This topic came up on my kid’s school listserv and I thought it would be good to post it here for other parents in the DMV:
In Person Classes
- Capital City Robotics is a good intro to Python and coding. Their Mission: To empower underrepresented students by facilitating access to STEM education through robotics engineering and computer science. We aspire to not only foster technical acumen but also nurture workforce skills including leadership, teamwork, and effective communication, thus shaping well-rounded future leaders.
- Booleangirl.org Boolean Girl is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 to educate girls to code, build, invent and animate. They provide girls-only and co-ed classes, camps, and online education.
- The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) created the Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK) to inspire Black students with the opportunities and wonder of the STEM field. NSBE SEEK is a free, three-week summer program that offers a fun and engaging educational experience for students in grades 3–5. NSBE SEEK aims to provide high-quality learning opportunities to underrepresented students who otherwise may not have access to a robust STEM education. They offer online resources at nsbe.org and a virtual camp for girls only.
Online Classes
- Microsoft MakeCode Arcade (https://arcade.makecode.com/). It’s free, has lots of guided materials, lots of material for teachers and parents who want to support usage, and it’s gives a good, easy introduction to Python and JavaScript.
- For young learners, Code Spark is a really good app. It teaches coding concepts with a drag-and-drop interface.
- Scratch Jr With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) can program their own interactive stories and games. In the process, they learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively on the computer.
- Coding with Kids traveling instructors have been bringing our After-school Programs to all areas of Washington D.C. (NE, NW, SE, SW) since 2019. We provide all levels of coding classes for students from kindergarten through high school, from beginners to advanced. We are excited about all the students, schools, and organizations that we have made contact with here in the DMV and look forward to continuing to grow. If your child’s school is not participating in our program, feel free to reach out to us and we will take it from there! Last but not least, we have to mention our busiest season of the year, the summer break! Summer Camps are a great opportunity for young coders to try new things. With so many options available from robotics to game development, from Minecraft to Unity, there is a choice for all ages 5-18! Registrations for summer programs open as soon as January. Check them out now!
NOTE I’LL BE UPDATING THIS AS I FIND MORE RESOURCES.