Child 1 Age 9 - 10 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Mixed Media
Child 2 Age 7 (Male)
Program(s) focused in Mixed Media
(4) Overall experience
My kids attended Codezilla's Animation Day camp in July 2024, and overall, they had a great experience. They learned about how animation works, got to model with clay, and filmed their own skits and claymation projects. By the end of the week, they were proud to present their work to the parents, which was a nice touch. One thing they did mention, though, was that the animation portion started later in the week than expected. They also noticed they were in the same room as the Minecraft camp kids, who seemed to get more computer time. There was a bit of jealousy there, but in the end, they still had fun and enjoyed the creative process. A solid camp for kids interested in animation, though a bit more focus on the animation earlier in the week might have made it even better.
(4) Reason for choosing the camp
We originally looked into Codezilla because my kids were interested in a computer coding camp, but when that wasn’t available, we decided on the Animation camp instead. The idea of creating their own animations was appealing, and they liked the thought of using iPads to bring their ideas to life. It seemed like a good mix of creativity and technology, which made it an easy choice over other camps. The experience was worth it in the end, as they had fun and were excited to show off their projects. No hidden costs, but they did wish they had more iPad time earlier in the week.
(4) Program quality and activities
This camp was a new and interesting experience for my kids, who were used to sports and arts camps. They were excited by the idea of using technology in a creative way, and the mix of hands-on activities and digital animation kept them engaged. My daughter especially enjoyed acting out a skit with other kids, while my son loved animating with the iPad. The program was well-organized, and by the end of the week, the kids had completed their own projects to present to parents. It was clear that the instructors guided them through each step, ensuring they understood the animation process while still having fun.
(4) Social dynamics and experience
The camp was a fun experience, but it was pretty quick, so my kids didn’t really make new friends or strengthen existing ones. They got along with the other kids just fine, though, and there weren’t any issues with bullying or inclusion. Everyone seemed to get into groups naturally, especially during activities like acting out skits or working on animation projects. It was a good mix of teamwork and independence, and my kids enjoyed working with others while still focusing on their own creations.
(3.5) Skills and growth
My kids picked up some cool new skills at this camp, especially learning how to use the animation tool on the iPad and understanding frame-by-frame animation. They also got a sense of how much patience is needed to slowly mold clay for just a second of movement, which was a new challenge for them. One thing that pushed them out of their comfort zone was being in the same room as kids on computers playing games as it was a bit distracting at times. Also, the church space was pretty hot with not much ventilation, which made it a little uncomfortable some days. But overall, they still had fun and learned a lot.
(4.5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
The staff at Codezilla were young, 20-something grad students who knew how to talk to and manage kids well. They communicated before camp with reminders about what to bring and followed up afterward about the final presentation. In the middle of the week, my son was not having a good morning. He said camp was boring and didn’t like that other kids were playing Minecraft while he was working with clay. He refused to go inside the church. The staff handled it well, stayed calm, and helped him settle in without any issues.
(4) Advice and tips
If you're thinking about sending your kid to this camp, I’d say it's a solid choice if they’re into creative activities and can be patient with animation. Just keep in mind that the animation part doesn’t start right away, so if your child expects to dive straight into using iPads and filming, they might need to wait a bit. I didn’t realize they’d be in the same room as the Minecraft camp, which made my kids a little jealous at times. If your kid’s really into tech or easily distracted, that’s something to think about. But overall, it was a good experience, just set the right expectations.
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