Introduction to Java Programming: Minecraft Modding Camp
Minecraft Coding Camp
Mod Minecraft Camp
Course Description
Dig deeper into the Minecraft with this Minecraft modding camp! Design vehicles to traverse across the world in seconds, build your own custom weapons for players to craft and manipulate gravity to trap your foes. In this Minecraft coding camp, students will learn how to reverse engineer and decompile the game of Minecraft in order to add your own flair to the game!
Students will not only learn how to add levels and characters to the game, but will learn to modify the actual code of Minecraft, and create new enchantments, items, blocks, and more. You will work with the world-renowned Eclipse IDE, the tool of choice for Java Programmers, in order to learn the ins and outs of the code of Minecraft mods.
This Minecraft mod camp does not require a Minecraft account, though students may use their own account if they prefer. At the end of the week take your mods and worlds on a flash drive to continue working at home.
Information
Change Your World
Build a mod that features fantastical new items, blocks, biomes, mobs, and much much more! With the power of Minecraft Forge and Java at your disposal, there’s nothing you can’t build!
Forge Your Weapons
Build weapons that can do amazing things! Summon lightning from the sky, cast fireballs, and more! Build armor for that survives even the most outrageous damage! Make armor that lets you fly, turns lava to water, or simply repels your foes!
Share Your Mod
You’ll learn how to not just build your game, but how to submit it to both the iPhone App Store and the Android Google Play Store!
About Minecraft Java Programming Summer Camp for Kids
Campers learn to:
- Installing Minecraft Forge and decompiling Minecraft to its source code
- Learning how to use an IDE to program Minecraft mods in Java
- Understand the basics of Java coding
- Understanding Java packages and classes
- Learning to use conditional structures and Java syntax
- How to use the Minecraft Forge API to understand the code of Minecraft
- How to create new items, blocks, icons, and textures using the Forge API
- How to modify items to engage in custom behaviors
- How to create vehicles, biomes, and mobs
Prior Minecraft Understanding
In the world of Minecraft, players engage in a “sandbox world”, a world where there is no defined “story” or defined place for players to go. Instead, players simply explore the world around them, and build structures to protect against monsters, or can create wonderful structures as proof of their ability.
However, most Minecraft players just explore this world. In this Java coding camp, students will learn to code their own modifications, or “mods” to the game. These mods allow students to build new additions to the game, such as new vehicles, weapons, creatures, and more.
Basic playing experience and knowledge of how to survive in Minecraft is recommended when attending this camp. Students who are planning to attend this Minecraft Modding camp should brush up on their Minecraft playing skills to ensure that they are familiar with basic recipes, controls, and logging in.
Equipment and Software Used
In this camp, each camper will have access to a custom-built, high-end computer and a large monitor to fully experience the Minecraft adventure. Students will use a variety of Minecraft tools and software including Minecraft, Java, Eclipse, Minecraft Forge, and Gradle.
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 Minecraft?
Minecraft is a video game with no defined story or place for players to go. Instead, players simply explore the world around them, and are free to engage in creating structures, maps, fighting enemies, or any other goal the player sets for themselves. This makes it naturally suited for use as a learning platform, as lessons in game design, electronics, and programming lend themself to this environment.
Does my child need to have a Minecraft account?
Students do not require a Minecraft account, though they may choose to use their own if they have one. For students who do not possess a Minecraft account, a VisionTech Minecraft account will provided for the duration of the summer camp. Students who wish to use their own account must bring their username and password to camp.
Does my child need to have any programming experience to enroll in this Minecraft 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 Java Programming.
Will kids be playing all day at summer camp?
No, Vision Tech uses Minecraft as a learning tool, not just a game. In Vision Tech Camps, as in all of our tech camps, kids have specific learning goals they must meet every day. Our minecraft camps focus on learning objectives such as learning a new type of circuit, building a certain type of mod, or designing a game level. On the first day of camp, students are made aware that they have specific learning goals, and must actively engage in learning goals when the teacher is teaching.
How will my child take their Minecraft mods they built home?
At the end of camp, students will take home their projects on a USB Flash Drive. Students will be given instructions on how to import these projects onto their own Minecraft installation at home.
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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