Engineering Camp with Sparkfun Redboard
Electrical Engineering with Ardunio
Course Description
Learn the fundamentals of electrical engineering & coding using the Sparkfun Photon Redboard, an over-the-air-programmable WiFi development board to explore the world of computer programming and electrical engineering. In this electrical engineering & coding camp, you will learn to design, build, and program your own circuits, and control them using your PC, iPhone, or Android device. This camp is a great introduction to software development and hardware integration.
You will learn to get your projects hooked up to the internet, and have them respond to commands and programs executed online. You will build multiple projects that will get you working as a software developer, electrical engineer, and test them against real world challenges.
Using the Particle Build and Particle Dev IDE, you will program your circuits and projects using the C and C++ programming languages. At the end of the week, you will take home your Sparkfun kit, and your completed projects and files. To use the iPhone and Android apps, your device must be up to date and officially supported.
Information
About this Electrical Engineering & Coding Camp
Campers learn to:
- The Engineering design process
- The Sparkfun Photon board (hardware) and the Particle Dev IDE (software)
- Build electrical circuits using Sparkfun
- Basic STEM skills
- Tell the difference between analog and digital circuits, and how to bridge them
- Writing a program for the Sparkfun to control electrical circuits in the physical world
- Rapid prototyping using the Sparkfun microcontroller
- Design and understand embedded systems
- Utilizing remote systems
Prior Engineering Understanding
This camp requires no previous engineering or programming experience. Each student will be provided their own electrical circuits kit and computer, but may be asked to work in teams for certain challenges.
Equipment and Software Used
In this STEM camp, each camper will have access to a custom-built, high-end computer and a large monitor. Students will use a variety of tools and software including the Arduino microcontroller, a variety of electrical engineering parts, the Particle Dev IDE and the Photon Redboard.
Sample Day
Each day at Vision Tech Camps is carefully planned to ensure a personalized learning experience and to ensure that each student meets their individual goals. Our flexible schedule provides time for group instruction, one on one attention, project completion, and teamwork exercises.
7:30 am: Extended Care Check In
Early check-in for campers who have chosen the AM Extended Care Option – students can choose from a variety of pre-camp activities.
8:30 am – 9:00 am: Rolling Drop off
Check-in and pre-camp activities, including introductions & hardware & computer distribution
9:00 am – 9:15 am: Welcome and review of daily schedule
Students connect with instructors, ask questions, and instructors go over the course outline
9:15 am – 10:30 am: Core Tech Modules
This hour is reserved for work on course skills and may include small group learning, individual learning, or class-wide instruction depending on the particular tech modules being taught
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Break
Students can spend their free time having snacks, drinks, continue working independently, play, reading, or relax on the sofa
11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Core Tech Modules
This hour is reserved for work on course skills and may include small group learning, individual learning, or class-wide instruction depending on the particular tech modules being taught
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch Break
Kids & teens who have ordered our Meal Plan will be provided their hot lunch. Other students may bring their own bag lunch and eat outside under the supervision of camp staff. Students may utilize nearby parks to play and experience the outdoors.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Core Tech Modules
This period is reserved for work on course skills and may include small group learning, individual learning, or class-wide instruction depending on the particular tech modules being taught
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Break
Students can spend their free time having snacks, drinks, continue working independently, play, reading, or relax on the sofa
3:30 pm – 5:00 am: Core Tech Modules & Wrap Up
This period is reserved for work on course skills and may include small group learning, individual learning, or class-wide instruction depending on the particular tech modules being taught. Kids & teens wrap up the day’s projects.
5:00 pm – 5:15pm : Pick up Time
Parents pick up kids & teens who are not enrolled in extended care.
5:15pm – 6:15pm: Extended Care Pick Up Time
Students in extended care are picked up
Vision Tech Camps Instruction
Real Instruction. Quality STEM Summer Tech Projects
We believe that learning technology should be part of kids & teens summer camp experiences. Summer tech camps offer kids a relaxed and fun way to explore their tech interests and gain an edge for college or university. At Vision Tech Camps, we pride ourselves on building STEM curriculum with concrete learning goals, where teachers initially lead students through lessons with a projector, followed by students doing their own projects on their computers. This way, kids & teens learn the basics and go on to explore their interests, resulting in tech projects that students are proud to call their own at the end of the course.
Beginner through Advanced Students
Our STEM summer camps are designed to accommodate a wide skill range, challenging the most advanced students, while encouraging beginners to take that first step into the field. We achieve that through hiring instructors who are tech savvy, and a technology curriculum that is adjustable for all skill levels. In addition, our low student-to-instructor ratio, which is kept at 8:1 instructor to student ratio – *not* a staff ratio, allows plenty of personalized one-on-one attention during the summer course.
Comfortable & Private Facilities
Since we own our two tech camp facilities at Danville & Saratoga, students feel comfortable and at ease at our facilities. As these are our permanent summer camp locations, we are able to minimize technical difficulties ahead of time and provide the most advanced tech hardware, custom-built computers, and professional grade software to our campers for a more enjoyable summer tech camp.
The Best Computer Camp Instructors
Vision Tech only hires the most passionate and caring instructors who are also experienced in the individual course material they are hired to teach. We train each instructor personally and instill them with Vision Tech teaching practices and values, ensuring that all students have fun in our summer camps, learn skills, and most importantly are inspired to continue their journey long after they have left our summer tech camps.
FAQ
What is Arduino?
Arduino is a electronics prototyping platform that is popular for STEM Education, as it bridges the gap between programming and electrical engineering concepts such as voltage, current, and resistance. The Arduino system allows for the creation of powerful tools, robots, and sensors, that can be programmed using the Arduino Programming Language, a variant of C. The platform is safe to use by kids, and can be used easily to prototype any invention.
Does my child get to take the Arduino Robotics Kit home at the end of the week?
Yes. Each student will get to take home their Arduino kit, & the robotics platform they built at camp.
Does my child need to have any programming or robotics experience to enroll in this robotics engineering camp?
No, this camp curriculum is designed for students from beginner level to advanced level. Students with no experience will be given an introduction into both robotics & programming.
Is lunch provided at Vision Tech Camps?
Yes, if students select the meal plan option in our Danville and Saratoga locations. Otherwise, students are encouraged to bring a bagged lunch. Our meal plan is not available in the Piedmont location, unfortunately.
What will my child learn in this tech camp?
Arduino is an ideal system for students to learn about programming, electrical engineering, circuitry, and robotics. Students will learn about sensors, resistors, diodes, and more, while also gaining a understanding of how their programs can affect these objects. Students will combine these concepts to build systems as complex as sensors, robots, and more.
My child is not within the age range of this camp. Is this camp appropriate for my child?
The age ranges provided are for informational and guidance purpose only. We feel that parents are the ultimate judge of where their child will comfortable. If parents are uncertain, we encourage parents to call us for appropriate recommendations on placement of their kids.
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