiar with how hardware and software work can be a great benefit across nearly all industries. 

All in all, learning through a familiar and enjoyable tool like Roblox can make concepts involving engineering, math, science and technology much easier to understand and exciting to learn. Also, when playing the game or building in it, basic life skills like logic, creativity, problem-solving and decision-making are nearly constantly being practiced. This is why schools are encouraging the use of Roblox, a favorite of many kids, to teach in a more engaging way. You might want to check our Roblox Studio Game Design After-School Class., taught by expert game designers who have taught hundreds of kids coding and game design using this amazing platform.

Future opportunities

As a consequence of developing STEM skills, children can find an entry door to enroll in successful career paths and job opportunities. Most careers and jobs these days will require you to have the aforementioned skills. Whether it is for an outright STEM related field, a sales position, or even a field that leans more on the creative side, your child will need to work on their STEM skills.

Also, computer jobs are growing at over twice the national average. So, rather than being a “trendy” interest, coding is now becoming a vital skill set. Coding specialists and computer programmers are often well-paid professionals. And as the world continues to turn more and more digital,  this will become increasingly common.


There are plenty of benefits to exploring this popular game. Of course, it is always important to keep track of how your child uses this kind of online tool. Using some guidance when playing the game can really improve their learning experience. Exploring Roblox in a structured, safe and fun environment like our after-school Roblox classes might be the best option for you and your child.

Uncategorized

What is 3D Modeling?

Think Shrek, Lord of the Rings, the recent Star Wars – what do these blockbuster hits have in common? They all unleash the power of 3D modeling and design! 

Whether your child likes 3D animated movies, video games or design in general, learning to 3D model can become their new passion. But, what is 3D modeling and why is it a good choice for kids to learn?

3D modeling is a computer graphic technique to create a 3D digital representation of any object or surface. To create a 3D model, you can use special software like Blender, Tinkercad or Maya to manipulate the vertices (points in virtual space) that create a mesh. This group of vertices in a mesh form a 3D object.

3D modeling example

The fundamental base of 3D models are the mesh that can be modified to create any form you want. This process allows you to create digital objects that can be fully animated. This makes this technique an essential tool to develop characters, animations and special effects.

What is 3D modeling used for?

Since you can create almost anything with 3D models, they can be used for a great variety of applications. You will find 3D models in video games, movies, robotics, architecture, illustration, engineering, advertising, fashion, medicine and more!

Therefore, 3D modeling has become an essential skill of many creative and technological careers. For example, game designers, animators and developers can bring their ideas to life using the power of 3D models. Architects and engineers use it to plan, design and preview the details of their work. And almost every Hollywood movie creates their amazing special effects using 3D models and animation.

3D modeling example 2

Interesting fact: Game of Thrones used 3D modeling and animation to mock up their episodes before filming them.

Why is it a good choice for kids to learn?

Because of the multiple applications that 3D modeling has, it has increased its value and its demand in the job market. Though 3D modeling and animation is still a growing industry, job opportunities and related career options continue to grow in the future.

New uses and applications of 3D models continue to be found every day in different areas. This is how it becomes a useful tool for young people to apply in the future, whatever career path they decide to choose.

Besides the extensive market for 3D modelers and animators and future career opportunities, 3D modeling itself develops essential skills for kids’ lives. This technique boosts creativity and problem-solving skills. Visual and geometrical skills are greatly stimulated when learning to 3D model.

So let your child unleash their inner Da Vinci or Michelangelo by exploring 3D models and animation. This amazing skill will allow them to have fun building 3D models of whatever they can imagine, while adding value to their future careers. 

If your child is into video games, design or engineering, feel free to explore our 3D modeling and animation online class specially designed for kids ages 10 to 14. 

Uncategorized

Is Minecraft really educational?

Since its release in 2011, Minecraft has become one of the most popular games ever made. It has a community of over 91 million players, and most of them are children and teenagers. But the real question is, how has a game like this became so good for education?

