The Pi Academy

Empowering diverse youth with accessible coding education for a more inclusive tech future.

08/20/2026

Every parent wants to see their kid walk away from something believing they can build things. That's what a day at The Pi Academy's Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp is designed to do.

This September, two sessions are open for students ages 11-14, led by professional software developers who make coding, robotics, and electronics feel approachable, not intimidating:

📅 Session 1: Friday, September 25 | 4:00-9:00 PM
📅 Session 2: Saturday, September 26 | 10:00 AM-3:00 PM

– GVSU Innovation Design Center, 227 Winter Ave., Grand Rapids, MI
– $75 per student | Scholarships available for anyone in financial need

Every camper also takes home their own Raspberry Pi 5 computer (a $175 value) so the learning doesn't stop when camp ends.

Register at thepiacademy.org/events.

08/15/2026

No family should have to sit this one out because of cost 💙

At The Pi Academy, need-based scholarships are available for every Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp (always). And this September, there are two chances for your camper to join us:

📅 Session 1: Friday, September 25 | 4:00-9:00 PM
📅 Session 2: Saturday, September 26 | 10:00 AM-3:00 PM

GVSU Innovation Design Center, 227 Winter Ave., Grand Rapids

Ages 11-14. Led by professional software developers. Every camper takes home a Raspberry Pi 5 computer (a $175 value). $75 per student + scholarships available for anyone in financial need.

Register today at thepiacademy.org/events, and please share with a family who needs to see this.

08/04/2026

Mark your calendars, Grand Rapids families... September camp dates are here! 🎉

The Pi Academy's Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp is back this fall with two one-day sessions for students ages 11–14. Campers spend the day coding, building, and problem solving side by side with professional software developers, and every student takes home their own Raspberry Pi 5 computer (a $175 value) to keep learning at home.

– Session 1: Friday, September 25 | 4:00–9:00 PM
– Session 2: Saturday, September 26 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM

GVSU Innovation Design Center, 227 Winter Ave., Grand Rapids, MI

$75 per student | Scholarships available for anyone in financial need | No registration
deadline (but spots go fast).

Register today at thepiacademy.org/events, and feel free to share with a family who'd love this!

07/20/2026

Grand Rapids families: this is your reminder that Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp has scholarships available. Every camp, every session, no strings attached beyond a simple application.

We built this program on the idea that access shouldn't depend on a zip code or a paycheck. If you know a student who'd light up at the chance to build robots and write code for a day, send them this post.

Apply here: https://thepiacademy.org/events

07/13/2026

What does your middle schooler actually do for five hours at Pi Academy camp?

Short answer: they code, they build and program robots, they get hands-on with electronics,and they go home with their own Raspberry Pi computer, ready to keep learning.

The whole day is led by professional software developers, so your student isn't just being kept busy, they're being taught the whole time, by people who do this for a living.

Curious what a day looks like? 👉 thepiacademy.org

07/09/2026

Her path in tech started at The Pi Academy. Here's where she is now 💛 💙

When Alexis Cherpes came to Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp as a student, she was just getting her first taste of coding, robotics, and electronics, like most campers who come through our doors.

Today, Alexis is pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity at Ferris State University, with a concentration in Digital Forensics, AI, and Pe*******on Testing. She's also involved with the Women in Cyber Security club and the Information Security Intelligence Alliance club on campus.

In her own words: "Girls Who Code first pushed me into Raspberry Pi Camp, and then Raspberry Pi Camp pushed me into Information Security... Raspberry Pi Camp was really the starting point that set me on this path."

This is exactly why we do this work. One camp weekend can be the beginning of a whole career path, and we'd love for your student to be next.

Registration opens soon for our next Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp 👀

Scholarships are available for families who need them.

07/06/2026

Ten years ago, The Pi Academy started as a simple idea inside Bravo LT: what if more kids (especially the ones tech usually overlooks) got a real, hands-on shot at coding, robotics, and electronics? A $35 computer called the Raspberry Pi became the spark, and a Grand Rapids coding camp for middle schoolers became the result.

A decade later, hundreds of students, ages 11 to 14, have sat down at that same kind of table, built their first project, and gone home with a computer of their own to keep learning on. What started small has grown into an independent nonprofit, backed by a community of volunteers, board members, and partners who believe every kid deserves that first spark.

We know a lot of you reading this have some connection to The Pi Academy: a
camp your kid attended, a Saturday you volunteered, a sponsor logo you recognize.

We'd love to hear it. Drop your Pi Academy story in the comments 👇

06/23/2026

What does a weekend at camp look like?

Coding. Robotics. Drones. A PizzaDelivery Game built from scratch. And a Raspberry Pi computer to take home.

The June Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp wrapped at GRCC in Grand Rapids, and 48 students left with more skills, more confidence, and more possibilities than when they arrived.

The next camp is coming soon.

→ thepiacademy.org

Scholarship assistance is available.

Tag a family who needs to know about this!

06/18/2026

We could not have done it without you. A huge thank you to everyone who made the June Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp possible!

⭐ Premier Community Partners: Amway + Meijer

Community Partners: Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring | Rotary Club of Grand Rapids | Shape Corp. | GE | Bravo LT

Because of your generosity, 48 amazing kids spent the weekend at GRCC learning to code, build robots, and think like engineers. And they all went home with their own Raspberry Pi computer 🎉

06/16/2026

What a weekend! 🎉

The Pi Academy's Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp wrapped up at GRCC in downtown Grand Rapids and we couldn't be more grateful for everyone who made it happen.

48 students spent Friday evening and Saturday morning coding a Pizza Delivery Game, programming robot cars, and learning from volunteer software developers who gave their time to be there. Every single camper walked out with a full computer setup (Raspberry Pi, monitor, keyboard, and mouse) to keep.

To the families who brought their kids: thank you for trusting us. To our volunteers: you are the program.

More camps are coming. Follow the page so your family doesn't miss the next one! 💙

Address

40 Monroe Center NW
Grand Rapids, MI
49503

Website

https://thepiacademy.org/

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