Creature Coders | Grades 7-9

Creature Coders invites middle schoolers to discover where biology and programming intersect. Over four days, campers will observe live animals at the Van Andel Institute, studying real-world adaptations and behaviors to understand how creatures sense and interact with their surroundings. They'll then translate these biological concepts into code, learning programming fundamentals like conditional and nested logic to build their own virtual organisms. Throughout the camp, students design and program digital creatures that respond to light, sound, and movement—essentially creating simulations of living systems. This hands-on blend of scientific inquiry and coding gives campers a tangible way to see how computer science can model nature. The program works best for students entering grades 7–9 who are curious about both science and technology and ready to engage with creative problem-solving. A full refund is available if you cancel more than a week before the camp starts; partial refunds apply for cancellations within seven days.