VSU Offers Summer Digital Arts, Technology Camps

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University’s Regional Center for Continuing Education has partnered with Black Rocket Productions LLC to help children between the ages of 8 and 14 launch their creativity this summer.

The half-day digital arts and technology camp series kicks off June 1 with “Make Your First Video Game” and continues each week through July 24 with “App Attack,” “LEGO Films and Stop Action,” “Minecraft Designers,” “Code Breakers,” “G2: The Girl Gamers Club,” “Ultimate Claymation and Stop Action,” and “Minecraft Modders.”

“The magic in every camper comes to life as never before when they are empowered to be as creative as they were all born to be,” according to Black Rocket Productions LLC.  

“Every program is powered by the camper’s innate imagination and designed to bring their ideas to life in a fun, hands-on learning environment. From concept to creation, students will demonstrate their masterpiece to the world at the end of each week. All … programs [in the summer digital arts and technology camp series at VSU] mirror real life experiences and the collaborative nature of the design process.”

Black Rocket has more than a decade of experience designing camps in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and digital arts fields. According to the United States Department of Education, only 16 percent of American high school seniors are proficient in mathematics and interested in a STEM career. President Barack Obama has called on the nation to develop, recruit, and retain 100,000 STEM teachers over the next 10 years. He has also asked colleges and universities to graduate an additional one million students with STEM majors. 

“We are proud to be the first and only location in Georgia offering this curriculum,” shared Suzanne Ewing, program coordinator with VSU’s Regional Center for Continuing Education.

The Black Rocket Productions LLC partnership is a welcome addition to Camp Discovery, a summer day camp program offered each year by VSU’s Regional Center for Continuing Education.

All Camp Discovery programs are age-appropriate, designed to be fun for boys and girls participating, and opportunities to improve academic, artistic, and/or physical skills. Enrollment is limited to 20 students per camp, unless otherwise noted in the description, to assure good student and teacher interaction. Most of the camps are held from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Regional Center for Continuing Education, located at 903 N. Patterson St. Some camps, such as those involving horses, are held off-site.

The Regional Center for Continuing Education’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region by providing educational, artistic, cultural, technological, and economic development activities and programs. It works to develop and present programs and activities for professional and personal enrichment of community persons.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/academics/extended-learning/continuing-education/ or call (229) 245-6484 to learn more.

Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities. 

The story above demonstrates VSU's commitment to meeting the following goals: 

Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate a quality, diverse student population and prepare students for roles as leaders in a global society.

Goal 3: Promote student, employee, alumni, retiree, and community engagement in our mission.

Goal 4: Foster an environment of creativity and scholarship.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/planning/strategic-plan.php to learn more.