summer camp · ages 6 and up
Minecraft Redstone Engineering Camp for Kids in Frisco, TX
In this camp, ninjas will explore the world of Minecraft Redstone, using Minecraft Java Edition through MCreator. Ninjas will learn more about electricity and circuitry, both inside and outside of Minecraft.
- Minecraft Java
In the camp
What they do
The projects they work through in the camp, one at a time.
Working circuits in Tinkercad
Before a single block is placed they build real circuits in a simulator, so redstone lands as electronics rather than as a game mechanic.
A powered door
A lever, a switch, a signal that travels and a door that opens. The first thing that behaves.
Logic gates out of redstone
AND, OR and the rest, built from torches and dust. These are the parts a computer is actually made of.
A clock circuit
Something that repeats on its own, for anything that has to keep happening without a player standing there.
A final project of their own
Sketched on paper first - what it does, what it needs, how big it is - then built across the last two days.
The concepts behind it
What they are actually learning
The camp is the reason they turn up. These are the ideas they use to do it, shown the way they meet them, and they are the same ideas behind any programming language they pick up later.
Circuits
power source redstone torchsignal travels along dustoutput lamp turns onA source, a path and an output. Break any one of the three and nothing happens - which is as true of the wiring in your house as it is in Minecraft.
Signal strength
power at source 15drops 1 per block traveledat 0 the signal stopsPower fades with distance, so a long run needs repeating. It is the first thing that catches everyone out.
Logic gates
AND - both inputs onoutput onOR - either input onoutput onGates take one or more inputs and decide the output. Two switches that both have to be on is an AND; either one working is an OR. Computers are built out of these.
Clocks and repetition
repeat foreverpulse onpulse offA circuit that drives itself, so a machine keeps running with nobody pressing anything.
What they leave with
By the end of camp
Taken from the camp's own curriculum, not written for this page.
- Developed an understanding of how Minecraft Redstone works
- Gained a deeper understanding of general electrical knowledge and how things that we use in our daily lives function
- Planned and designed an original project in Minecraft Redstone
After camp
Loved our camp? Keep building all year.
Create is our core coding program, where a ninja builds real games in JavaScript and works up through the belts. The first session is free, so they can try it before you decide.
Before you ask
Common questions
Is redstone really engineering?
The camp treats it as electronics, and starts in a circuit simulator rather than in the game. Power source, path, output, logic gates - the ideas transfer straight to how the things in your house work.
Does my child need to know redstone already?
No. Day one starts at what redstone is and where it is found.
Is there any coding?
Not typed code. Logic gates are the same reasoning a conditional uses, which is why this one suits a ninja who likes working out how things fit together.
What do they build at the end?
Whatever they planned. They sketch it out on paper first - what it does, what components it needs, how big it is - and then spend the last part of the week building it.
Ages 6+
Ages 6+
Ages 6+