Up, up and away … Del Mar College #Code_IT Campers learned to program and fly drones in July
National Science Foundation keeping eye on competitive future by supporting DMC’s coding camp with $17Kgrant to encourage youth to pursue computer science and other high-tech fields
Article by Melinda Eddleman
Del Mar College’s “other” STEM-focused summer camp, known as #Code_IT Camp, has become a popular activity for underrepresented middle school-age youth with the West Oso Independent School District (ISD), along with other tweens from around Corpus Christi interested in learning all about coding. In fact, all 18 seats for the camp’s first week, which started July 20, and the 15 seats available the following week were filled early with a waiting list already set for summer 2027.
The camp gives sixth through eighth graders the opportunity to spend some summertime learning the principles of computer science, programming and coding; and on July 22, they participated during DRONE DAY, receiving instruction on how to program and then fly a drone.
The college offers the camp free to participants thanks to a $17,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant as part of their AI Program. The NSF’s program was developed as part of an overall goal to keep Texas and its workforce globally competitive in what is now a high-tech world.
Grant funds support DMC’s coding camps that address the state’s initiative to show young minds the possibilities that await them by encouraging participants to pursue high-tech STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.
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 endgame 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.
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 as well as text-based coding. Campers are exposed to computational thinking, and programming languages such as JavaScript and Python.
During the first week, campers learn programming and robot building––including Sphero Bolt Robots and GoPiGo with Raspberry Pi and CoDrone EDU, a programmable drone for learning and coding in Python. Students also engage in Artificial Intelligence-focused curriculum using online applications like Trinket and Google’s Scratch for CS First. Campers are then introduced to opportunities to join organizations like FIRST Robotics at their perspective ISDs by connecting them with a local FIRST Robotics team. Additionally, the highly successful competitive Collegiate High School Robotics Team teaches, demonstrates and conducts fun robotics exercises with the campers.
By the time the #Code_IT Camp ended on July 31, all participants had engaged in eight hours of classroom instruction each week and performed 32 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 put them one step in the right direction.
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.