A fast-growing kids coding franchise that celebrates all things gaming and STEM opened this week in Greater Cincinnati.
Texas-based Code Ninjas debuted its newest center Monday in Green Township at 6507 Harrison Ave. The location is Code Ninjas’ second in the region.
Code Ninjas aims to teach kids how to use technology as a tool while problem-solving, working together and thinking creatively. The center, which is tailored to children ages 5-14, focuses on building video games, robotics, drones, and other STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math, activities.
The Green Township location is owned and operated by North Bend couple Jaime Smith and Keri Harper. Smith and Harper have spent their careers in graphic design but were searching for a solution for teaching their own children how to code when they came across Code Ninjas.
“The West Side is an amazing community, and we can’t wait to offer local kids these valuable skills they’ll carry with them for a lifetime,” Smith said in a release. “To be able to code opens so many doors for future success.”
Code Ninjas uses a game-based curriculum made up of nine belts, much like in martial arts. The curriculum is self-paced, but not self-taught: Kids get immediate help and encouragement from “code senseis” and fellow students as they advance from white to black belt. The program keeps kids motivated with little wins along the way and “belt-up” celebrations where they receive color-coded wristbands to mark their graduation to the next level.
By the time a child finishes the program, they will publish an app in an app store.
The Green Township location offers camps, a weeknight drop-in program and parents night out events on weekends. The center will also implement several Covid-19 safety protocols, including thorough cleaning, increased distancing and no-contact interactions.
Code Ninjas, founded in 2016, is the world’s largest kids coding franchise, with more than 514 locations in the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom. It ranked No. 17 on Entrepreneur Magazine's annual top new franchises and fastest-growing franchises lists for 2021.
The company, overall, plans to open at least four locations in the region. Its first center, in Anderson Township, opened in May 2020 on Beechmont Avenue and is owned by Todd and Kim Weston.
