Free STEM Trial Classes for Kids in Chicago | iCode Ravenswood

Come Try the Full Class Before You Decide 🎒

Why We Invite Your Child to Experience a Real STEM Class Before Enrolling

Choosing an after-school STEM program in Chicago from a website can be difficult. Photos, reviews, and program descriptions can tell you a lot, but they can’t answer the question most parents really want answered: Will my child actually enjoy this?

That’s exactly why we don’t ask you to take our word for it. At iCode Ravenswood, we invite prospective students to experience a real coding, robotics, or STEM class before enrolling. Rather than attending a shortened demonstration, your child can participate in a full hour Belt Program class alongside enrolled students.

They’ll meet the instructor, work with classmates, learn something new, and get their hands on the same technology our students use every week.

Depending on their age and interests, your child might build and program a robot, create a game in Minecraft or Roblox, develop a mobile app, or learn to program a drone using Python.

We believe this experience matters because “Will my child actually like this?” isn’t a question you can answer from a webpage. It’s a question you answer by watching your child build something, ask a question they’re excited about, or celebrate when a project finally works.

Our trial class spaces are limited because we want every visiting student to receive meaningful instruction and hands-on time.

If you’ve been considering STEM classes for your child, this is a great place to start.

Let them experience the class. Let them build, code, and create something. Let them decide.

What Happens During a Free STEM Trial Class at iCode Ravenswood?

During an iCode Ravenswood trial class, your child experiences the same learning environment, instructors, and hands-on activities as students enrolled in our signature learning path also known as the, Belt Program.

Here’s what that looks like.

Your child arrives, meets the instructor, and joins other students working on a project. The instructor introduces a new concept, explains the day’s activity, and guides students as they begin building, programming, designing, or experimenting.

Every Belt class combines instruction with hands-on learning, giving students opportunities to apply what they’ve learned.

Your child might program a robot, build a game, experiment with Python, create a website, or explore engineering concepts, depending on the Belt they attend.
Along the way, they’ll ask questions, work through challenges, collaborate with classmates, and experience what learning at iCode feels like.

By the end of the one-hour session, your child will have experienced a complete class, and you’ll have a much clearer sense of whether the program is a good fit.

Which Coding, Robotics, and STEM Classes Can My Child Try?

At iCode Ravenswood, our signature Belt Program offers a structured learning journey that helps children build technical knowledge while developing confidence, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Each Belt introduces different technologies and challenges, allowing students to progress as their interests and abilities develop.

Depending on your child’s age, experience, and class availability, they may be able to try one of the following programs.

STEM Jr Belt: Ages 5–7 | Early STEM Exploration

Perfect for younger children who love discovering how things work.
STEM Jr introduces science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through playful, hands-on adventures. Students explore themes ranging from jungle safaris and space missions to dinosaurs and ocean exploration.
Activities include beginner robotics, science experiments, creative engineering projects, and collaborative problem-solving.

For parents wondering whether their child is too young for STEM, STEM Jr provides an engaging introduction that encourages curiosity, creativity, and confidence.

Foundation Belt: Ages 6–8 | Coding and Game Development for Beginners

Does your child love games and want to learn how they’re made?
Foundation Belt introduces young learners to computer fundamentals, coding concepts, and game development using Scratch, a beginner-friendly visual programming platform.

Students learn how to create interactive games and animations while exploring essential programming concepts such as sequences, loops, conditional statements, and digital logic.

They also develop computational thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on projects.

Foundation Belt is an excellent starting point for children who are curious about coding but have little or no previous programming experience.

White Belt: Ages 8–11 | Robotics and Engineering

For children who love building, tinkering, and figuring out how things work, White Belt brings engineering to life.

Students use the VEX Robotics platform to design, build, and program robots while learning about mechanical systems, automation, electricity, and engineering design.

