#Code_IT Campers learn to build and program robots with focus on Artificial Intelligence

Texas Workforce Commission keeping eye on competitive future by supporting DMC’s coding camp with $23K grant to encourage youth to pursue computer science and other high-tech fields

Article by Melinda Eddleman

The #Code_IT Camp at Del Mar College (DMC) has become a popular summer activity for middle schoolers with the West Oso Independent School District (ISD), along with other youth from around Corpus Christi. In fact, all 18 seats for the second week of the highly sought-after camp, or 36 seats if you count both weeks of camp, filled up early with a waiting list already set for summer 2025.

Code Camp 2024_Students at Computers Learning Coding

This year marked the sixth time the College has offered the camp for sixth through eighth graders, who have the opportunity to spend some summertime learning the principles of computer science, programming and coding.

Scheduled consecutively June 17-28, DMC offered the two 2024 camps free to participants thanks to a $23,100 Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) grant as part of the commission’s Camp Code Program. The TWC’s program was developed as part of the overall goal of keeping the state and its workforce globally competitive in what is now a high-tech world.

Grant funds support coding camps across Texas that address the state’s initiative to show young minds the possibilities that await them by encouraging students to pursue high-tech STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.

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When finished, campers will have spent a week learning about technology and staying engaged with hands-on activities that build on their problem-solving and analytical skills. The end-game is that they will see this summer camp as a building block toward their future, which in turn, is building upon the competitive sustainability of Texas’ economy.

Dara Betz, DMC Workforce Programs Director and Coding Camp Coordinator

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Second-week campers had the opportunity to show off their skills to news media on June 26 by taking over the Venters Building Atrium on the Heritage Campus and demonstrated the advanced coding they learned to program robots.

Developed and conducted by DMC Computer Science faculty as a team-building experience, the #Code_IT Camp offers several levels of coding curriculum focused on spatial reasoning, computer programming, logic and design and text-based coding. Campers are exposed to computational thinking and programming languages such as JavaScript and Python.

Code Camp 2024_Angela LI_Flour Bluff ISD_Computer Work

Angela Li works on her programming skills on a computer during the second week of Del Mar College’s sixth #Code_IT Camp. The Flour Bluff Independent School District student joined 17 other campers to learn learn about computer sciences, programming as part of a grant-funded Texas Workforce Commission initiative to encourage and entice youth across the state to enter STEM fields as part of Texas’ future workforce. (Credit: DMC College Relations)

Code Camp 2024_DMC Computer Science Professor Dr_Phillip Davis with Camper Evelyn James

Incarnate Word Academy student Evelyn James shows Del Mar College Computer Science Professor Dr. Phillip Davis her coding on a laptop during the sixth DMC #IT_Code Camp on June 26. Held on the Heritage Camus in the Venters Building, 18 campers participated during the second week that featured learning more advanced programming and coding using robots as well as a focus on Artificial Intelligence. (Credit: DMC College Relations)

During the first week, campers learned programming and how to build robots––including Sphero Bolt Robots and GoPiGo with Raspberry Pi. The second camp, which is more advanced, engaged students in Artificial Intelligence or AI-focused curriculum using online applications like Trinket and Google’s Scratch for CS First.

Campers were also introduced to opportunities to join organizations like FIRST Robotics at their perspective ISDs, which connects them with a local FIRST Robotics team. Additionally, the highly-successful competitive Collegiate High School Robotics Team taught, demonstrated and conducted fun robotics exercises with the second camp students.

Code Camp 2024_West Oso ISD Student Kane Odom_Smart Phone Programming

West Oso Independent School District student Kane Odom programs his robot using a smart phone during the 2024 #Code_IT Camp held at Del Mar College’s Heritage Campus. Eighteen sixth through eighth graders from around the Corpus Christi area learned how to build robots, programming and coding during the free camp support by a $23,000 Texas Workforce Commission grant to encourage and entice youth across the state to consider studies and careers in computer science. The funding is part of the commission\s Camp Code Program to keep the state and its workforce globally competitive in what is becoming a high-tech world. (Credit: DMC College Relations)

Code Camp 2024_DMC Computer Science Assistant Professor Korinne Caruso with Campers

Del Mar College Assistant Professor of Computer Science Korinne Caruso (second from left) advises 2024 #Code_IT Camp participants from the Corpus Christi area about their coding of a robot. As the sixth camp the College has held for middle school students, the summer camp teaches sixth through eighth graders about programming, coding and building robots to pique their interest in computer science for college studies and careers. This year’s camp also focused on Artificial Intelligence. (Credit: DMC College Relations)

Code Camp 2024_Computer Science Faculty Dr Phillip Davis and Yan Xu

Del Mar College Computer Science Professors Dr. Phillip Davis (left) and Yan Xu pose together during media day for the sixth #IT_Code Camp supported by the College’s Workforce Programs and Corporate Services Department and the Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology Department to teach sixth through eighth grade participants robot building, programming and coding as an enticement to study and enter the field of computer science. Funded by a $23,000 Texas Workforce Commission grant as part of the commission’s Camp Code Program, which was developed as part of the overall goal of keeping the state and its workforce globally competitive in what is now a high-tech world.

Code Camp 2024_Evelyn James with Incarnate Word Academy_Robot Programming with Laptop

Incarnate Word Academy student Evelyn James programs her robot using a laptop computer during the June 26 media day at the Venters Building on the Heritage Campus. James is one of 18 students who attended Del Mar College’s 2024 #Code_IT Camp to learn about robot building, programming, coding and Artificial Intelligence. The free grant-funded summer camp is designed to entice and encourage Coastal Bend youth to pursue studies and careers in computer science and other related fields as part of the Texas Workforce Commission’s Camp Code Program to keep the state competitive with the ever-evolving global high-tech economy. (Credit: DMC College Relations)

By the time the #Code_IT Camp ended June 28, all participants had engaged in eight hours of classroom instruction each week and performed 70 hours of hands-on activities combined using four types of robots with advanced programming.

“Our hope is that camp participants are inspired and their passion ignited to pursue STEM studies, especially computer science,” noted Betz.

Attending this year’s #Code_IT Camp at Del Mar College is one step in the right direction.

About Del Mar College

Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.