Arduino Workshop for Parents & Children

Join us for a hands-on Arduino Workshop designed for parents and children to build, code, and play together! In this interactive experience, families will learn how to create their own retro-style space game using Arduino hardware, simple electronics, and beginner-friendly programming concepts.

Participants will explore the fundamentals of game programming, including how a game loop powers animation and action on the screen. Together, families will program motion and physics to move, rotate, and fly a spaceship through space while learning how real-time controls work using joysticks and buttons connected on a breadboard.

As the workshop progresses, students will add exciting gameplay features such as shooting mechanics, aiming systems, and projectile management. They’ll also bring their games to life with animated graphics, rotating shapes, sound effects, and music played through a buzzer.

Along the way, families will discover how games are structured using rules, scoring systems, collisions, lives, and multiple levels. They’ll also learn about different game states such as title screens, pause menus, gameplay, and game-over screens. To complete the experience, participants will even save high scores directly to the Arduino for persistent gameplay.

No prior programming experience is required. This 4-hour workshop encourages creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and STEM learning in a fun and supportive environment where parents and children can learn side-by-side while building a fully playable game together.

Kids Age Range: 7 to 13 years old

Slots available for 12 participants (6 parents & 6 kids). Reserve your spot today!

Fee:

$200.00* (Parent & Child non-members)

$180.00* (Current Orenco Learning Club Parent & Child members)

* Materials included. OLC will provide the laptops and other parts needed to make the projects.

Workshop Schedule:

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026

Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm (Pacific Time)

Venue: Orenco Learning Club (OLC) - 6281 NE Cherry Drive, Hillsboro

12 spots total.

4 spots remaining.

SIGN UP NOW!

Taught by our Arduino instructors, Jerry Sherrard and Dan Birt, PhD.

Jerry Sherrard

Jerry is the chess coach and Arduino Club instructor at OLC. He has been teaching Arduino and electronics for over 15 years. He completed his Electrical Engineering studies in 2005. Jerry is dedicated to teaching electronic concepts through fun hands-on projects and applied knowledge with a structured curriculum.

Dan Birt, PhD.

Dan finished his undergraduate studies at California Institute of Technology (CALTECH) and has a Doctorate in Material Science at University of Texas-Austin. He, along with his wife (Audrey), founded Orenco Learning Club in 2019. He is the Arduino Club instructor at OLC.

Topics that will be covered in this workshop:

  • What is Arduino?
  • Game Programming Basics: a game loop creates the action and renders the graphics
  • Motion/Physics: moving, rotating, and flying a ship
  • Hardware Controls: joystick and buttons on a breadboard
  • Shooting: firing, aiming, and managing projectiles
  • Drawing/Animation: rendering rotating shapes
  • Game Rules: collisions, score, lives, levels
  • Game States: title, play, pause, and game-over screens
  • Sound/Music: adding sound effects and melodies with a buzzer
  • Saving Data: high score storage

Main Project:

  • Build an "Asteroids" Game with an ESP32-S3 Display board.