This week students from several New Brunswick middle schools took part in a camp that mixes traditional activities with hi-tech ones like coding and programming.
Coding Camp is the result of a partnership between Snider Mountain Ranch and Brilliant Labs.
“We might have one group out doing horseback riding while the other was in the classroom learning to program in programming languages like scratch or learning to assemble and program robots,” explains Snider Mountain Ranch Owner Marcel Lebrun.
“Mix together some interesting activities so that kids could come and have a lot of fun… and bring into that tech so that we could learn tech in a fun context,” Lebrun says.
Premier Brian Gallant has often stressed the need to support education in the province while also touting the benefits of strengthening the I.T. sector.
While many New Brunswick schools don’t currently have coding courses in the curriculum, the premier says he sees the benefit to it and hopes that will soon change.
“We’re very excited about very shortly receiving the education plan recommendations from the two co-chairs that were undertaking the work,” Gallant said. “I’m very confident that one of the recommendations that will come from that will be that we teach our youth coding in schools and I think this is crucial for the future of our economy.”
“Teaching our youth coding, which is the language of the future, is important.” says Gallant.
When it comes to learning to code kids are astute learners, says Janice Shaw, a teacher at Harold Peterson Middle School who took part in this week’s camp.
“I really don’t have to do a whole lot of teaching from the perspective that students actually already feel like they’re able,” says Shaw. “They’re confident, they grasp onto it and just go with it.”
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