Camp helps kids learn s’more about computers

Roasting marshmallows and singing campfire songs likely come to mind when we think of summer camp.

But ask a group of local middle school aged kids, and they’ll probably say “keyboards” and “mouse pads”. That’s because they’ve been going to computer camp.

Jacob Baptista, and fellow middle schoolers throughout New Hanover County are enrolled in a weeklong camp held at UNCW to learn about computer animation.

“Jacob loves animation, he loves computers and has quite of an imaginative mind and I wanted him to do something other than just playing video games this summer, and it’s a nice compliment to doing physical activity too,” said Midori Albert, Jacob’s mother.

The kids let their imaginations run wild on paper first. Then, with the help of UNCW computer science students, the campers converted their pictures into a computer-animated story using a program called “Squeak Etoys”.

“All we’ve done is show them some pretty advanced skills with directed learning but then let their imagination go and it’s incredible what they do,” said camp director Jack Tompkins.

Maddux Waller says he’s been to sleep-away camps in the wilderness in the past, but he prefers computer camp. “This one is probably superior to all the others,” he said.

The weeklong camp costs $185. This is the first year UNCW has offered the camp. There will be no more sessions this summer but they’ll do it again next summer.