First of all, we need to really understand what Minecraft is. As we mentioned before, a decade after its release it’s one of the most popular games among children. What makes this game stand out from other online video games is the freedom it gives to its users.

What makes Minecraft different?

While the majority of video games give an objective or a plot to their players, Minecraft instead gives no instructions at all. The game allows you to figure out what you want to do in its world, giving complete creative freedom in what is called a sandbox format (think kids in a sandbox making their own creations in an open-ended way).

The world of Minecraft is completely made from 3D blocks; these blocks can be broken and picked up to build incredible structures. That’s why it is so often referred to as digital LEGOS as children can create anything they can imagine with these blocks. 

But that’s not all – players can edit source code that makes up Minecraft with mods (modifications) to change the game behavior or use its built in command line to write functions with coordinates, parameters, variables, conditional statements, and more to make special things happen in the game. Furthermore, players can modify the program using Java code and that’s when they start really diving deeper into code while playing their favorite game.

Finally, the game has a redstone system built into it that follows the same logic and rules as real engineering circuitry. So tapping into building mechanics and electronics inside of the game by learning to use its redstone system teaches kids the basics of engineering and circuits. Kids can use this to create anything from real computers inside the game to roller coasters, trap doors, firework displays, and even Rude Goldberg machines.

Is Minecraft really educational?

Now that we have a better understanding of how Minecraft works, let’s check some of the benefits of Minecraft!

Top reasons why Minecraft is good for education

Many of the reasons why kids love Minecraft are also the reasons why it is considered beneficial for their development. Minecraft engages their minds and lets them explore their creativity, problem solving skills, teamwork and even programming.

Minecraft encourages creativity

Probably one of the strongest benefits that Minecraft offers is its endless creative opportunities. With an average of 921.6 quadrillion blocks per world, children can really create anything that comes to their minds. Encouraging creativity at young ages plays an essential role in child development. Creativity allows children to find innovative solutions, new ways of doing things and create opportunities.

If your child wants to create an amusement park with giant dragons, then they can do it! The only restriction is that they have to find a way to do it with the famous building blocks (and perhaps some engineering and code). It’s all possible in Minecraft as this popular article in Edutopia explains.  

Minecraft reinforces problem solving skills

What makes Minecraft great to reinforce problem solving skills is that it offers an incredible amount of freedom to make decisions. This open ended problem-solving can help sharpen how well a child can face obstacles. Whether those problems are hypothetical or real life situations. Minecraft can encourage and expand this type of thinking. As the game allows players to set their own rules, players have freedom to find creative ways to solve problems that can appear while they’re creating projects in the game. 

So children can find themselves in situations where they must build a shelter, find food or escape from some fun monster by creating the solution on their own. This encourages children to think outside of the box to figure out how to solve complex situations. This can help children get used to quickly and efficiently solve real-world problems and use critical thinking while doing so. Even schools have noticed the potential in Minecraft including it into their classrooms as you can read here.

Minecraft introduces programming skills

Minecraft is an excellent tool to introduce children to programming, as it opens the door to fundamentals of coding. Because of the possibilities it gives to customize its code in Java, Minecraft contributes to developing this key learning skill.

It is important to highlight that Minecraft won’t exactly teach a programming language, but it introduces basic coding functions. Children can learn functions like IF, THEN, ELSE, and END which can be used to build all kinds of actions and mechanisms. Kids can deepen their programming skills by taking classes with experts and learn to customize the code to create effects. Some more eager and self motivated kids can even learn a lot of this on their own.

In fact, Minecraft has been the initial step for many video game designers and programmers. Kids can progress from coding their first automations in the game to developing complex game actions.

Conclusion

Now we hope you have a better idea about how Minecraft can be a really useful educational tool for children. Learning with it can prepare kids for the future by building core skills like critical thinking, problem solving and creativity. It can also even be an amazing tool to learn other skills such as math (think 3 dimensional geometry!)

To take learning in Minecraft to the next level, you can explore some of CodeREV Kids’ classes. Your child can start turning their passion into real promise!