Projects may include robotic arms, traffic systems, and other real-world engineering challenges. Students also explore 3D modeling and 3D printing.
As they experiment and troubleshoot, students learn how to think like engineers, testing ideas, identifying problems, and improving their designs.

White Belt is particularly well suited for children who enjoy LEGO, building projects, robotics, and hands-on challenges.

Gray Belt: Ages 8–11 | Minecraft, Roblox, and Coding

Does your child love Minecraft or Roblox? Gray Belt helps turn that enthusiasm into practical programming and game development skills.

Students use Minecraft Education and Roblox Studio to explore coding, game design, digital world-building, and 3D modeling. They progress from visual block coding to text-based programming using Python and Lua.

Along the way, students learn how to design interactive environments, develop game features, and solve increasingly complex programming challenges.

Instead of simply playing games, they learn how to code and discover how to create those games.

Gray Belt is a popular choice for children who enjoy gaming and are ready to explore the technology behind their favorite virtual worlds.

Orange Belt: Ages 8–11 | Website Development and Digital Design

For students who enjoy creativity, technology, and design, Orange Belt introduces the fundamentals of website development.

Students explore HTML, CSS, JavaScript, graphic design, and photography while learning how websites are planned, created, and published.

They develop technical and artistic skills as they build web pages and work toward creating their own websites.

Orange Belt is a good fit for students who are interested in digital creativity and want to understand how the websites they use every day are made.

Yellow Belt: Ages 9–12 | Mobile App Development

Has your child ever said, “I have an idea for an app”? Yellow Belt helps students take that idea from imagination to a working mobile application.

Students explore the mobile app development process, from brainstorming and storyboarding to programming, user experience design, testing, and publishing.

Using technologies such as C#, .NET MAUI, and Visual Studio, students learn how to build functional applications while developing their coding and design skills.

They also explore how apps manage information, connect with other services, and evolve from an initial concept into a finished product.

Yellow Belt is an excellent choice for students who enjoy problem-solving, creative technology, and the idea of developing something others can use.

Green Belt: Ages 10–13 | Python Programming, Drones, and Arduino

For students who are ready to take their coding skills further, Green Belt introduces Python programming through exciting, real-world technology projects.

Students learn to write Python code while programming drones, exploring algorithms, working with data, and experimenting with electronics.

Using DJI Tello EDU drones, students apply coding concepts to drone navigation and automated missions. As they progress, they explore data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and Arduino-based electronics.

Green Belt connects programming to physical technology, helping students understand how code can control devices, analyze information, and solve practical problems.

It’s a strong fit for children who enjoy drones, robotics, engineering, and more advanced coding challenges.

Each Belt offers a different starting point, but all share the same goal: helping children become capable, curious, and confident learners.

Not sure which Belt is right for your child? Our team can help you select a trial class based on your child’s age, interests, and experience.

Why Is Trying a Class Before Enrolling So Important?

Because children learn best when they’re interested, engaged, and excited to participate.

A child who loves playing Minecraft may discover that creating their own game with code is even more exciting. A student who’s never considered robotics might find that programming a robot to complete a challenge is the highlight of their week.

A child interested in drones might discover a passion for Python programming. Another might realize that designing mobile apps is exactly the kind of creative challenge they’ve been looking for.

And sometimes, a child discovers that a particular subject isn’t for them. That’s valuable information, too.

We want families to make informed decisions about their children’s education.
A trial class gives parents an opportunity to see whether the learning environment, teaching style, and curriculum match their child’s needs.

It also gives children something equally important: a voice in choosing how they spend their time after school.

More Than Coding: Building Skills That Last

At iCode Ravenswood, our goal extends beyond teaching children how to code.
Our Belt Program combines technical education with the interpersonal and problem-solving skills students will use throughout their academic lives and eventually in their careers.

Students practice communicating ideas, collaborating with peers, thinking critically, and persevering when something doesn’t work the first time.
When a robot doesn’t follow the expected commands, students troubleshoot. When a game doesn’t function correctly, they revise their code. When a drone doesn’t complete its intended mission, they examine the instructions and try again.

