Block-based for the youngest, then Python. The language matters far less than whether the child will read an error message instead of panicking.

Screen time all week?

No. Roughly half the week is off-screen: planning on paper, tracing logic by hand, testing on each other.

Is it too late to start at 13?

No. Thirteen-year-olds move faster than anyone; what they need is a reason, not an earlier start.

Coding Summer Camp in McLean County, IL

Parents in McLean County, IL book summer in February and regret it in July. McLean County is one of 102 counties in Illinois. What separates a week worth repeating is whether the child was ever genuinely stuck and then unstuck.

Ages 7-14 · For families · Illinois · Midwest

Coding Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in McLean County, IL

What the week actually is

Most coding camps teach syntax and lose the child by Wednesday. This one teaches the loop — write, run, it breaks, read the error, fix it — because that loop is what a programmer actually does and it is learnable at seven.

Day by day

Logic on paper before a keyboard
First program, first error message
Read the error, fix the error
Build something with a user who is not you
Showcase: hand it to someone and watch

McLean County, IL — what applies locally

McLean County is one of 102 counties in Illinois.
Every public school district inside McLean County is eligible for the district licensing terms.
State: Illinois · Region: Midwest

Questions we get from McLean County, IL

Which language?: Block-based for the youngest, then Python. The language matters far less than whether the child will read an error message instead of panicking.
Screen time all week?: No. Roughly half the week is off-screen: planning on paper, tracing logic by hand, testing on each other.
Is it too late to start at 13?: No. Thirteen-year-olds move faster than anyone; what they need is a reason, not an earlier start.

Other camp themes in McLean County

STEM Summer CampAges 5-14 Robotics CampAges 8-14 Engineering CampAges 7-14 Science CampAges 5-14 Math CampAges 5-14 Space CampAges 7-14 Drone CampAges 9-14 Game Design CampAges 8-14 AI CampAges 10-14 Electronics CampAges 8-14 Chemistry CampAges 9-14 Nature Science CampAges 5-13 3D Printing CampAges 9-14 Minecraft STEM CampAges 7-12 Girls STEM CampAges 7-14 Neurodivergent STEM CampAges 6-14 Preschool STEM CampAges 3-5 Elementary STEM CampAges 5-10 Middle School STEM CampAges 11-14 High School STEM CampAges 14-18 Half-Day STEM CampAges 5-12 Week-Long STEM CampAges 6-14 Affordable STEM CampAges 5-14 Virtual STEM CampAges 7-14 Curriculum LicensingAges K-8 Church Youth STEMAges 5-14 After-School LicensingAges 5-14 District Summer STEMAges K-8 Parks & Rec STEM CampAges 5-13 Homeschool Co-op STEMAges 5-14 YMCA STEM CurriculumAges 5-14 Daycare Summer STEMAges 3-6 Start a STEM CampAges K-8

Coding Camp elsewhere in Illinois

Adams County, ILCounty Alexander County, ILCounty Bond County, ILCounty Boone County, ILCounty Brown County, ILCounty Bureau County, ILCounty Calhoun County, ILCounty Carroll County, ILCounty

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