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15 Free Microsoft Summer Camps For Kids

Did you know that Microsoft retail stores nationwide offer several free technology summer camp for kids called YouthSpark?  YouthSpark Camps get kids of all ages coding, creating games and apps, and having a blast in the process.  Participants learn the latest technology from Microsoft while making new friends, completing creative projects, and gaining new skills that prepare them for the future.

The camps are appropriate for children ages 6 and up.   Each store hosts a different camp depending upon the age and interest level of your child.  Every camp participant under 17 years of age must also provide a signed Participation Agreement and remain in the Microsoft Store for the duration of the event.  Here is a list of YouthSpark Summer Camps for 2019.

2019 Microsoft Summer Camps For Kids

Does your child love computers? Check out this list of 15 free Microsoft Summer Camps nationwide for children ages 6-17 years old.  #homeschooling #homeschool #education #microsoft #summer #summeractivities #kidsactivities #stem #steam

Each camp – from programming robots to speak to filming, editing and premiering a movie – was developed by experts in the field and with input from Microsoft store associates, all dedicated to equipping students with the digital skills they need to succeed when they pursue any career.

Harry Potter Creative Coding Workshops

In this free camp series students learn to make and then hack “spells” with the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit wand. While they have fun with the wand, they will be exploring coding concepts such as algorithm, loops, and debugging.  Participants work individually and in pairs to prepare for and compete in a group hack-a-thon using the wand, all while learning to define basic coding concepts creatively bug and debug their own coding projects and understand “hacking for good” in coding

  • Ages: 6+, 8+
  • Duration: 2, 2-hour sessions

Gaming Summer Camp – Grow Your Passion For Gaming and Learn Positive Life Kkills

This free camp offers students lessons in developing positive life skills like teamwork, communication, and resilience via group discussions and unplugged activities.  Each session features a fun competitive gaming team tournament with Rocket League that helps reinforce the camp’s learning objectives and puts gaming skills to the test.  By the end of this camp, participants will have learned to develop and apply life skills to gaming and their day-to-day, discussed tips and created goals for developing healthy lifestyle habits and celebrated the gaming tournament winners.

  • Ages: 8+
  • Duration: 4, 2-hour sessions

Create Your Own Video Game with MakeCode

In this free workshop students use block coding to create a video game with MakeCode Arcade. Students learn fundamental game and coding concepts—like sprites, variables, and coordinates—and use their new skills to create and customize a playable game.  By the end of the workshop, students will have learned and used key game design and coding concepts, shared their games with a partner for inspiration and published their game via URL so they can continue to play and develop it after the workshop.

  • Ages: 8+
  • Duration: 1, 2-hour session or 4, 2-hour sessions (depends upon location)

Get Creative with 3D in Windows 10 Camp, ages 8+

The world we live in is multidimensional, so shouldn’t our art be as well?  Students will bring their imaginations to life by learning Paint 3D in Windows 10.  This free four-part camp offers a high-energy, collaborative environment for participants to fuel their creativity and learn key tools and features of 3D in Windows 10.  At the end of the camp, participants will have learned the fundamentals of the Paint 3D app and all about the Remix3D.com communit, learned how to express their ideas in three dimensions by creating their own 3D designs and created a group story illustrated with participants’ 3D art.  No prior experience with 3D in Windows 10 is required.
  • Ages: 8+
  • Duration: 4, 2-hour sessions

Get Creative with Ohbot The Talking Robot

Register your students for this free two-day, two-hour camp teaching students robotics and coding basics using Ohbot the talking robot.
  • Ages: 8+
  • Duration: 2, 2-hour sessions

Make Hustle Happen: Start Your Own Business or Champion a Cause

Learn from NFL heroes how to follow your passion, start your own business, and create positive change in your community.  In this freeworkshop, students learn how NFL players “make hustle happen” through side businesses and collaboration to serve a cause they care about.  Participants will brainstorm ideas for their own side hustle or a supporting a cause, then draft an action plan using Windows 10.  At the end of the workshop, students present their action plans and get the inspiration they need to execute next steps.  Students learn how to research and decide on a small business idea or a social issue to support, turn an idea into a clear and executable action plan and build a toolkit for school and home projects using Windows 10 tools.  No prior experience with Windows tools necessary.

  • Ages: 13+
  • Duration: 1, 2-hour sessions

Literacy Skills For Emerging Readers

In this free workshop emerging readers ages 6 and up will love building confidence and improving their reading comprehension with fun, interactive activities. They will be introduced to Immersive Reader in OneNote for Windows 10, a free application that provides proven techniques to improve reading skills.  By the end of the workshop, students will master key tools that read text out loud, break it into syllables, and increase spacing between lines and letters.  They will also read and illustrate stories and tackle challenging new books they wouldn’t be able to on their own.

