From Oak Park to Naperville there are tons of options for kids and teens to learn coding and have fun. Discover the best Chicago coding classes and camps for kids, including convenient online options led live by experts, so your child can get started today.
Check out upcoming free computer science events for kids led by tech experts: past events have featured guests from Pixar, NASA, Intel, and more!
Chicago Coding Classes and Camps for Kids
Programming classes aren't just about writing code; they're about shaping young minds to think logically, solve complex problems, and prepare for a technologically-driven future. By enrolling in kids coding courses today, students not only gain a competitive edge but also harness skills that will prove indispensable in the evolving global landscape.
Looking for the perfect starting point for your beginner? Begin with entry-level courses in subjects as diverse as block coding and Minecraft Modding to web design, that don't require any previous computer science experience. Your child will have fun while learning how to build apps, games, websites, and anything they can imagine!
Create & Learn's online coding classes for kids and summer camps stand as a top choice for parents seeking a comprehensive and engaging coding education for their kids in Chicago. Classes run throughout the year, while summer coding camps are from June to end of August starting. What sets Create & Learn apart is its curriculum crafted by tech experts and educators hailing from renowned institutions like Apple, Intel, Google, Harvard, MIT, and Code.org. Through both inquiry-based and project-based learning in live online classes led by experts, students are empowered to apply their coding knowledge to real-world projects and gain critical thinking that transcends mere syntax.
Furthermore, your child benefits from learning under the guidance of a dedicated team of experienced US-based instructors who provide personalized support in small class sizes (maximum of 3-5 students), ensuring every child gets the attention they need to excel. Recognized by industry giants like Minecraft Education, Roblox, Meta, and applauded by platforms like HulaFrog, ActivityHero, and SMASH, Create & Learn's coding classes come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Get started with popular fun coding for kids classes including:
1. Scratch Ninja: Grades K-9
Learn core coding concepts, and use a wide range of fun Scratch features such as motion, sensing, and clone. Have fun as we build animations or games in every session. Younger students will enjoy ScratchJr (k-2), while older students can join Accelerated Scratch (5-9).
2. NASA Science: Grades 1-4
Fascinated by Mars and aliens? Explore the mysteries of outer space with fun projects. Learn about many fun areas including rockets, the International Space Station, the Solar System, and a lot more.
3. Budding Digital Artists: Grades 1-4
Have fun being creative with a variety of interesting digital art projects from patterns to architecture and stop-motion! In this class students will learn to appreciate great design in their daily lives, while exploring many different types of art mediums.
4. Minecraft Redstone Engineering: Grades 2-5
Embark on a creative journey to build incredible machines, light shows, automatic doors, and even flying contraptions with powerful Redstone. Explore the intricacies of circuits, switches, and sensors, while learning real-world engineering principles.
6. Canva for Kids: Grades 3-6
Create beautiful graphic designs and videos with beginner-friendly Canva. Learn how to add elements, fonts, effects, and more in Canva, before finding out how to drag and drop design elements and even animate them.
7. Modern Website Design with WIX: Grades 5-12
Learn how to design beautiful websites! Starting from the basics of how to use WIX and how to structure your website, to designing the layout, choosing color schemes, and even creating a web store with products.
8. Python for AI: Grades 5-12
A starting point for high schoolers looking to learn coding, Python stands as a high-level coding language favored by industry giants such as Netflix and Google, and is often used in web development, game design, app creation, machine learning, and much more. This class not only covers the fundamentals of Python coding, but also places a strong emphasis on the elements of Python most relevant to Artificial Intelligence, including data structures and libraries.
Start with Free Kids Coding Classes in Chicago
These small group free coding classes include a live online experience, and awesome teachers that set every child up for success. Discover the magic in technology and have fun when your child gets started today! Choose from beginner-friendly Scratch and Python, or build your student's existing coding skills by learning Minecraft engineering or about artificial intelligence.
Explore Chicago In-Person Coding Classes Tech and Camps for Kids and Teens
If you're looking for an in-person coding experience, here are a few coding schools around the Chicago area that might help based on parent reviews.
1. We All Code
3432 West Diversey, Chicago, IL
We All Code offers single-day coding classes for kids ages 10+. During a 3- to 5-hour course, kids will learn about one specific topic, ranging from HTML to JavaScript, and use those skills for fun projects such as making a robot move. The workshops are totally free and participants don’t need any prior computer knowledge. "My 9 yr old son can't wait for another class! He's always excited to go there...we have been going for about a year now." one parent said.
2. Kids STEM Studio
770 W Gladys Ave Chicago, IL 60661
At Kids STEM Studio kids ages 4 to 14 explore STEM subjects through projects featuring robotics, experimental design, engineering, computer coding, Minecraft and more. Their hands-on programs are offered through weekly classes, camps, and after school enrichment. "My daughter attended for a week this summer for camp. She loved the camp and wants to make this her primary camp next summer. We will be back for winter and spring break camps! We live in south loop and have friends that also love the after school program. Great space for kids." shared a parent.
Explore more kids coding platforms
3. Tech Revolution Summer Camp
Lavner Education runs camps at two locations in Chicago - British International School – Lincoln Park, and Northwestern University. They offer a wide range of activities like Robotics, Coding, Game Design, Minecraft, Roblox, Artificial Intelligence, 3D Printing, YouTube content creation, Filmmaking, Digital Art, Spy Tech, and STEM. The curriculum aims to meet kids where they are — whether they’re beginners or already have experience — so everyone gets a chance to build new skills at their own pace. Class sizes are pretty small, usually about one instructor for every 4 to 8 kids. It's a strong choice for kids aged 6 to 14 who are serious about getting hands-on with tech and creative projects during the summer. The beautiful college campus is a draw for some students as well.
iD Tech is another program that runs camps nation wide on college campuses. They tend to have more courses than Tech Revolution but large camp size and higher price as well.
4. The Coder School - North Shore & Lombard
Started from San Francisco Bay Area, The Coder School now includes about 60 franchise locations in the United States, two of them in the Chicago area. The curriculum are designed centrally while operations are done by location owners. The Coder School runs year around and hold summer camps as well. At North Shore, one camp is offered each week from June to August for about 8 weeks. The summer camps offer a mix of coding, gaming, and robotics experiences for kids ages 9 and up. Across different weeks, campers dive into real-world programming skills through Python, learn to build and modify worlds in Minecraft, design their own obstacle course games in Roblox using Lua scripting, and get hands-on with robotics by programming physical devices. The camps are designed to be accessible for beginners while offering deeper challenges for more advanced kids.
Join Coding Classes for Kids and Teens in Chicago
Starting coding is a pivotal investment in kids' future, ensuring they are well-prepared and adaptable in a world where technology is at the forefront of innovation and progress. Today STEM fields out-earn all other fields by 12-30%. Furthermore, six different studies show that children who study computer science perform better in other subjects! Invest in a future where your kids are equipped to excel in various fields, from technology to arts and sciences.
Teachers and educators - Book free virtual classes for your students (groups of 10+) - any time of the year! We serve all schools and community organizations, and have even partnered with SMASH and Meta's Engineer for the Week to teach students across the US. Just pick the activity you're interested in for your class (from these 10 fun options) and contact us. We'll get in touch to get you all set up for your live Zoom sessions.
