Students in grades 8 to 12 can pack up their...

Students in grades 8 to 12 can pack up their sleeping bags and laptops and head to the fourth annual Back-to-School Code-A-Thon in Westbury from Jan. 25 to 27. Credit: Conor McCormack

Do you have a child who wants to learn to code? Students in grades 8 to 12 can pack up their sleeping bags and laptops and head to the fourth annual Back-to-School Code-A-Thon in Westbury from Jan. 25 to 27.

Kids spend 48 hours immersed in computer languages including HTML, CSS, JavaScript and more as they come up with a conceptual business to solve a global problem. “As a team, they’ll decide what problem they want to solve and they’ll represent that solution in a website,” says Laurie Carey, founder and executive director of the Westbury-based nonprofit We Connect the Dots. Previous issues kids have tackled include bullying reform, pediatric prosthetic devices, and future space colonization, for instance, Carey says.

We Connect the Dots' mission is to excite and educate students about STEAM careers, Carey says. Half of the 50 kids already signed up for the weekend have no coding experience, Carey says. Those who do will work with more advanced coding languages, she says.

Girls and boys will sleep in separate areas, Carey says. The cost for the event — dubbed a Back-to-School Code-A-Thon as kids head back to school after winter holiday break — is $20 and includes meals. If a student doesn’t have a laptop, We Connect The Dots will provide one for the event, Carey says. We Connect The Dots is still seeking sponsors for food, T-shirts and prizes, Carey says.

Students must register for the event by Friday and remaining space is limited. The event runs from 3:30 p.m. Jan. 25 to 5 p.m. Jan. 27 at 1025 Old Country Rd., Suite 400, Westbury. For more information or to sign up, call 631-468-7475 or visit weconnectthedots.org

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