AI for All Camp: Igniting Young Innovators

What an incredible weekend it was! Here at Mini Makers, we just wrapped up our very first "AI for All" Bootcamp, and we are absolutely bursting with pride over what our young participants achieved. Held right here in South Riding, this in-person camp was a vibrant hub of curiosity, creativity, and cutting-edge technology.

Our mission with "AI for All" was simple: to demystify Artificial Intelligence and make it accessible, fun, and empowering for middle schoolers. Over three action-packed days, we transformed curious minds into confident AI creators – and the results were truly amazing!

A Journey from AI Curious to AI Capable

The camp was designed with a clear, project-based progression, ensuring every student, regardless of prior experience, could grasp fundamental AI concepts and immediately apply them.

Day 1: Understanding AI and Training Their First Models We kicked off the camp by exploring what AI actually is, how it works in our everyday lives, and its incredible potential. The "unplugged" activities helped students grasp core concepts without even touching a computer. Then, the real fun began! Using Google's Teachable Machine, students embarked on their first hands-on challenge: training their own animal recognition models! They meticulously collected images, taught the AI to distinguish between different animals, and watched with awe as their computer magically identified their chosen creatures. It was a fantastic start, demonstrating the power of machine learning in a completely tangible way.

Day 2: Coding with AI – Rock, Paper, Scissors, and Beyond! With their initial AI models under their belt, Day 2 was all about connecting their AI brains to a "body" – the Scratch coding platform! We started with a classic: students built their own Rock, Paper, Scissors AI models. They trained their AI to recognize their hand gestures for rock, paper, and scissors, and then coded a Scratch game where they could play against the computer using their own AI. This activity solidified their understanding of how AI can control digital interactions, laying the groundwork for more complex projects.

Day 3: Custom Creations & The "AI Arcade" Showcase! The final day was a whirlwind of innovation! Students took everything they had learned and unleashed their creativity to build their own custom AI models and games. Our instructors were on hand, providing personalized guidance as ideas came to life. The camp culminated in our exciting "AI Arcade" competition, where each student proudly showcased their unique AI-powered creations. The air was buzzing with excitement as they demonstrated their projects, explaining their code and their AI models to the cheering crowd. It was inspiring to see the diverse range of ideas and the confidence with which they presented them.

Innovator Spotlight: Yashaswi & Monish M

One of the standout projects came from Monish M. and Yashaswi M., who truly embraced the spirit of innovation. They built an incredible game where you control a boat, using different hand gestures to dodge oncoming rocks! His creativity and technical execution were fantastic.

When asked about what he learned, Monish shared:

"I learned that AI isn't just for big companies; anyone can create with it, and it's really fun to see your ideas come to life with code!"

We are so proud of all our Mini Makers and their incredible achievements this weekend. They didn't just learn about AI; they became true AI creators! We can't wait to see what these young innovators build next.

Stay tuned for more exciting camps and workshops from Mini Makers!