Harvard University Summer Camp for kids

Illustration & Animation Academy

Young people will learn how to make storyboards, create characters, ready-to-use resources for films, commercials, video games. They will learn the basic skills of storytelling using drawings, transferring these stories in a professional studio. Using modern tools for creating works of art - Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Photoshop, students will create work of professional quality. By the end of the course, young people will develop samples for the portfolio, they can begin their career as an animator, commercial artist.

Teenagers begin to master the course by considering a professional animation pipeline, using standard tools - Adobe Photoshop, Toon Boom Harmony. They will complete the week by creating a production package or portfolio of illustrated works, use their work to develop the final animation, study the actions of industry professionals, the work processes of large studios.

Potential animators, illustrators will gain direct experience as a production designer. Through the use of professional production tools, they will go beyond art as a hobby, learn to create works of art professionally. Students will develop a repertoire of assets ready for work - characters, backgrounds, props, which can be used as a high-level portfolio. After completing the course, students will be able to turn their passion for cartoons, illustrations into a career in 2D Animation Production.

The curriculum includes:

• Animated pre-production conveyor
• Illustrating Adobe Photoshop
• Toon Boom Harmony Animation
• Character customization
• Creation of complex backgrounds, animated props.

Final projects:

• Digital drawings
• Illustrated Preparatory Package
• Character Tables
• Cartoon character
• Ready backgrounds
• Props and animation sets
• Animated scene.

Audio & Music Production Academy

Participants will learn how to use professional music production, the most important tools of the industry - Ableton Live. Composing, changing sounds, studying layers, mixing, sampling, young people will write their digital music.

The course will help them structure the song, recreate the sounds they hear, create their own unique tracks. Topics covered include recording, audio sampling, an advanced synthesizer, drum programming, improvisation, mixing basics, mastering. Further, young people will master the production of music, writing songs with Ableton, theory, composing music. Young people will learn advanced production methods, audio equipment, compose, produce their own songs, apply advanced concepts of music production.

The program includes:

• Music Production Basics
• Technical Theory of Audio
• Audio effects
• Creative songwriting process
• Music Theory, Composition Tips
• Record a song from start to finish
• The use of equalizer, effects, automation
• The technique of mixing, mastering.

What students will create:

• Original compositions, collages or remixes
• Polished final mix of finished tracks
• Group joint project
• Original composition or remix
• The final mix of the finished song
• Mixing songs of another student.

Filmmaking academy

The summer camp allows you to study the film-making process, to gain practical experience in shooting with high-quality cameras Canon, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects. Each week ends with a film shot by the participants, class, staff, parents.

The course begins with the basic principles of a short narrative film production: script structure, functionality, camera operation, description of roles. Young people learn teamwork, make storyboards, direct, edit. After filming, they upload each project to their own YouTube channel. Next, young people get acquainted with the design of captions, the basic VFX Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, before starting work on a short project. Participants make film projects of various genres, including narration, music video, documentary films, and take completed work home.

Young people will master:

• The main language of film production, the structure of history
• DSLR Camera Shooting
• Effective use of sound, music
• Advanced post-production editing techniques Adobe Premiere
• Advanced cinematography, the importance of staging
• Storyboard, scene lock
• Basic Adobe Photoshop Workflow, After Effects for VFX
• Sound design technology.

Final projects:

• Two to three short films
• Original script
• Short dialogue scene
• A short scene of the dialogue of the protagonist against the antagonist
• The final draft of the narrative film.

Digital Photography & Graphic Design Academy

Each image that we see in the media today is created using digital photography software, image editing. Regardless of whether students consider the career of a graphic designer or consider photography as a hobby, the course will allow them to learn the basics, develop their own portfolio, learn all the intricacies of graphic design, use leading industry software: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop.

Young people will take digital photos, improve images using Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop. They will first learn the methods of digital photography, then move on to mastering software and editing skills. By the end of the course, participants will collect a portfolio of professionally shot, edited photographs, and form an understanding of the work of the photography industry. An important part of the program is the basics of graphic design, Adobe Creative Suite, project training. Students will master the design process, color theory, typography, professional media, and advertising.

