Student Spotlight

Gamers Programming Academy A Camp Created and Operated by Brothers Jack, Billy, and Bobby Youstra

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Jack 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

“Respond promptly to mail, and don’t feel overwhelmed by how large the prospect of starting a camp is. Take it one piece at a time, and it’ll all be fine.”

proposed for the East Palo Alto library. Jack’s timing was perfect as the libraries were in the process of reconsidering their role in an increasingly digital world. Jack worked with the local library staff to launch two free three-day sessions in the summer of 2015, which were fully booked by local kids. He also worked with the staff to configure library computers so the kids could continue to program and develop their Minecraft mods after the camp concluded. Looking back at how the camp got started, Jack has learned a tremendous amount. He learned about teaching, marketing, customer service, hiring, management and paying taxes! So what advice would he give to someone contemplating starting their own camp? “Start early!” Jack suggested. “Marketing is best done at the beginning of January and throughout the month. This is where most of the customers are.” His advice also included, “Respond promptly to mail, and don’t feel overwhelmed by how large the prospect of starting a camp is. Take it one piece at a time, and it’ll all be fine.” In the summer of 2016, Jack accepted a summer research position at UC Davis and turned the camp over to Billy. Billy promptly hired classmate Kenny Akers ’19 to help lead the camps. As Billy took the reins from Jack, he shared his outlook for the camp. “Our plans depend on future demand. As we have been widely successful with our program of teaching kids Java with Minecraft, we are interested in improving that particular program right now. In the future, if there is interest in either diving deeper into the aspects of Java or learning Java through another game, we will explore how to create a program around that interest.” Billy is also very interested in the satisfaction of the campers. “Despite any challenges or lack of experience in coding beforehand, they were all able to succeed,” he said. “Every one of them came out of it smiling, with a new interest in coding and how it could affect the world around them.”

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1. Camp counselors from left to right, Kenny Akers ‘19, Billy Youstra ‘19, and Bobby Youstra. 2. Jack Youstra ‘17 holds a lecture session during camp. 3. Bobby Youstra and Kenny Akers assist students in the fun camp environment. 4. Campers get some one on one time with Billy, Bobby, and Kenny.