7 minute read
Camps
CODING IS FOR MORE THAN JUST YOUR FAVORITE APP
UTD professor also aims to teach life skills to children ages 5 and up
By Greg Nielsen
People Newspapers
Coding camp students at the University of Texas at Dallas keep getting younger and younger.
UTD started with high school students in 2012 and expanded to include younger campers two years later. Now, coding camps options include children as young as 5 years old.
“We’re a public university, so we need to do the public good,” said Dr. Jey Veerasamy, an associate
Students learn coding and problem-solving skills through summer camps at The University of Texas at Dallas. Associate professor Dr. Jey Veerasamy is the director of UTD’s Center for Computer Science
Education & Outreach. (PHOTOS: COURTESY UTD)
professor who sees the potential for coding to benefit youth beyond computer applications.
As director of UTD’s Center for Computer Science Education & Outreach, he wanted to help children build critical thinking skills.
“We get these smart kids with good grades that will come in and be disappointed due to a lack of instant success,” Veerasamy said. “They’ve never been told that they are wrong or experienced trial and error.”
But coding camps demonstrate how working through mistakes is normal and advantageous, he said.
“It helps them by learning how to deal with being wrong and how they can learn from that and not take it personally,” Veerasamy said. “I’ve been coding for 35 years, and sometimes I get told I’m wrong by the computer. I don’t take it personally but learn how to fix it and not make the same mistake.”
The critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to do coding also apply to other fields such as the arts, he said.
Veerasamy hopes to combine
UTD’s coding program with a music program at another university. And for technically inclined children, the coding camps offer a huge upside, he said. “Some kids come in with zero knowledge, but they can climb to a near freshman in college-level of knowledge based on how many weeks they take.”
To reach a wide range of grade school students, UTD provides materials to schools in low-income neighborhoods and offers discounted camp rates to some families.
But young campers aren’t the only ones benefiting from the summer coding programs. UTD computer science students gain, too, as they staff the camps.
Leading camps takes college students beyond their technical skills to practicing and refining communication skills, Veerasamy said. It’s one thing to communicate peer to peer but another to impart that information to a child.
UTD’s international students, especially, have plenty to gain, he said. “They go from not introducing themselves and just typing away at the computer to overcoming their shyness and being friendly.”
SIGN UP FOR CAMP
Registration for the coding camps has already begun at events.circuitree.com. For more information, visit k12. utdallas.edu/summer/, email csk12@utdallas.edu, or text 214-924-2148
Hey College Students, Want to Spend Summer in Texas Parks? Apply Soon
What’s a history, chemistry, business, or education major who yearns to spend more time outdoors to do over the summer?
How about hanging out with Texas Game Wardens.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department encourages college students of all backgrounds and fields of study to apply for one of the 12 available openings to intern with Texas Game Wardens. But hurry, the deadline is March 31.
“This is a great opportunity for individuals who are curious about conservation law enforcement and interested in a higher level of community engagement,” said Lt. Rachel Kellner, Texas Game Warden program coordinator. “We provide college students with a realistic view of a game warden’s day-to-day activities, including time spent on patrol.”
While an internship is not necessary to become an official Texas Game Warden, Lt. Kellner noted the experience can be a helpful first step.
“Successfully completing an internship may booster a cadet applicant in the long run, but more importantly, it will enable students to understand the level of commitment that is required to protect the state’s wildlife and wild spaces,” Kellner said.
Find the application, eligibility requirements, specific locations, compensation, and additional information on the TPWD website, tpwd.texas.gov.
This year, applicants may only apply to a single position in a single county. The counties of Angelina, Aransas, Bexar, Brown, Cameron, Dallas, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Potter, Nueces, and Tom Green all have available positions.
Texas Game Wardens summer internships help college students understand the commitment required to protect the state’s wildlife and wild
spaces. (PHOTO: COURTESY TPWD)
CURIOUS?
Interested applicants seeking more information may contact Texas Game Warden Recruiter Chelsea Bailey at (361) 571-9877. Visit tpwd.texas.gov.
(PHOTO: 123RF.COM/ SERGEY NOVIKOV)
Overnight Camps in The Time of Covid
Are you looking to send your child to an overnight camp this summer but concerned about COVID?
If so, you’re not alone. Many parents are evaluating whether sending their children away during these times is a good HELENE ABRAMS idea. You should know that the camps that I work with have learned what they need to do to keep campers and staff safe – and have done a great job accomplishing that.
Some camps took on this responsibility in the summer of 2020. They followed CDC and state guidelines. For 2021, they shared these best practices with others and remained aware of changes as they occurred. The result was a very successful 2021 camp season. I have every confidence that summer 2022 will be the same.
This summer’s major difference is that most overnight camps require all campers and all staff to be vaccinated. This will allow camps to run, for the most part, as normal.
What is not clear is whether those camps that offer inter-camp competition will do so. There is still a concern about breaking the camp bubble. Most of the ones offering inter-camp tournaments are back east or in the Midwest.
Our kids need a camp experience now more than ever.
Last fall, when we thought the pandemic was under control and a glimmer of normalcy was in sight, Delta and Omicron quickly took over.
Now many children are tested weekly. They are in school, out of school, and back in school. The tension and confusion are real.
How are your children doing in this scenario? Sending your child away this summer will provide them with a carefree environment where they can be with friends, participate in fun activities, and enjoy freedom and a sense of accomplishment.
Many parents have reached the same conclusion, and as a result, this year, camps are filling faster than ever before. Every day I receive emails about camps now waitlisting applicants.
Parents are realizing more than ever how vital that overnight camp is. Summer camp can be one of the most rewarding, unforgettable experiences in a child’s life, now more than ever. The camp enrollments reflect this.
If you haven’t started researching your child’s summer experience yet, do so now and find that special place for your child to thrive next summer.
Reach Helene Abrams, with Tips on Trips and Camps, a free advisory service that helps parents find enriching summer overnight experiences for their children, ages 7 -18, at 214-4848141 or Helene@TipsonTripsandCamps.com.
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