My kid just discovered Scratch and won't stop talking about it. Looking for a structured class (not online, in-person preferred) in the Seattle area. We tried a summer camp last year but it moved too fast. Any recommendations? Doesn't have to be cheap but it should actually be good.
What was the issue with the summer camp last year - too fast pacing? Too many kids? Wrong language? Might help to figure out what to avoid in the next one.
Code.org actually has structured lessons that are designed for different paces. You might try having him work through their curriculum on his own first, then look for a class that builds on that?
Scratch is legit a good entry point but if he's already into it, you might look into Code.org or local coding bootcamps that do younger age groups. Seattle area has some solid options that move at different paces.
If he's genuinely enthusiastic about Scratch, maybe lean into that first before jumping to a class? Let him explore the platform and when he wants to level up or get stuck, that's when a structured class makes sense.
Scratch is legitimately amazing. If he won't stop talking about it then yeah he's ready for an actual class. Do you want game-focused (making games in Scratch) or more general programming concepts?
The Seattle area has some really solid in-person coding programs. Have you checked with the Coding with Kids organization or local community colleges? They sometimes have summer/after-school sessions.
Try checking with local coding bootcamps - a lot of them offer youth programs that are way more rigorous than the summer camps. Might be in the Seattle area.
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Have you looked at code.org's curriculum? Might not be exactly what you want but they have local chapter recommendations sometimes for in-person instruction. Also check if Seattle has a local tech community with kid programs.
In Seattle you might want to check with the University of Washington or local tech companies - they sometimes sponsor coding programs for kids. Could be cheaper than private classes.