What the participants will learn:

• The basics of good composition
• Aperture, shutter speed, ISO changes
• Troubleshoot, fix failed frames
• Manage your work portfolio online
• Photo Enhancement, Post Production
• Using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, the differences between them
• The use of Internet resources for their work.

Class results:

• Portraits, landscapes, close-ups, product shots
• Fast, efficient way to batch edit multiple photos at once
• A series of images telling a story
• Digital Portfolio
• Original compositions
• Digital illustration.

Intro to 3D Modeling with Maya

The course helps students to become a versatile 3D-artist, able to use software for gaming, cinema, TV modeling. 3D-design opens the door to all kinds of modern creative careers, allows you to learn, discover, create and enjoy learning with other enthusiastic teenagers.

After learning the basics of the user interface, Maya tools, students will master the creation of complex forms, models, basic modeling concepts, advanced skills, methods, model the human character, create textures. Throughout the course, students will explore career opportunities, studio work, and teamwork skills.

Course Outline:

• Using 3D Modeling Software - Autodesk Maya, Mudbox
• 3D model development
• UVs texturing patterns
• Scene lighting and rendering using advanced tools
• Planning, implementation of projects.

Final projects:

• Wide selection of 3D objects (Autodesk Maya, Mudbox)
• Simple models from Polygon Primitives, advanced models using block modeling techniques
• Complex models (characters)
• A complex character, creature, prop, vehicle or environment with textures, lighting.

3D Character Animation with Maya

The program includes the study of storytelling, character animation using standard 3D Autodesk Maya software. Students will learn how to animate characters using lighting, settings, camera angles. Participants will master the workflows, take pre-assembled models, animate them in the original short sequence that forms the plot.

Based on their knowledge of the basics of three-dimensional modeling, students will apply design skills to modeling, animation. Participants will master key shots, facial expressions, character poses, object modeling, the process of preparing for work.

Program Content:

• Using Autodesk Maya
• Keyframes, interpolation of the Maya chart editor
• The process of planning, performing animations.

Developments of participants:

• Several dynamic animations
• Images of moving characters requiring fine-tuning
• Animated Snapshot
• Demo video demonstrating their work on the course.

Intro to 2D Animation & Digital Illustration

After learning the basics of the user interface, Maya tools, young people will develop complex forms, models. Students will master the basic concepts of modeling, advanced skills, methods, create a character, textures. Throughout the program, they will explore career options, try on studio roles, mastering teamwork skills.

The objectives of the camp:

• Using 3D Modeling Software - Autodesk Maya, Mudbox
• 3D model development
• UVs texturing patterns
• Lighting, scene rendering, using advanced Arnold Renderer tools
• Skills of planning, implementation of projects.

Final projects:

• Wide selection of 3D objects Autodesk Maya, Mudbox
• Simple Polygon Primitives models, advanced models using block modeling techniques
• Sophisticated Models (Biped Humanoid)
• Sculptures of characters, creatures using the Mudbox toolkit
• Complex character, creature, prop, vehicle, surroundings, textures, lighting.

2D Animation Production & Character Development

The course teaches the work of the production designer: to use Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Photoshop, tools to create works of art, create resources ready for work, and study the intricacies of finding oneself at an advanced production studio. Participants will acquire the skills necessary for future software professionals, industry professionals.

The 2D Animation Production program will give potential animators, illustrators a direct experience as a production designer. Through the use of professional production tools - Toon Boom Harmony, Photoshop.

Students will create a repertoire of ready-to-work assets (characters, backgrounds and props) that can be used for a high-level portfolio. They will study professional industry tools - X-Sheets, Node Viewers, and will receive camera control skills that will enable them to become an effective production designer.

Study Content:

• Character Settings
• Create sophisticated backgrounds
• Creating an animated attribute
• XSheets tool, camera controls.

Students will take home:

• Designed by cartoon character
• Ready backgrounds
• Props, animation sets
• Designed animation scene.

