Camp Toukley!
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of teaching at a STEM Youth Development Camp in collaboration with some absolutely awesome organisations. The camp was nestled in nature at Canton beach, despite having lived up the road for most of my life, I had no idea Camp Toukley was even there!
A Collaboration
We were incredibly excited to be invited to teach the coding workshops at Camp Toukley. To be part of the collaboration between ATSIMA (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maths Alliance) and the AECG (Aboriginal Education Consultative Group), for a group of awesome kids was great!
There were kids from schools nearby like The Entrance Public School (shout out to Code Club extraordinaire; Mrs. Tolman!) and from further afield, like Campbelltown!
We were all there to encourage an understanding and passion for STEM with indigenous kids!
While I was teaching the workshop and going around answering questions, I heard a camp mentor say to one of the kids:
“I have no idea what’s going on… But look at you, you’ve made a whole game!”
Even when I’m teaching a workshop there are often times when someone has gone in a different direction with their project and it’s beyond what even I know!
One boy was incredibly engaged in coding the quiz game we were doing, he changed up the mechanics and the questions and was having a real ball. He stayed in the classroom a little time into morning tea to have me test out his project and debug it together.
I had a great time at the camp and I hope everyone else did too!
Many thanks again to ATSIMA and the AECG for having us, we love working on important projects with partners! Code Club Australia is always looking for new and exciting ways to make sure every kid has the chance to learn about STEM!
Happy Coding!
Julia Hunt
Community Projects Coordinator

