Short answer: Vancouver’s standout option is UBC Geering Up, the engineering faculty’s outreach programme, which runs summer camps and year-round clubs — and offers bursaries for both, which is rare. Science World is the other institution worth building around. On the private side, Steamoji Kitsilano on West Broadway runs a 400-hour maker curriculum for ages 6–14, and Code Ninjas Vancouver West is open on West 41st — but Vancouver East is still waitlist-only, so east-side families have a real geographic gap. Most programs start at age 6. Vancouver Public Library runs free technology programs citywide.
Vancouver has the deepest market for this in the province and the most uneven geography. The west side is well covered; east of Main Street the private options thin out sharply, and the university and library programs matter more as a result. This guide covers what is actually open, where the gaps are, and where the genuinely cheap options are.
UBC Geering Up
UBC Geering Up is the engineering faculty’s youth outreach programme, with the stated aim of giving BC youth the chance to investigate engineering, science and technology in a fun, educational and safe environment. It is the closest thing Vancouver has to a gold standard, and it is not priced like a private academy.
What they run:
- Summer camps for elementary and high school students.
- Year-round clubs — the part most people miss. A club runs through the school year rather than compressing everything into July, which suits sustained interest far better than a single camp week.
- InSTEM — Indigenous STEM programming.
- Classroom workshops and demonstrations, plus free Pro-D workshops for teachers.
They deliver across Greater Vancouver — Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, North Vancouver, Richmond and South Surrey — as well as the Okanagan, so families outside the city proper may still be in range.
Bursaries are available for camps and for clubs. That second one is unusual: most subsidy programmes cover a one-off camp week and leave the ongoing commitment unfunded. If cost is the barrier, ask here first. Contact geering.up@ubc.ca or 604-822-2858.
Science World
The flagship science centre at Telus World of Science is the other institution to build around, and it does more than the building suggests — camps, workshops and school programs alongside general admission. For a child who is curious but not yet committed, a membership plus the free and low-cost options below often delivers more than an expensive term programme.
Science World also runs camps beyond the city, including at school sites in Surrey, so the brand is not confined to False Creek.
The private academies — and the east-side gap
Steamoji Kitsilano
Unit 1, 2156 West Broadway, on (604) 336-0682. Ages 6 to 14, working through a structured 400-hour “Build to Solve” curriculum covering coding, robotics, engineering, 3D printing and digital arts. This is the most hands-on option in the city — fabrication and physical computing rather than screen work — and the longest commitment. They offer a free session, which is the sensible way to test the format.
Code Ninjas Vancouver West
3534 West 41st Avenue, on (236) 996-2633 — open. Hours are Monday 3:30–6:30pm, Tuesday 3:30–7:30pm, closed Wednesday, Thursday 3:30–7:30pm, Friday 3:30–6:30pm and Saturday 10:00am–2:00pm.
Ages 5 to 14 through JR (5–7) and CREATE (8–14), where the spine of the programme is building video games, with children progressing through belts at their own pace during drop-in hours. Also after-school programs, seasonal camps, clubs for 8–14, birthday parties and Parent’s Night Out. The centre holds up to 30 students.
Vancouver East is not covered yet
The Code Ninjas Vancouver East location is listed as coming soon and is taking waitlist signups only. It appears in search results as though it were trading, which catches people out. If you are east of Main Street, your realistic options are UBC Geering Up, Science World, the library, or a drive to the west side — and it is worth checking Burnaby, where Code Ninjas Burnaby South on Rumble Street is open and may be closer than West 41st.
Which one suits which child
| If your child… | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wants real engineering | UBC Geering Up | University faculty outreach; camps and year-round clubs |
| Needs cost to not be the barrier | UBC Geering Up | Bursaries for camps and clubs |
| Is curious but not committed | Science World plus library programs | Broad exposure before a term commitment |
| Is obsessed with games and self-directed | Code Ninjas Vancouver West | Belt progression, they build games |
| Wants to build physical things | Steamoji Kitsilano | Fabrication and physical computing |
| Lives on the east side | Geering Up, VPL, or Code Ninjas Burnaby South | Vancouver East has no open franchise centre yet |
What it costs
| Format | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| University camp or club | Mid-range for the region | UBC Geering Up; bursaries for both |
| Full-week private break camp | up to about $400 | Typically 9am–3pm |
| One-day workshop | from $55 | Regional providers; cheapest test of interest |
| Membership-style academy | Monthly | Code Ninjas and Steamoji |
| Science World | Admission or membership | A membership pays back over a year of visits |
| Vancouver Public Library programs | Free | Technology and maker sessions |
The two questions that decide value more than the sticker price: does your child keep the kit, and is progress paced by the child or the calendar. Steamoji sends hardware home; drop-in belt models do not, but let a keen child move faster than a weekly class allows.