Graphic Design with Photoshop & Illustrator

Summer Camp Graphic Design with Photoshop & Illustrator teaches you to use professional software, equipment for graphic design, animate characters. Young people will receive basic knowledge, experience in professional illustration, animation.

Students will get acquainted with a professional animation conveyor, pay special attention to illustrative preproduction, learn how to use standard tools, Photoshop, Toon Boom Harmony.

By the end of the week, young people will form a production package, a portfolio of illustrated works, apply them to the final animation, and reproduce the professional processes of large studios.

Participants will master:

• Animated pre-production conveyor
• Illustrating Adobe Photoshop
• Animation of Toon Boom Harmony.

Study results:

• Digital drawings
• Illustrated Preparatory Package
• Short animation work.

Intro to Game Design with Unity

Digital Media Academy teaches teenagers the development of digital media: computer games, applications, making this process accessible and fun.

Unity is the basic structure used in developing most video games: students will use the Unity editor to create levels, environments, several managed projects, and C # programming. Students will work in groups, individually, to develop an original game with assets, mechanics of their choice.

Course Objectives:

• Mastering programming tools
• Syntax Interpretation
• Game development process
• Writing clear, readable, efficient code
• Elimination of errors, solution of logical problems.

Students will perform:

• Two managed projects: flying bird, space shooter
• One independent project
• Several Unity 3D environments, scripts.

Game Development with Unity & VR

Game development is undergoing significant changes as exciting experiences, virtual reality continue to push the boundaries of storytelling, games, and interactive experiences. Creating your own game, virtual reality will allow participants to achieve significant achievements in this developing field.

Pupils learn the skills of gaming applications for a mobile phone or headset: they will come up with a story, augmented reality game, will develop the next Pokemon Go, an interactive tour of their favorite place.

Young people will learn the best ways to use the Unity game development engine, solve unique design problems that arise when creating virtual, augmented reality, and learn how the game engine controls platform movements and the work of artificial intelligence.

Training allows you to:

• Explore 3D Design of VR Game Levels
• Development, editing, testing of three-dimensional environments
• Game mechanics program using C #
• Kraft games, stories developed using VR or AR
• Master the concepts of geolocation, stereoscopic vision.

Study results:

• 3D levels
• Player character
• Player abilities.

Intro to Music Production with Ableton

Program participants will learn how to write music like professionals, apply Ableton, master audio production skills. The course will teach the technical, creative skills of electronic music production, music theory, the secrets of a spectacular melody, rhythm, mixing.

Teens will learn how to properly use professional music software to record their own musical ideas, record a song from beginning to end. Topics covered by the program include beat production, audio, MIDI recordings, wavetable synthesis, creative samples, mixing, mastering. Students will record original tracks, remixes, collages, remakes of popular songs using templates designed by teachers.

Participants will master:

• Music Production Basics
• Mixing
• MIDI audio effects.

What students will create:

• Original compositions, collages or remixes
• Group joint project
• Remix of the song of another student
• The final mix of finished tracks.

Music Production & Songwriting with Ableton

Music is a powerful part of human collective experience, today it is increasingly expanding its borders thanks to technology.

Students will master the creative process of writing songs, the technical theory of modern music, recording songs, and learn how to compose music using the Hookpad editor.

Classes teach you how to combine various types of sounds inspired by musical styles, record, edit live performance using Ableton Live 10. Teenagers will learn advanced methods of music production, audio engineering, compose, produce their own song, apply advanced concepts of music production.

What students will learn:

• Technical Theory of Audio
• Creative songwriting process
• Theory of music, composition
• Record a song from start to finish
• Using equalizer, effects, automation
• The technique of mixing, mastering.

Final projects:

• Original composition or remix
• Mix of the finished song

Remix of the song of another student.

Intro to Filmmaking & Video Production w / Premiere

Using the latest equipment, techniques, software, young people will learn all the intricacies of video production, shooting films, and use an editing kit trusted by professionals - Adobe Premiere.