Uncategorized

The Worldwide Quest to Get More Women Involved in Computing Jobs

There’s no secret that more men than women currently work in computing jobs but what many people in the U.S. don’t realize is that this is by and large a global problem. A recent article titled ​CSIRO concerned with decline in young females studying computing details some of the concerns Australian officials have.

Asha Barbaschow writes, “The CSIRO’s Digital Careers education program has said it is alarmed at the lack of young females studying computer science at primary and secondary school, which is a national concern Australia needs to address if the country wants to meet the needs of the future workforce. In its report, Female participation in school computing: reversing the trend, Digital Careers says that social pressure, a lack of self-belief, and the perception that computer science is not suited for girls were identified as key factors influencing young female students.

To combat the social pressure influencing the decision of young females, the report suggests sustaining their interest in computing through intervention in years 7-8, which was highlighted as the time when participation and interest in such studies begins to decline. The report also found that while science, technology, mathematics, and science (STEM) studies have had a strong presence in mandatory schooling curriculum from kindergarten since the 1960s, computer science has not had the same exposure. The report did highlight that the percentage of women participating in STEM areas has been steadily increasing, however the number of women participating in computer science has continued to steadily decrease since the mid 1980s.

While university female participation rates are low, the report says that senior school female participation rates in computer education are lower still. “Student participation in senior high school computing subjects in Australia’s three most populous states, show a sustained decline from around 19,000 in 2007 to 13,000 in 2015,” the report says. In order to combat the skills shortage in females, Digital Careers suggests that initiatives linked to the school curriculum are most likely to be successful in normalising digital technologies subjects.”

At CodeREV we couldn’t agree more with the solutions outlined in this article: get girls involved at a younger age. That’s one of the reasons we’re so passionate about after-school programs and summer camps. Getting our kids involved in the fascinating world of coding and other computer technologies keeps their minds sharp and proves to them that they can do anything.

Uncategorized

Kansas City Understands the Importance of After-School Programs

There are many reasons after-school programs are so important for kids: they keep them off the street, they teach them valuable skills, and they give kids a sense of belonging. Based on a recent article on Kansas City’s KCUR, it appears the mayor of that fine city understands how important they are.

In an article titled Mayor Sly James Stresses Importance Of After-School And Summer Programs For Kids, Lisa Rodriguez writes, “Kansas City Mayor Sly James joined city leaders and educators from Missouri and Kansas Saturday at the Kauffman Foundation for the Municipal Summit on Afterschool and Expanded Learning to discuss the importance of after-school and summer programs for students. James says once students are out of school for the summer, there’s not always a lot for them to do — which he says puts them at risk for participating in dangerous activities.

James said across Missouri and Kansas, only 14 percent of school-aged kids participate in after-school events. “What are the other 86 percent doing? I will guarantee you that not all of the 86 percent are engaged in helping ladies across the street or carrying groceries out of stores… some of them are engaged in some pretty risky behaviors,” James says. As he welcomed the room full of city mayors, council people and education advocates, James praised programs like Mayor’s Nights and Turn The Page that he says keep young people safe and provide them with positive role models.

He says research shows getting more young people involved could reduce crime and keep them safer. “When our kids are involved in our summer programming, juvenile crime and juvenile victimization is down 18 percent,” James says. Joining James in leading the summit was Leawood, Kansas Mayor Peggy Dunn, who echoed many of James’ sentiments. “Research shows that if there were more opportunities, the youth would engage, they would be part of those,” Dunn says. She said she hoped that by hearing initiatives from other cities, everyone could come away with several ideas for summer and after-school programming.

The Municipal Summit on Afterschool and Expanded Learning is part of a series of summits hosted by the National League of Cities. They aim to connect leaders across the region so they can develop partnerships and build collaborative after-school systems.”

CodeREV believes strongly in the importance of both after-school activities and summer camps, which is why we’ve revolutionized them. Get in touch with us to learn more about how your kids can get involved.