Free and low-cost in Vancouver
- Vancouver Public Library — free technology, maker and coding programs for children across the branch network, plus free computer access. The cheapest possible test of genuine interest.
- UBC Geering Up bursaries — for camps and for year-round clubs. Ask before ruling anything out on price.
- School robotics clubs and FIRST LEGO League — many Vancouver School Board schools run teams, free or nearly so, with the same competition structure paid programs charge for.
- ADST class at school — every BC student already does Applied Design, Skills and Technologies. Ask the teacher what they are covering before paying for a duplicate.
- Steamoji free session — a full class at no cost.
- Scratch and micro:bit at home — free, and close to what many paid beginner classes teach.
Camps versus clubs
Vancouver is the one city where you have a real choice here, because Geering Up runs both. A camp is five consecutive days — enough momentum to finish something substantial, and you learn in a week whether the interest is real. A club runs through the school year, which is how skills actually consolidate; spacing beats cramming for anything technical.
The sensible sequence is a camp first to test interest, then a club to build on it. Our main robotics and coding guide goes deeper on what a class involves at each age, the screen-time question and how ADST works.
Questions to ask before you enrol
- What is the instructor-to-student ratio? Robotics goes wrong constantly by design; a child who waits fifteen minutes for help stops trying.
- Is there a bursary? Ask directly — the university programs have them and do not always lead with it.
- Does my child keep the kit?
- What will they have built by the end? A specific answer is a good sign.
- Is there a free session or single-day option first?
- How much of a session is hands-on with hardware rather than at a laptop?
Frequently asked questions
What is UBC Geering Up?
It is UBC’s engineering faculty outreach programme for BC youth, running summer camps, year-round clubs, Indigenous STEM programming through InSTEM, and classroom workshops. It delivers across Greater Vancouver and the Okanagan, and offers bursaries for both camps and clubs. Contact geering.up@ubc.ca or 604-822-2858.
Is there a Code Ninjas in Vancouver?
On the west side, yes — Code Ninjas Vancouver West is open at 3534 West 41st Avenue on (236) 996-2633, for ages 5 to 14, closed Wednesdays and Sundays. The Vancouver East location is still listed as coming soon and is taking waitlist signups only, despite appearing in search results as though it were open.
How much do kids coding classes cost in Vancouver?
From about $55 for a one-day workshop up to roughly $400 for a full-week private camp. Code Ninjas and Steamoji run monthly enrolment. UBC Geering Up camps and clubs sit in the middle of the regional range and offer bursaries, and Vancouver Public Library programs are free.
What age can kids start robotics in Vancouver?
Steamoji starts at 6 and Code Ninjas at 5 through its JR stream. UBC Geering Up runs programs for elementary and high school students. Ages 8 to 10 is the core age for building and programming a real robot.
Where can east Vancouver families go for coding classes?
There is no open franchise centre in east Vancouver yet. The realistic options are UBC Geering Up, Science World, free Vancouver Public Library programs, school robotics clubs, or Code Ninjas Burnaby South on Rumble Street, which may be a shorter drive than the west side.
Are there free coding or robotics programs in Vancouver?
Yes. Vancouver Public Library runs free technology and maker sessions, many Vancouver School Board schools run robotics clubs and FIRST LEGO League teams, and Steamoji offers a free introductory session. UBC Geering Up offers bursaries for camps and clubs.
Camp or club — which should we do first?
A camp first, to test whether the interest is real: five consecutive days builds enough momentum to finish something substantial. Then a year-round club, because technical skills consolidate through spacing rather than cramming. Geering Up is the main provider running both.
Related guides
- Robotics, Coding & STEM Classes for Kids in Surrey & the Fraser Valley
- Robotics & Coding Classes for Kids in Burnaby, BC
- Robotics & Coding Classes for Kids in Langley, BC
- Things to Do With a 5-Year-Old in Metro Vancouver
- Kids Camps: Spring Break, Summer & Winter Break
- Family Farms Near Vancouver
Last updated: September 2026. Addresses, hours, ages and prices are the providers’ own published 2026 information and change — confirm before enrolling.