The course begins with the basic principles of short film production: script structure, camera functionality, camera work, role description. Participants will gain the skills of teamwork, storyboarding, directing, editing. Students will prepare two or three short films from start to finish, discuss each experience, share, reflect, and receive constructive feedback. Projects will be written, executed by small teams of 3-5 people. Participants will edit their version of the project using material shot by the group.

The program includes:

• The main language of film production, the structure of history
• Effective use of sound, music in the film
• DSLR Camera Capture
• Storyboard, scene lock
• Post-production editing, using Adobe Premiere.

Students will take home:

• Two to three short films.

Filmmaking & Visual Effects w / After Effects

The preparation of video and cinema today includes a lot of post-production work, which allows you to create incredible visual impressions. Based on students' knowledge of the basic principles of filmmaking in this course, students begin work starting with a short narrative project.

Participants create film projects of various genres, including narration, music video, documentary, and art. Students will master the design of captions, basic visual effects, VFX using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects. Participants will receive basic knowledge of sound design for the production of videos, films.

The course includes:

• Advanced cinematography, the study of the basics of staging
• DSLR Camera Shooting
• Learn basic Photoshop workflows, After Effects for VFX
• Advanced post-production editing techniques Adobe Premiere
• Sound design technology.

Participants will develop:

• Original script
• Short dialogue scene
• A short dialogue of the protagonist against the antagonist
• Final Project is a short film.

Social Content Masterclass: TikTok + Instagram

With nearly one billion active users per day, Instagram and Tik Tok have become leaders in digital content. Participants will work with experts, learn the basics of creative digital art, and develop their skills in developing animations, GIFs, and filters using the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. Young people will start the week after learning about the thematic styles used by the creators of content for social networks on different platforms, and will learn the methods used by the creators to publish various types of videos, photo content for social networks Tik Tok, Instagram. Students create many types of posts, get creative, professional blogging skills.

Young people will learn:

• Professional digital photo processing software
• Adobe Creative Cloud Basics
• Creative Content Development
• Filters for processing images on social networks.

Participants will develop:

• Animations, gif images
• Special content
• Filters
• Photo
• Artwork
• Video
• Digital Portfolio Assets.

Intro to Digital Photography & Photoshop

Every digital image that we see in the media today is processed with special software - an image editor. Regardless of whether students plan to pursue a career as a graphic designer or want to learn more about their hobby, study will help them deepen their knowledge of the basics. Teenagers will learn how to create digital photos, improve images, apply Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, learn methods of digital photography, and move on to developing software and editing skills. By the end of the course, students will have a portfolio of professionally shot, edited photos, an understanding of how the photography industry works.

Young people will learn:

• Elements of a good composition
• Aperture, shutter speed, ISO changes
• Troubleshoot, fix failed frames
• Enhanced post-production photos.

Students will receive:

• Portraits, landscapes, close-ups, product shots
• Fast, efficient way to batch edit multiple photos at once
• A series of images telling a story
• Curation skills for an online portfolio.

Intro to Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning - $ 1895 + $ 69

Participants will master the tools of machine learning, will use them to create amazing things: they will teach the computer to play their favorite game, find patterns that people cannot see, and will develop interactive simulations. Using programming, mastery of algorithms, students will find a use for computers that was not previously considered possible.

Young people will master:

• The basics of artificial intelligence, machine learning
• Image recognition, application of Computer Vision.

Course results:

• Introduced neural network, allowing to solve a specific problem
• Additional products created with the participation of artificial intelligence.

Applied Data Science & Artificial Intelligence w / Python

The program is based on the student’s knowledge of the basics of Python, machine learning. Young people will develop a digital machine that can write books, create neural networks, play games, and translate text.

Students will study the application of artificial intelligence to data, tools, services, and their own projects. They will immerse themselves in the theory, mathematics of machine learning, will operate on data using the acquired skills and strategies.

Young people will learn:

• The basics of machine learning, neural network
• Strengths, weaknesses of artificial intelligence
• Image recognition, data science, its application in solving problems.

