We had the pleasure of interviewing local mom Grace Lee who opened independently-owned franchise Code Ninjas Gowanus in May and teaches kids ages 5-14+ coding and STEM skills though video-game-building!
What is the history of Code Ninjas?
Code Ninjas was founded in 2016 by David Graham in Pearland, Texas. There are now over 400 centers across the United States, Canada and UK!
Where are you located?
Our address is 150 4th Avenue at the corner of 4th Avenue and Douglas. We’re located at the border of Gowanus and Park Slope in Brooklyn, NY, conveniently close to several nearby schools.
Why did you decide to bring Code Ninjas to Gowanus?
My parents were entrepreneurs who owned their own dry cleaners. I remember growing up and always being there with them, sometimes helping them tag clothes, filing them away, or even helping with customers. Because of that influence, I’ve always wanted to own my own business. When I took a step back from a traditional corporate role, I was in a position to pursue a new opportunity that allowed me both the flexibility to focus on my family and to create something that other parents would find valuable for their kids as well. I came across Code Ninjas for the first time when one of my sons attended summer camp at their Livingston, NJ location. I’ve never seen him come back from something so excited before. I looked around for similar programs but couldn’t find anything better. That’s when I had decided to look into opening a Code Ninjas franchise in our neighborhood.
Do your own children take part in your Code Ninjas’ curriculum?
Yes! All three of my kids (ages 7, 10 and 11) have participated in our programming. They've learned a lot, and they have a blast making their own video games.
Why do you think STEM is important for kids?
I think understanding as much as you can about science and technology is already extremely important, since so much of our lives revolve around and even depend on it. It’s only going to become more crucial as our world evolves. Learning the concepts and principles that underpin so much of STEM at an early age will give kids an enormous advantage navigating that world as they progress through school and beyond.
What sets Code Ninjas apart from other after-school programs?
We primarily focus on teaching children to think like programmers, imparting fundamental learning and problem-solving skills that can transfer to many technical environments. We also strive to instill a sense of community; we want kids to look forward to coming here, seeing their friends and senseis, and having a good time.
In addition to our core program, parents can also opt-in to specialized camp programs which teach specific skills ranging from coding in Minecraft and robotics, to 3D printing, being a YouTuber, and more.
What can parents expect?
Parents can expect an educational program which meets kids where they are, and guides them to learn at their own pace. We have two main levels for our curriculum, with children being placed depending on their age, reading level, and other factors. Our JR program is aimed at kids starting at age 5, teaching them fundamental concepts about programming and computer science. For older kids age 8 and above, our Create program gets them started making their own games as they progress through increasingly advanced ideas and programming languages, including block coding, JavaScript and eventually C#. Parents can schedule a free game-building session for their child, to help them decide if they want to learn more.
You offer Camp programs over School Holidays and Summer as well. What are some highlights?
Even at this early stage, we’ve had some great moments at our camps. We knew kids would really enjoy our Minecraft coding camps, but things like our YouTuber and stop-motion animation camps were big hits, too! Kids get to experience a wide variety of creative skills and learn about new things they might be interested in pursuing.
You mentioned you host birthday parties and “Parents’ Nights Out.” Can you tell us more?
Yes! For birthday parties, we can accommodate up to twenty kids and plan activities that the birthday child and their friends would like. For example, we can run a Minecraft-themed party by building a “capture the flag” closed network game where the birthday child and friends can play along. You won’t need to worry about connecting friends and setting up devices to find one another; all of that is managed by us. Parents’ Nights Out are scheduled for the second Friday of most months. We provide pizza, drinks and games. Students don’t need to bring anything but themselves! We provide gaming consoles to play with and a place for kids to relax and have fun with one another and their senseis.
Is there anything you want parents to know about Code Ninjas?
We just want to spread awareness that there’s a new after-school program that offers important skills and a sense of community to kids in our area. We also plan on expanding our offerings, so we’re always open to feedback from families about what their needs are and what they’re looking for in a program like ours.
Learn more and book a free session at codeninjas.com/ny-gowanus!
Testimonials:
"My daughter loves going to Code Ninjas! She tells relatives about the coding language and activities she’s learned, with such enthusiasm, and they are incredibly impressed at how much she knows at only 5 years old! I wish I had Code Ninjas when I was a kid!" – Lisa W.
"Our son who is a fifth grader, loves it at code ninjas. He looks forward to it every week and is always in a good mood afterwards. It's a good learning space on top of being a good fun after school environment. He's encouraged to finish his homework as well. And when it comes to coding, he's encouraged to combine his artistic and creative ideas with the technical elements. The staff is very caring and accommodating. They're also very diligent about follow ups around scheduling and communication. Highly recommend!" – Vaishali S.
"This location is newly renovated and clean. Did my 8 year old boys birthday party here and it was great. Everyone had an amazing time. Will recommend for anyone with a little gamer on their hand." – Kiki S.
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