Ride the digital wave with JFK Tech Camp!
Give your child the foundation they need to thrive in the digital age. Fun, hands-on learning designed to spark curiosity and creativity in STEM and digital technology. JFK Tech Camp provide juniors and teens a place to flex their coding and creative muscles in a fun and engaging environment set in the heart of Saanenland. They'll learn important tech skills and have a blast doing it!
During the JFK Tech Camp week-long day programme, juniors (ages 7-10) will be introduced to Animation & Game Design, Web Design and teens (ages 11-14) - Coding in Python and Hacker Mode - Cybersecurity.
Why Choose JFK Tech Camp?
In Demand Tech Skills
JFK Tech Camp’s innovative curriculum integrates projects-based hands-on learning with design and building oriented concepts that encourages students to become digital creators.
Techspert Staff
Instructors are handpicked by our team of experts for their ability to communicate, inspire and mentor students. The programmes are taught by inspiring young instructors enrolled in renowned Swiss universities from EPFL & ETHZ.
Innovative STEM Programmes
Engaging young people beyond their screens to teach them what digital technology can do for them. Our programmes cover over 7 different STEM areas and use industry standard software to build apps, websites, games, robots and more!
Campus set in the heart of Saanenland
Students will have fun and learn in modern classrooms with a small student to instructor ratio of 1:6.
How to Apply
In order for an application to be confirmed, the following items must be submitted:
Application form completed
Payment in full
Programme
Junior - Animation and Game Design
7th August – 11th August
Discover the power of code with Scratch!
This course teaches students to programme their own interactive stories, games, and animations, and share their creations with others in the online community, assembling lego-like blocks of code. Scratch encourages kids to think creatively, reason systematically and work collaboratively.
Prerequisites
•Age: 7-10
•Skill level: beginner
•No programming experience required
•A personal laptop (if you have your own) and USB key is required
How are Games built?
-Basic do(s) & don't(s)
-Storytelling in Game Design
-Game Mechanics
-Game Art & Graphic Design
-Sound & Music in Games
-Playtesting & Feedback
What students learn
•Basic logic and steps required to programme
•An innovative programming language developed by MIT specially for kids
What students create
•Their own story, game or animation
What to expect
•A typical day in class – involves games, exercises, quizzes, framework designs, class discussions and more!
To learn more about Scratch visit their website.
Junior - Animation & Game Design
9:30-9:45
Morning Ice Breaker Kahoot Game
9:45-10:00
Animation & Game Design Principals
(Important aspects to consider when building your own animation or game)
10:00-10:30
Idea Research & Game Testing
(Checkout projects in TechSpark Studio for inspiration)
10:30-10:45 Project Planning & Discussions
(What do we need to learn to build our projects)
10:45-11:15
Snack & Sport Break
11:15-12:30
Introduction to Visual Based Programming
(Gamified tutorials to learn the basics of block coding)
12:30-13:30
Lunch Break
13:30-14:15
Daily Programming Tutorials
14:15-14:30
Snack & Sport Break
14:30-15:00
Test what we learnt today! (10 Block Challenge)
15:00-15:25
Individual Project Design
15:25-15:30
End of Day Kahoot Game
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Junior - Web Design
14th August – 18th August
Build your own website while learning the basics of Java Script.
Students are introduced to the key principles of web design, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX), while learning the basics of Java Script- Students apply what they learn to their own custom website, adding text, images, audio, videos, hyperlinks, and more.
Prerequisites
•Age: 7-10
•Skill level: beginner
•No programming experience required
•A personal laptop (if you have your own) and USB key is required
How sites are built?
•Phase 1: DISCOVERY Website purpose, Website goals, Target Audience
•Phase 2: PLANNING Sitemap, Website Structure, Technologies used
•Phase 3: DESIGN Visual style, usability, UX/UI
•Phase 4: CONTENT Text, photos, videos, SEO
What students will learn
•The basics of web design (Website purpose, goals, target audience)
•Sitemap, website structure, technologies used
•Visual style, usability, UX/UI
•Learn the basics of JavaScript
What students will create
•Students will create their own functioning website with photo or video library. Domain name purchase and hosting not included.
9:30-9:45
Morning Ice Breaker Kahoot Game
9:45-10:30
Web Design Principals (Important aspects to consider when designing a website)
10:30-10:45
What is UX & UI
10:45-11:15
Snack & Sport Break
11:15-12:30
. Playing with UX/UI (Design desktop and mobile landing pages to understand UX/UI)
12:30-13:30
Lunch Break
13:30-14:15.
Website planning & research (Discover how popular site are designed and plan make a plan for your own site. What is it about? Do you want to add images, videos or quizzes?)
14:15-14:30
Snack & Sport Break
14:30-15:00
Website DON’Ts (Checkout examples of bad sites and find ways to imrpove them)
15:00-15:25
Let’s build your Homepage!
15:25-15:30
End of Day Kahoot Game
Teen - Code in Python
7th August – 11th August
Learn Python, the language of Instagram, YouTube, and Google’s search engine! Build & programme robots with Python!
Widely used by programmers, designers and game developers, Python has rapidly become one of the most popular programming languages.
This coding course is available to teens – with or without any previous experience – can develop their knowledge and skills at their pace.