Course Products:

• Classifier of images by category of student's choice
• Artificial intelligence that allows you to play video games with a webcam
• Visualization, data recognition.

Intro to Java Programming

Java is the most widely used programming language, the best way to learn coding. Students will receive knowledge, know-how in the field of Java for developing applications, games, drawings, learn how to use processing commands, learn the basics of programming, create their own drawings, animations. Young people will learn object-oriented programming in Java, the creation of multi-class games or applications.

Course Outline:

• Application of programming tools
• Understanding Consistent Systems
• Game logic
• Variables, loops, conditional expressions, much more.

Classes include the development of:

• Drawings, animations
• Gaming products
• Games, stories or animations (optional).

Mobile App Development with React

React Native is a development tool chosen by professionals, creators of mobile applications for several platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows Mobile. Based on students' knowledge of Java, the course will teach adolescents to develop their own applications or games.

Young people will combine new skills from the fields of HTML, JavaScript, CSS to create useful, entertaining applications. By the end of the week, participants will learn how to create strong interfaces, applications, games of their choice.

What teens learn:

• Application development principles, UI / UX design, responsive design, prototyping, testing
• Advanced programming methods - arrays, data structures, object-oriented design
• React Native development, components, web programming.

Developments of participants:

• Mobile puzzle game, text application
• Application for Android or iOS (optional).

Build a robot with arduino

Participants will learn how to build, program a robot using Arduino, take it home, get an idea of the world of robotics, electrical engineering. Young people will learn basic programming concepts, electronic circuits for creating a robot, the capabilities of each sensor, and the actuator by programming with Arduino to perform automated tasks. Pupils will choose two final tests: navigation in the maze or battle with balloons.

The objectives of the program:

• Arduino Programming
• Signal processing
• Building electronic circuit
• Elimination of errors, solution of logical problems.

Study results:

• Autonomous robot
• Unique code
• Robot improvement projects, test courses
• Programmable Arduino Robot.

Build and Program a Laptop w / Python

The program includes the creation of your own laptop, the use of Raspberry Pi, Python, opens up the opportunity for students to become designers, creators of incredible things. Students will collect and take home a pi-top laptop - an ideal tool that will help you learn how to code, create amazing devices, and take your knowledge to a new level.

Young people will learn the basics of basic programming, circuitry, allow students to implement unique ideas, use the Raspberry Pi, various sensors. Participants will learn the basics of Python, physical computing with Pi, using the Pi's Internet connection for remote communication.

The objectives of the camp:

• Configure, use the Raspberry Pi
• Command line interfaces
• Python coding
• Physical calculations.

Student development:

• Products using the capabilities of Python, Raspberry Pi, the Internet
• Base code adaptable for future tasks
• Pi-top laptop (take home).

Adventures in 3D Printing & Modeling

Over the past decade, creativity has undergone an incredible evolution thanks to the capabilities of 3D printing. Whether it’s repairing a broken part of your favorite toy or building a 3D printing city, the camp gives students a basic understanding, experience in using software, hardware responsible for custom 3D printing.

Students will spend a week mastering CAD software called Tinkercad, learn how to break real objects into three-dimensional shapes, learn about the 3D printing process by taking objects from Tinkercad, setting them up for printing using the Cura app, printing on Ultimaker 2+ printers. Each student will pick up 4 specially designed 3D printed objects.

Tasks:

• 3D printer device
• Downloading finished 3D models
• 3D model development using TinkerCAD
• Printing a 3D model using a 3D printer, software
• 3D design, development process, demanded by professionals.

Developments of participants:

• 3D Printed Models
• Student-printed product
• A variety of 3D models inside TinkerCAD
• Custom 3D printing.

Adventures in game design

Participants in the Adventures in Game Design program will develop a unique game, learn how to translate ideas, stories using game design. Having discovered the exciting world of game development, having studied the basic principles of game design, including game theory, character creation, storytelling of digital stories, publications. Participants will learn how to customize game elements using Adobe Photoshop, develop creative solutions in a supportive community of growing designers. Teenagers will take their work home, be able to share with friends, family.

