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Ellis Abel Learns.

Minecraft STEM Summer Camp in Des Moines, IA

The Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA metro area has about 758,539 residents, ranking 82nd in the country. Minecraft STEM Summer Camp works the same way here as anywhere: give a child a problem too hard to guess at, then refuse to hand them the answer.

Ages 7-12 · For families · Iowa · Midwest

Minecraft STEM Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in Des Moines, IA
Minecraft STEM Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in Des Moines, IA

What the week actually is

Minecraft earns its place because redstone is genuine logic-gate work and children will do hours of it voluntarily. The camp uses the engagement and then makes the logic explicit, so the learning survives outside the game.

Day by day

  1. Paper prototype, no computer
  2. Playtest and take the criticism
  3. Balance passes on the numbers
  4. Build the digital version
  5. Showcase: strangers play it in front of you

Des Moines, IA — what applies locally

  • The Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA metro area has about 758,539 residents, ranking 82nd in the country.
  • Metro area: Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA
  • State: Iowa · Region: Midwest

Questions we get from Des Moines, IA

Is this just supervised gaming?
No. Every build has a specification and a constraint, and the redstone work is drawn on paper first.
Do we need a Minecraft account?
For the in-game portion, yes. The logic work does not require one.
What do they actually learn?
Boolean logic, circuits, resource planning and collaborative building under constraints.

Other camp themes in Des Moines

STEM Summer CampAges 5-14Robotics CampAges 8-14Coding CampAges 7-14Engineering CampAges 7-14Science CampAges 5-14Math CampAges 5-14Space CampAges 7-14Drone CampAges 9-14Game Design CampAges 8-14AI CampAges 10-14Electronics CampAges 8-14Chemistry CampAges 9-14Nature Science CampAges 5-133D Printing CampAges 9-14Girls STEM CampAges 7-14Neurodivergent STEM CampAges 6-14Preschool STEM CampAges 3-5Elementary STEM CampAges 5-10Middle School STEM CampAges 11-14High School STEM CampAges 14-18Half-Day STEM CampAges 5-12Week-Long STEM CampAges 6-14Affordable STEM CampAges 5-14Virtual STEM CampAges 7-14Curriculum LicensingAges K-8Church Youth STEMAges 5-14After-School LicensingAges 5-14District Summer STEMAges K-8Parks & Rec STEM CampAges 5-13Homeschool Co-op STEMAges 5-14YMCA STEM CurriculumAges 5-14Daycare Summer STEMAges 3-6Start a STEM CampAges K-8

Minecraft STEM Camp elsewhere in Iowa

Davenport, IAMetro areaCedar Rapids, IAMetro areaIowa City, IAMetro areaWaterloo, IAMetro areaSioux City, IAMetro areaAmes, IAMetro areaDubuque, IAMetro areaWest Des Moines, IACity

All Minecraft STEM Camp locations · Full camp directory · Ask about a place