✦ The most awesome vacation care program in town!
The hit game Minecraft has been used to teach everything from history to microbiology to the principles of quantum computing, utilising virtual building blocks and creative problem-solving. Every primary aged Port Macquarie Minecraft fan will be excited to hear that the Computer Capers Minecraft School is being offered these school holidays.
We spoke to Rob Walker and Joel Walker about their unique vacation care program “Computer Capers”.
For the child that is constantly plugged in
The unique vacation care program caters to kids that are not into sports based or child care minding services. It’s providing a space for kids that are stimulated by gaming or coding.
The technology focused, support environment offers youth with a shared interest in technology, a place to come together in the hope of forming lasting and meaningful friendships that have been nurtured through computer based social activities. A place where young people can come together and embrace their love of games.
Rob Walker from the successful Computer Capers brand, joined forces with “out of the box” thinker Joel Walker and, with their unique powers and cutting edge technology, they were able to offer regularly scheduled social activities at the Port Macquarie Stadium during the school holidays.
Rob’s background in education and foster care, ensures he is the perfect candidate to support participants, while Joel is focused on creating fun events in a unique social space.
Participants learn to navigate games individually and in groups, with plenty of support on hand. More focused gamers can express themselves in a non-judgemental space. Skills are celebrated and built upon with each member made to feel valued and heard. This program is designed to be cool, creative and an accepting place to visit, hang out and learn while having fun.
You have a background as an IT teacher Rob, tell us more about Minecraft School?
“For many parents, school holidays can be a really stressful time, trying to juggle the demands of work with making sure your children are looked after and having fun in holiday care. We designed the Minecraft meet up program after identifying a need to cater to kids that are motivated and orientated by technology and design."
If you haven't heard about Minecraft, it's a computer game that uses virtual building blocks and teams with opportunities for creative problem-solving.
Like it or loathe it, nothing will change the fact that kids love building online worlds where they are only limited by their imagination.
Through our Computer Capers Holiday Program, we provide support during the building challenges, collaborative activities, social games and group problem solving, all on a safe, private and secured computer server.
It’s a family affair where your son Joel is learning the ropes from you and is now your partner in the program. Tell us who can attend the workshops?
Computer Capers is aimed at Primary aged children, the holiday program is available to any level of technical ability. Each child is given an opportunity to participate in competitions, quests, and mini lessons, all while having fun and interacting with their friends in this positive digital way.
This year, we have designed a huge program with loads of new and exciting classes that include Minecraft Mania, which is the most popular session by far, and we have added more mini games to try. We want this holiday program to be the best.
Most kids love Minecraft, but some need step-by-step guidance and support. We like to think that we can help build social connections while demystifying the exciting world of Minecraft, enabling all children to explore through Minecraft-based activities. We engage with kids by motivating them with open-ended activities.
What outcomes can parents expect from their kids after participating in the program?
Minecraft School is responsible for creating new friendships and bonds, as participants work together to plan landscapes, fight night-time zombies, and continue daily survival. Collaboration, team-building and individual play are all encompassed.
Furthermore, the sessions examine science, technology, engineering, and maths, and beyond that strengthen communication skills, expand and push problem solving skills, while engaging higher order thinking as students plan, develop and build their projects.
This School Holidays, the program will run from Thursday 16th of December, through to Friday January 28th and will feature Pixelmon, Fantastic Beasts, SpeedRun, SkyBlock, Superheroes, Castaway, Minecraft Dungeons, CC Mod Pack, Jurassic, Lost in Space, Build off Tournaments, Minecraft Star Wars.
Let Computer Capers indulge your children in Minecraft conversation. Sessions fill up quick, so you need to get in quickly. We are more than happy to accept NDIS participants also.
Find out what's on in January:
Some of the Computer Capers Games
Jurassic
Jurassic Expedition is an adventure back in time to when dinosaurs ruled the Minecraft overworld. The exhilarating modpack is based on Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchises, but is not only limited to them. This mod allows you to create dinosaurs by extracting DNA from fossils and amber, and putting that through a process until you get a baby dinosaur!
Lost In Space
The freshly made custom Lost In Space pack is a space based Gamemode, that includes loads of the latest tech and space mods. Explore the Universe with the help of the provided quest book which will lead you around and show you the required steps that you will need to take.
Speedrun
Who has the skills to take on the Ender Dragon? The Race to the End is on! Who can break the 15-minute record on this action-packed server? Link with other players to take it on as a team. How long do you think it takes to complete a game of Minecraft? From first loading into the world until the last hit on the Ender Dragon. This certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted. Do you accept the challenge?
Skyblock
Skyblock is one of the most popular Minecraft game modes ever created. The idea behind Skyblock is simple; you spawn on a floating island and the player must survive and complete challenges ranging from building a cobblestone generator to making a cactus farm generating 1000’s of cacti a second.
Pixelmon
Computer Capers’ Newest Version of Pixelmon has it all! Here you can capture, train and level up your favorite pokemon, you can also create your house whilst teaming up with your friends on our Safe and Secure Multiplayer Server. Test your skills in Gyms and Fly around on your very own pokemon! Let Your Pixelmon Quest Begin. Gotta Catch ‘Em’ All!
The Buildoff
The Buildoff is a Computer Capers classic that has gained popularity over the years. The build off is the ultimate test of Planning, Colour Schemes, Detail and most importantly Creativity. Put your Minecraft building skills to the test and you can win up to $100 in prizes.
Superheroes
Have you ever faced a Creeper and blown up? Or found yourself lost in a jungle and you didn’t know your way home? Or even have needed a quick escape from a battle? Well with the Superheroes Unlimited Mod, now you can! You are born to be a hero so suit up, the journey is just beginning.
Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft Dungeons is a popular game separate to Minecraft java edition. Its action packed with a new dungeon crawler way to play Minecraft. Team Up, Fight the Dungeon Bosses and load up on treasure!
Minecraft Star Wars Modpack
Minecraft Star Wars is an exciting classic for all Minecraft Modder’s. Pick your side, the Jedi's or The Sith. Find your crystals and Craft your very own unique Lightsaber. Then play on our custom multiplayer server and challenge your friends to a duel! This Star Wars Minecraft modpack has it all.
Survival Games Tournament
Calling all tributes, calling all tributes, the time has come, the tournament has arrived! Come test your skills in the legendary tournament for survival. With over $100 in prizes up for grabs, you will need to book early!
Castaway
Very excited about this one! We will play Minecraft the way it was designed, OLD SCHOOL with a few mods. Taking place on an island with no shelter or food, we will first need to survive the night and work as a team to build shelter, find food and, of course, keep the bad guys out - this one is not for the faint hearted!
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
This my friends will be an event! If you are a fan of the book or movie or just a fan of strange creatures then this is the best session for you. I cannot guarantee the creatures will all be friendly, however, we will band together and win the day.
CC Modpack
A must for every Minecraft Fan, CC’s very own modpack with over 20+ mods. The PC version of the game today is less about building a dirt shed to cower in overnight and more about space exploration, magical dueling or building enormous factories controlled by banks of computers and powered by nuclear reactors. Minecraft’s ongoing popularity is largely thanks to its mods, and more recently, modpacks.
What’s the plug ….
December/January School Holidays between 8:30am and 5:00pm with crafters invited to attend for a full session or half day, playing Minecraft and other popular games on a safe and secure private server, in a big environment, with physical breaks during sessions.
Classes are running in Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle.
Learn more: www.computercapers.com.au
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