The curriculum includes:

• Create game elements, characters, game items
• The basics of using GameSalad, Adobe Photoshop
• Game design principles, including interactive storytelling, game design, character creation, publishing
• Studying the process of design thinking, reveal the "internal" designer
• Learning various mobile games.

Course results:

• Sprite Based 2D Platform Games
• Original, game 2D puzzles
• Backgrounds, characters
• A few scripts.

Adventures in Music Production - $ 2,095 + $ 69

Adventures in Music Production opens an introduction to production, music recording skills even for beginner musicians. Young people will learn the basics of music (pitch, rhythm, melody, timbre, texture, dynamics), use professional software to record music, record their own musical ideas.

Participants will learn about the difference between MIDI, audio, learn to assign different types of sounds, instruments for individual tracks, learn the science of sound, synthesis, and record musical ideas using Ableton Live. Pupils will create their own arrangement of the existing popular song, learn the basics of musical production, and will be able to record their own music.

Learning Content:

• Music Recording Basics
• Using professional software to record music
• Record your own sound using Ableton Live.

Final Products:

• Songs inspired by popular video games, internet memes
• Unique sounds, instruments, sound effects
• A professionally sounding mix of songs to choose from.

Adventures in animation

The program teaches the skills of shooting cartoons, films, uses professional technologies from Pixar, Cartoon Network, Disney studios. Participants will learn new production methods - timelines, key frames, the use of Toon Boom Harmony, the software that was used to create Sponge Bob and many other popular characters. Participants will learn teamwork skills, meet like-minded people, and learn other animation methods. Pupils will take home a short animated film, share with family, friends.

Syllabus:

• Basic animation skills, storytelling basics
• People stop motion animation
• Basic cartoon drawing skills
• Cartoon development, character creation
• Using the professional animation program Toon Boom Harmony.

Student Work Products:

• Digital illustrations, simple drawings.
• Storyboards, project plans for their animation projects
• 2D animated short films using keyframes, simple drawings

The final animation clip demonstrating the work of adolescents.

Adventures in filmmaking

Participants in Adventures in Filmmaking will master the shooting of films, regardless of whether they want to shoot videos for the Internet or the big screen, prepares them for future film production. Students will learn to develop ideas for stories in small production groups, shoot short commercial or similar projects, work out methods of shooting, editing, shooting a film. Pupils will develop filmmaking skills and complete the final project of their choice. The week ends with a student film festival. Young people will leave the camp, having mastered the production skills necessary for the production of the film, frames of their own short film project.

What students will learn:

• The process of making a movie from start to finish
• Using the camera, telling a story using the shooting technique
• Editing with Adobe Premiere
• Teamwork skills
• Skills of constructive criticism (how to give feedback, answer them).

Participants will perform:

• 2 short films
• Commercial or PSA (+ video).

Adventures in Coding & Artificial Intelligence

Camp participants will study the world of artificial intelligence, machine learning, understand how they affect our lives, whether they can be used for projects today. By the end of the week, students will learn the basics of programming, machine learning models, and explore dynamic, “smart” projects - chat bots, image recognizers.

Lesson plan:

• The use of artificial intelligence, machine learning
• Fundamentals of Model Learning
• Building a chat bot, basic programming.

Student projects:

• Functional chat bot
• Machine learning models for text
• Image recognition models
• Games, animations.

Adventures in Coding and Robotics with LEGO

The course includes learning the basics of robotics, coding with Lego. Students will create, program robots, use them to perform a number of tasks.

Students design, build, program robots using the latest LEGO robotics, the powerful LEGO Boost robot. LEGO Boost has a simple graphical programming language that allows students to immediately begin programming robotics.

Teenagers work in pairs or individually, complete projects, and compete in a tournament. Extensions provide additional features for design, programming, assembly.

Course Objectives:

• Engineering design process
• Boost Programming
• Data analysis, using feedback from the sensor
• Solving problems, following assembly instructions
• The introduction of innovation.

Students will design, program, take home a new LEGO robot.