The Pi Academy

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

10/08/2026

Big news: we're bringing our Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp to Southwest Florida!

On Saturday, November 14, 20 students will spend the day at Herc Rentals HQ in Bonita Springs learning to code, build and create. Every one of them will head home with a Raspberry Pi computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse to keep learning at home.

Camp is officially full, with all 20 spots filled. We can't wait to meet everyone.

This day is possible because of our sponsors. Thank you to Herc Rentals for hosting us and providing the space and food, and to LMCU and SmarterServices for sponsoring. And a big thank-you to our in-kind sponsors, Tech Defenders and Bravo LT.

10/06/2026

Did your camper's school make the list?

Our September Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp at Grand Valley State University brought together 53 students from 12 school communities:

Grand Rapids Public Schools (50%) Jenison Public Schools (11%) Lowell Public Schools (9%) Forest Hills Public Schools (7%) Homeschool, Kent County (6%) Kelloggsville Public Schools (6%) Godwin Heights Public Schools (6%) Northview Public Schools (1%) East Grand Rapids Public Schools (1%) Kenowa Hills Public Schools (1%) Rockford Public Schools (1%) Kalamazoo Public Schools (1%)

29 campers joined us on Friday and 24 on Saturday. 22 of them (42%) attended on scholarship, and every camper went home with a Raspberry Pi computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse.

About 1 in 4 of our campers were girls. If you know a girl who'd love this, we'd love to meet her next time.

To our families: thank you for trusting us with your kids. And thank you to our volunteers and developers for making the weekend happen 💙💛

Something new is coming Thursday. Stay tuned!

09/30/2026

What a weekend! 💙💛

Our September Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp is officially in the books. Across two sessions, campers unboxed their kits, wired things up, wrote code, and sent robots rolling across the floor. Every one of them went home with a Raspberry Pi of their own.

To our families: thank you for sharing your kids with us. We loved watching them build, troubleshoot, and figure things out together.

And thank you to our board members, volunteers, and developers for making it happen.

This is just the first batch. More photos are coming next week, so keep an eye out and see if you can spot your camper! 👀

09/25/2026

It's camp day!

Our September Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camp kicks off tonight with Session 1, and Session 2 runs tomorrow. We can't wait to see what these students build. Every camper heads home with their own Raspberry Pi and the skills to keep learning.

This weekend is only possible because of a community that shows up for young people in Grand Rapids. Thank you to our camp sponsors, Priority Health, Gentex Corporation, Hildenbrand Community Fund, Lacks Enterprises, Inc., Two Sons Pizza, and Tech Defenders.

And to our community partners AT&T, Amway, Meijer, SIM West Michigan, Cloud Security Alliance - West Michigan Chapter, Jandernoa Foundation, Rotary Club of Grand Rapids, Shape Corp., and GE Aerospace.

Here's to a weekend full of code, curiosity, and a few happy surprises.

09/22/2026

Think back to the first program you ever got to run. Who was in the room? 💻

If someone sat next to you and made the problem feel solvable, you know what that's worth. The Pi Academy's Raspberry Pi Youth Coding Camps put working developers, engineers, and ITprofessionals in that seat for students ages 11-14. They spend the day on hands-on coding, robotics, and electronics, and every student leaves with their own Raspberry Pi.

What it takes:
– Comfort with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Scratch, Python, SQL, or similar
– About five hours per camp, plus 30–60 minutes for setup or teardown
– A criminal background check and agreement to our Volunteer Code of Conduct and Youth Protection Policy

Sign up for as many or as few camps as you like.

Become a volunteer instructor: thepiacademy.org/volunteer

09/17/2026

What a day.

This week, The Pi Academy sponsored and hosted a booth at the Student Tech Showcase. More than 2,500 middle school students attended the all-day event, which featured hands-on exhibits from local employers and nonprofits.

The event focused on building West Michigan's future technology talent pipeline, particularly by exposing students from underserved communities to technology careers, which is exactly the work we care most about.

Thank you to Thomas Lynema and Tracie Chapin for representing The Pi Academy, and to The Right Place and Techweek for bringing the whole community together for these kids.

08/27/2026

Know someone in tech who'd love working with kids (or should try it)?

The next Raspberry Pi Coding Camp for Grand Rapids students is coming later this fall and we need more hands to make it happen.

The Pi Academy is looking for volunteers to help lead upcoming sessions for students ages 11-14. Camps run about 5 hours, with a little time before and after for setup, and you can sign up for as many or as few as fit your schedule.

Follow along here for the official camp dates, and help us find our next round of volunteers in the meantime.

thepiacademy.org/volunteer

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!

Address

40 Monroe Center NW
Grand Rapids, MI
49503

Website

https://thepiacademy.org/

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