These experiences help children develop independence, resilience, and confidence.

Our Belt curriculum is organized into monthly learning sprints, giving students opportunities to build on previous knowledge and work toward increasingly sophisticated projects.

Parents receive regular progress updates so they can follow their child’s development and celebrate their achievements.

These skills may also help prepare students for the demands of middle school, high school, college, and future careers, where independent thinking, collaboration, and the ability to solve unfamiliar problems are increasingly valuable.
And for parents, seeing that learning process firsthand can be much more meaningful than reading about it in a brochure.

Frequently Asked Questions About STEM Trial Classes in Chicago

Can my child try a coding class before enrolling?

Yes. iCode Ravenswood invites prospective students to experience a real Belt Program class before enrolling, subject to class availability. Children can participate in hands-on activities, meet the instructor, and determine whether the program is a good fit.

Are there beginner coding classes for children ages 6–8 in Chicago?

Yes. Our Foundation Belt is designed for children ages 6–8 and introduces programming fundamentals, computer concepts, and game development using Scratch. No prior coding experience is required to begin exploring these concepts.

What robotics classes are available for children ages 8–11?

Our White Belt introduces children ages 8–11 to robotics, engineering, automation, and programming using the VEX Robotics platform. Students build and program robots while exploring mechanical systems, electricity, and engineering design.

Can my child learn coding through Minecraft or Roblox?

Yes. Our Gray Belt, designed for ages 8–11, uses Minecraft Education and Roblox Studio to introduce programming and game development. Students progress toward coding with Python and Lua while creating interactive digital projects.

Does iCode offer Python programming classes for kids?

Yes. Our Green Belt, designed for ages 10–13, teaches Python through hands-on projects involving drones, data science, automation, and Arduino electronics.

Are there mobile app development classes for kids in Chicago?

Yes. Our Yellow Belt, designed for ages 9–12, introduces students to mobile app development using C#, .NET MAUI, and Visual Studio. Students learn about app design, coding, debugging, and the process of creating functional applications.

Does my child need previous coding or robotics experience?

Not necessarily. Our Belt Programs accommodate different ages, interests, and experience levels. Our team can recommend an appropriate starting point based on your child’s background and readiness.

How long is an iCode trial class?

Our Belt classes run for one hour. Trial students are invited to experience the complete session, including the instructor-led lesson and hands-on project.

What ages are iCode STEM classes for?

iCode Ravenswood offers STEM education beginning at age 5 with STEM Jr. Our Foundation, White, Gray, Orange, Yellow, and Green Belts serve students across elementary and middle school age ranges, with additional advanced Belt Programs available for older students.

Where can I find after-school coding and robotics classes in Ravenswood, Chicago?

iCode Ravenswood offers hands-on coding, robotics, game development, mobile app development, and STEM education for children in Ravenswood and surrounding Chicago neighborhoods, including Lincoln Square, North Center, Andersonville, and Uptown.
Families can explore the programs and request a trial class through our website.

Let Your Child Experience iCode for Themselves

There’s a moment we love seeing in our classrooms.

It’s when a student figures out something they’ve been working on. Maybe their robot finally moves. Maybe their code works. Maybe they’ve created an app, programmed a drone, or built something they didn’t think they could build.
That smile tells you more than any brochure ever could.

If you’ve been considering coding, robotics, or STEM classes for your child, we’d love to invite them to experience iCode Ravenswood firsthand.

Trial spaces are limited because we want every visiting student to participate fully, receive instructor guidance, and enjoy meaningful hands-on learning.

Let your child try it. Let them build something. Let them decide.

Ready to Find the Right STEM Class for Your Child?

Explore iCode Ravenswood and request a trial class
iCode Ravenswood | Chicago, IL
(312) 620-8088
ravenswood@icodeschool.com