Oregon MESA — Coding

We enrolled our 12-year-old in the Oregon MESA Coding program in Portland, and overall, it has been a positive experience. The staff, especially our instructor Jake, was engaging and made learning interesting for the kids. My child was excited to build a simple game using Scratch, which was a great way to spark his interest in coding. The small group size allowed for more personalized attention, which was a big plus. One minor annoyance was the amount of screen time; I wish there had been more hands-on activities mixed in. Pickup was smooth, with clear communication from the staff, making it easy for us as parents. If you have a child who's focused and enjoys tech, I would recommend this program, but just be aware of the screen-time issue.

My 12-year-old son has been attending the Oregon MESA Coding program in Portland for the past three weeks. The small group size really allows for individualized attention, which he appreciates, especially when he gets stuck on a coding challenge. The instructor, Jake, is responsive and genuinely engages with the kids, making each session feel lively and productive. My son has enjoyed building his own simple games and learning to troubleshoot them. However, I did notice there was quite a bit of screen time during the sessions—sometimes it felt a bit excessive. Overall, it's a solid program that combines learning with creativity, but I would suggest they balance screen time with some off-screen activities to mix things up a bit. If your child is focused and interested in technology, I think they would benefit from this experience.