STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Gamers Programming Academy A Camp Created and Operated by Brothers Jack, Billy, and Bobby Youstra
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ack Youstra ’17 loved computer programming so much that he taught himself how to program in middle school and published an iOS app called ActionMath. Jack explained the app’s functionality. “It’s a math app that Elementary Scholars can use to do arithmetic exercises, and it sends the results to a teacher who can analyze the results of every student from the teacher’s desk and give targeted help.” After attending a programming camp in 2013 at Stanford, Jack decided to launch his own camp. The concept was to teach kids how to use Java by operating the popular game Minecraft as the programming platform. Kids would learn programming fundamentals to create their own content to the game, otherwise known as Minecraft mods. The hope was to convert the kids’ love of the game into enthusiasm for creating their own world and thereby introducing them to the creative possibilities of programming. Jack named his camp Gamers Programming Academy. In December 2013, Jack ran a test 3-day camp in his basement and expanded it to a few week-long sessions in the summer of 2014. He repeated that model, testing out new camps for iOS programming and advanced Java in December before rolling out a new slate in summer 2015. By then, the camps had grown to the point where he had booked several weeks and needed to hire staff, which included his brother Billy ’19 to run lunchtime and outdoor activities, his brother Bobby to help with IT, and Emma Erickson ’17 and Ryan Reiss ’17 to help with instruction. The grade level of the students ranged from 4th to 8th grade. The camp has included programming, development, lectures, lunch, Minecraft playtime and a field trip to Electronic Arts where a career programmer spoke with the campers. After seeing the camp become a success, Jack considered how to get these skills to kids who lacked a computer in their home, the funds or access to travel to his camp. He saw an opportunity to have local public schools or libraries serve as the home base for the camp. Jack contacted the San Mateo Superintendent of Schools and quickly got connected to the county head of libraries. A pilot program was
