2026-2027 Enrichments

Coding, Engineering & Game Creation with Minecraft Education:  

(Grades 2-6)

Time: 4:30 PM–5:30 PM

(Grades K-8)
Location: JCC West Orange, NJ
Season: Fall

Dive into the exciting world of coding and game design in this hands-on, creative class tailored for students in grades 2 through 8! Using the popular platforms Minecraft Education and Roblox Studio, students will learn to code, design interactive games, and build immersive virtual worlds.

​Through Minecraft Education, younger students will be introduced to coding fundamentals using block-based coding and visual logic, while older students can explore more advanced concepts like Python or JavaScript in a familiar, engaging environment. With Roblox Studio, students will bring their game ideas to life using Lua scripting, gaining real-world programming skills while developing their own playable 3D games.

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Each session combines creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration as students:

• Learn coding fundamentals and game design principles

• Build custom Minecraft challenges and Roblox games

• Work on individual and team-based projects

• Test, play, and share their creations

No prior experience is required—just imagination and a love for games! Projects are designed to scale in complexity based on grade and experience level, ensuring every student is challenged and supported.

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JCC West Orange Robotics Program
Time: 4:30 PM–5:35 PM

(Grades K-8)

FLL Explore Grades K-4

Challenge team grades 5-8
Location: JCC West Orange, NJ
Season: Fall

Dates: Mondays October 19th-January 11th No classes Nov 23-December 21 & 28

This program introduces students to hands-on STEM learning through LEGO robotics, engineering design, coding, teamwork, and problem-solving. It will include two levels: FLL Explore for younger or beginner students and FLL Challenge for more advanced, competitive teams.

Program Structure:

October: Competitive Team Start

• Competitive FLL Explore teams begin in September.

• Students will work on team building, robot design, missions, coding, and project research.

• This early start allows teams to prepare for tournaments and develop strong collaboration skills.

October: Regular Robotics Classes (Challenge team)

• Regular after-school robotics classes begin in October.

• These classes will introduce new students to robotics fundamentals and prepare them for future team placement.

• Sessions will focus on building, coding, creativity, and problem-solving in a fun and supportive environment.​

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Program Levels:

FLL Explore (EXPO in January) Grades 1-4

Designed for younger students or beginners, FLL Explore encourages curiosity and introduces engineering concepts through age-appropriate challenge models, storytelling, and teamwork.

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FLL Challenge (Non competition) Grades 4-8

Designed for older or more experienced students, FLL Challenge is a competitive robotics experience where students build and program a LEGO robot to complete missions while also presenting an innovation project related to the season’s theme.​

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Program Highlights:

• Hands-on LEGO robotics.

• Coding and engineering skill-building.

• Teamwork and communication.

• Creative problem-solving.

• Opportunities for both non-competitive and competitive participation.

• A strong pathway from introductory robotics to tournament-level competition.

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