  • Ages: 6+
  • Duration: 1, 2-hour session

Boost Your Reading Confidence and Literacy Tools, Ages 8+

In this free workshop, fluent and early fluent readers ages 8 and up will have a blast with creative activities aimed to strengthen their reading skills. Students will explore the powerful reading tools found in the Immersive Reader in OneNote for Windows 10.  This free application increases reading comprehension and encourages independent reading at home and at school.  By the end of the workshop, students will read and collaborate on story building with the Immersive Reader in OneNote. explore tools that help improve focus while reading, identify parts of speech, and read text out loud and be motivated to tackle reading on their own with the help of OneNote’s Immersive Reader.

  • Ages: 6+
  • Duration: 1, 2-hour session

Creating Connections with Evan Hansen

Microsoft Store and the Tony award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen are partnering to provide a free, two-hour workshop for students who want to authentically connect to themselves, friends, family, and their communities.  Dear Evan Hansen has received critical acclaim and has inspired conversation about mental health and the perils of living in a society hyperconnected by social media, which can often feel lonely.  Workshop participants will define what it means to make authentic connections and explore ways to create those connections. Students choose how they want to connect and will use Microsoft tools to research and create an actionable plan for reaching out.  In this workshop, participants will define what making a connection means to them, demonstrate turning goals into a clear and meaningful action plan and use Office 365 especially the latest features in PowerPoint and Windows 10 apps to research, create, and share their action plan.

  • Ages: 13+
  • Duration: 1, 2-hour session

Rise of a Hero Fresh Paint Event

Students will learn to create and share their own digital art with the Fresh Paint app for Windows 10.  They’ll explore the basics of Fresh Paint, using life like oil and watercolors, pastels, and more to craft their own creations.  At the end of the workshop, participants will have the chance to use their new skills to create artwork around the “Rise of a Hero” theme from Captain Marvel.

  • Ages: K-12
  • Duration: 1, 2-hour session

Make Your Own Movie With 3D & Mixed Reality

This camp provides students with access to Microsoft’s latest 3D drawing and movie-making technology.  From character development and storyboarding to shooting and editing, students learn how to create their own movie and are encouraged to invite friends and family to their Microsoft Store hosted movie premiere at the end of the camp.

  • Ages: 8+
  • Duration: 4, 2-hour sessions

Start Your Own Business

Success has no boundaries!  This free four-session camp series helps students turn their passion into a great entrepreneurial business idea. Participants get guidance developing their ideas into a robust business plan and a polished pitch ready to share with the world.  Each two-hour session takes students through a series of engaging hands-on group activities to introduce key business concepts.  During the final session, participants will have the opportunity to present their complete business plan for feedback and insight.

  • Ages: 8-12
  • Duration: 4, 2-hour sessions

Create a Difference in Your World

In this four-day, 2-hour camp series, students ages eight and up research and identify a cause they care about in their local community, and create action plans to fundraise, volunteer, or get the word out about their personal cause.  By the end of camp, students will learn to research areas of interest, develop personal passions and understand new ways to make connections with others and gain new skills with Microsoft Office and Windows 10 applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint Cortana and Photos.

  • Ages: 8+
  • Duration: 4, 2-hour sessions

Beginners Fun with Computers and Coding

In this free workshop, students will learn the basics about how computers work and have fun with hands-on introductory coding activities.  By the end of the workshop, participants will complete basic coding challenges, understand the essentials about how computers work and turn the tables and “teach” adults how to complete a coding activity.

  • Ages: 6-8
  • Duration: 1, 2-hour session

STEM Saturdays

Your local Microsoft Store invites parents and students to participate in hands-on STEM learning experiences every Saturday. Projects are designed for 11 to 14 year olds, and also cater to younger students with parental support.

  • Ages: 11-14
  • Duration:  1, 2-hour session

Does your child love computers? Check out this list of 15 free Microsoft YouthSpark Camps nationwide for children ages 6-18 years old.

Register For A Microsoft Summer Camp For Kids

Registration is now open for all of Microsoft’s Summer Camps for Kids!  Parents may register their children either online or in-person at Microsoft Store locations across the U.S.  Summer Camps will take place starting in late May through August, and specific dates and times will depend on your local store and school schedules.

Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. If you try to sign your child up and find out that the class is full, give the store a call and ask them if they have a wait list.  A little bit of resilience can go a long way when registering your children for a free class.

Happy Field Tripping!

Jilleen

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Elaine Y

Tuesday 30th of May 2017

I don't see the ozobots at all in South Coast or Los Cerritos locations.

Jilleen

Tuesday 30th of May 2017

Not all classes are offered at all the same locations. Each store offers different ones.

Sue E

Monday 30th of May 2016

This is a GREAT opportunity for any child or teenager!! A lot of kids now-a-days are so technology smart that this would be perfect for them to widen their horizons!! A young mind is fresh and ripe for picking & I will pass this on. This just might be a child's dream come true IF they are truly committed!! AWESOME & THANKS for sharing ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป