Waconia Community Ed

Bring your creations to life in this hands-on 3D printing class. The ancient craft of jewelry making meets modern technology as students use TinkerCAD and 3D printers to design earrings, rings, pendants, and more. Along the way, they will explore 3D modeling skills, experiment with shapes and patterns, and see how digital design becomes physical objects. While prints are finishing, students can join themed design challenges and games to keep their creativity flowing. Each participant will have two small printed designs sent home. Printing and material fees are included. Bring a USB drive on the last day.

Learn the basics of game design while creating your own 3D worlds in Roblox Studio! This class introduces students to the tools and possibilities Roblox offers for designing interactive games. They’ll explore how to build environments, add characters, and bring their ideas to life with simple coding. By the end of camp, each student will have created original projects that showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills. Bring a USB on the last day to save your games.

Let the battles begin! Designed by the experts at MIT, LEGO® WeDo Robotics' unique system teaches students about simple machines, engineering, programming, and so much more. Students may construct a catapult, ninja star, tank, battle axe, crossbow, and more in this camp! Students will be working in pairs.

Become a Pokémon master of 3D design by creating your very own Pokémon characters with TinkerCAD. Students will explore CAD modeling, experiment with shapes and features, and bring their digital creatures to life with 3D printers. Along the way, they will also experiment with SimLab and design Pokémon-themed video games, combining creativity with hands-on technology. The class introduces the basics of CAD modeling and design software while encouraging imagination and exploration. Each student will have two small printed designs sent home. Printing and material fees are included. Bring a USB drive on the last day. Pokémon is a trademark of Nintendo of America Inc. and not affiliated with this camp.

Embark on the ultimate Minecraft adventure! In this camp, students will team up in our multiplayer survival world to explore, gather resources, and take on epic challenges. Each day, campers will use different survival skills, crafting tools, mining for materials, brewing potions, enchanting gear, and preparing for battle. Along the way, they’ll practice defeating mobs, complete quests, and discover the secrets of the Nether Then, jump into world-building with ready-made worlds and landscapes to set the stage. Add unique powers, creative challenges, cutscenes and epic boss encounters to craft a game full of excitement and imagination. We will be using the PC/Java edition of Minecraft. Bring a USB drive to save your games. Minecraft is a Mojang Studios trademark. This camp is not affiliated with them.

Step into the world of Pokémon with a week of exciting STEAM adventures! Students will design and build their own coding projects, from interactive games to creative animations, while also making Pokémon-themed stop-motion films. They’ll construct sets and props, tackle fun STEAM challenges, and bring their ideas to life through coding and creativity. Along the way, students strengthen problem-solving and teamwork skills. Basic reading skills recommended. Bring a USB drive on the last day. Pokémon is a trademark of Nintendo of America Inc. This camp is not affiliated with them.

Discover the exciting world of Dungeons & Dragons! In this camp, students will learn the basics of the game, design their own character, and take part in a one-shot adventure filled with creativity and teamwork. Beyond the tabletop, they’ll explore D&D-inspired STEAM activities, including designing their own D&D-themed video game. This blend of storytelling, problem solving, and design brings the magic of D&D to life in new and engaging ways. Students should bring a USB drive on the last day to save their creations.

Design, develop, and create 3D virtual reality environments and characters to build your own VR games. Students will start with smaller projects to learn the basics of coding, design, and interaction. In the final two days, they will construct a full labyrinth complete with challenges, characters, and immersive exploration. This camp is ideal for students passionate about technology and creativity. VR projects can be viewed on most mobile devices and VR systems such as Oculus. Bring a USB on the last day to save your games.

Get ready to power up your Minecraft world! In this exciting camp, students will create their very own super-tools, design fun or fearsome custom mobs, and invent tasty new foods to keep their characters energized. Using MCreator for Minecraft: Java Edition, students will learn the basics of coding logic while building and testing their mods. Each day combines step-by-step projects with creative time to explore new ideas. Bring your imagination, teamwork, and a USB drive. Students should be comfortable using a computer. Minecraft is a Mojang Studios trademark. This camp is not affiliated with them.

Get ready for an exciting class filled with new builds and challenges! Students will take their engineering skills to the next level by constructing remote-controlled robots inspired by the popular Discovery Channel show BattleBots. Using LEGO® Robotics systems and specialized Technic™ engineering components, they’ll build extreme machines designed for competition. Working in small teams of two to three, students will test, re-engineer, and morph their robots to become better, stronger, and faster before entering them into a high-energy tournament on the final day.

Learn how to produce a YouTube video podcast! You will become familiar with the ins and outs of creating your podcast. Explore ideas, make a script map, and more. We will also go over refining your audio using Audacity. Edit your video, add transitions, and insert a soundtrack. Then, share your finished video with the world. Bring a USB drive (at least 8 GB) to save your games on the last day.

Get hands-on experience with designing your own video game from scratch! Students will create their own platform game, using Construct 3, a visual coding platform that teaches students the basics and structure of programming. Learn to develop engaging gameplay. Experiment with different power-ups, enemies, and boss battles to make your game exciting and fun. Bring a USB drive to save your games on the last day.