Prerequisites
•Age 11-13+
•Previous experience: None, however students should be comfortable with computers
•A personal laptop (if you have your own)
Good to know
Python courses are a great opportunity for all middle & high-school students whether they are interested in computer science, engineering, life sciences or even business or the arts. As Bocconi University’s rector Gianmario Verona said, “Python grants citizenship in the data-driven economy!”.
What students learn
•Basic or more advanced programming concepts in Python
•Applying Python in Robotics
What students create
Their own project: a playable video game. Build Lego Spike robot and programme it to complete different challenges
What to expect
A typical day in class – involves games, exercises, quizzes, framework designs, class discussions and more!
Sample Day Programme
Teen - Code in Python
9:30-9:45
Morning Ice Breaker Kahoot game
9:45-10:00
Computational Evaluation Quiz (Identify students’ level and define projects based on experience & interests)
10:00-10:45
Intro to Python with Edublocks
10:45-11:15
Snack & Sport Break
11:00-12:30
Drawing with Python
12:30-13:30
Lunch Break
13:30-14:30
Python Loops
14:30-14:45
Snack & Sport Break
14:45-15:15
Python Loops continued
15:15-15:30
Learning Recap & Kahoot Quiz
Teen - Hacker Mode
14th August – 18th August
The best defense is a good offense!
Cybercrime is increasing and can strike at any time. Good preparation – in the form of a compass to navigate the online world and sort the real from the fake – is essential to protecting oneself against fraud and other cybersecurity threats.
Prerequisites
•Age: 11-13+
•Skill level: beginner
•No programming experience is required but students should be comfortable with computers.
•A personal laptop and USB key is required
Good to know
This course opens students’ eyes to the complex world of cybersecurity. Built around real-world examples and exercises, the course equips students with the knowledge and tools to take action. They learn about proactive defense against online threats and find solutions using logic, as well as creativity and resourcefulness!
What students learn
•Binary & Cryptography – cracking secret messages and understanding their role on the internet
•Web exploitation – exploring the inner workings of internet & the many ways in which websites can be hacked
•Practical computer safety – how long does it take to crack the password you’re currently using?
What students create
•Encrypted Images of their choice or secret messages with their very own encryption scheme
•Vulnerable website for their classmates to try and hack
•A demonstration of them hacking a password protected zip file for their parents (to reassure them about their new hacker powers!)
What to expect
A typical day in class – involves games, exercises, quizzes, framework designs, class discussions and more!
Sample Day Programme
Teen - Hacker Mode
9:30-9:45
Morning Ice Breaker Kahoot game
9:45-10:00
Computational Evaluation Quiz (Identify students’ level and define projects based on experience & interests)
10:00-10:45
Intro to Cybersecurity (Discuss different types of cyber attacks and look at some of the most famous attacks in recent history)
10:45-11:15
Snack & Sport Break
11:00-12:30
Let’s go Phishing! (Phishing quiz)
12:30-13:30
Lunch Break
13:30-14:30
Cybersecurity 101 (Solve security puzzles to determine if you can keep your own social network safe)
14:30-14:45
Snack & Sport Break
14:45-15:15
Cybersecurity 101 Recap (Review your results and identify common network vulnerabilities)
15:15-15:30
What’s Next & Kahoot Quiz (Check your device terminal parameters and get ready for password cracker puzzles)
Location
Saanen - Gstaad
In the heart of the Swiss Alps
Set in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps, JFK Tech Camp is located in the heart of the historic village of Saanen. Saanen is easily accessible by train and the campus is a 5 minute walk from the Saanen train station and 3km from Gstaad. Altitudes ranging from 1’000 to 3’000m make for heavenly views that can be viewed from the modern tech classrooms. Along with the backdrop of mountains, forests and lakes, the region provides an ideal environment for students and instructors to learn together in a safe, residential community in the Swiss Alps.
Good to Know
General Information
1. Camp Start - On the first day students should arrive 15 mins before scheduled camp start time to get set up.
2. Devices - students attending 'Junior' courses may use JFK Tech Camp laptops. Students attending 'Teen' courses are asked to bring their own laptop (MacBook Air preferably) & charger. No iPads please.
3. Homecooked Lunch & healthy snacks will be provided by JFK Tech Camps.
4. Pick-up – Parents or an assigned caregiver has to pick up the students promptly when the course is finished
5. Open Doors - On the last day, parents are invited for an open-doors afternoon during the last hour (14:00-15:00)
6. Absence & Sickness - if you child is unable to attend one or more camp days, please notify your camp manager at your earliest convenience. If you child is sick, we kindly ask you not to send them to camp.
7. Emergency Contact - if you did not provide a contact tel number at the time of booking, please email techcamp@jfk.ch with an emergency contact name & number
Are you interested in joining the JFK Swiss Outdoor Camp?
Nature
Outdoor learning is all about Nature. You learn with demonstration and evidence. Touching and seeing is all it is about.
Adventure
Adventure is the move that thrives us now in this world. Watching nature will never be the same after our camps.
Team Building
Team work will teach us how to work in a group, how to tolerate others and how to build self esteem.
JFK Swiss Oudoor Camp
Chilchgasse 8, 3792 Saanen/Gstaad, Switzerland
+41 33 744 13 72