As The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, Inc (NewBoCo) kicks off a year-long celebration of its 10th anniversary, there’s no better way to start than with one of our most beloved programs, CoderDojo. On Saturday, September 21st, at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market, we invite you to join us in Greene Square Park starting at 9 AM, where young innovators will dive into the exciting world of STEM.
Over the past decade, NewBoCo has grown into a hub for innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. Still, it all started with initiatives like CoderDojo, which empowers kids to explore, create, and play using technology and STEM-based activities.
CoderDojo’s Early Days:
David Tominsky, former Chief Relationship Officer at NewBoCo, recalls those first few sessions of CoderDojo, where 20-30 kids and families gathered to experiment with technology. But when CoderDojo moved to the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market, the energy exploded. “We stayed busy for hours,” David shared, reminiscing on the excitement from the kids exploring interactive technology in Greene Square Park. By the end of the first year, CoderDojo was not only thriving but becoming a staple in the Cedar Rapids community.
“Computer Science Education Week in 2014 was truly something special,” David added. “We interacted with over 450 kids in various locations, including the Catalyst Cafe in the New Bohemia District and the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Hosting sessions in the same space that had the first Iowa Startup Accelerator cohort made for an unforgettable year.”
For David, these experiences were even more meaningful as he shared them with his own children. “My boys turned 8 and 11 that year, and spending time with them at CoderDojo alongside so many other kids made memories that stick with me to this day.”
The Present and Future of CoderDojo
For Andy Fiedler, NewBoCo K–12 Student Program Coordinator, who has been instrumental in facilitating CoderDojo’s growth, the most exciting part of the program is watching the kids’ reactions when they solve a coding problem or encounter something new. “What excites me most is just seeing the kids’ excitement when they get something to work after some struggles, or when they interact with something brand new to them,” Andy said.
Andy’s vision for CoderDojo goes beyond its current success. He hopes to expand the program’s reach to more communities across Iowa. “My hope is that we continue to expand our partnerships, where we take aspects of CoderDojo to reach new communities and organizations. One day, I’d like to be running a program once a week in some form or another.”
In fact, CoderDojo is already expanding! In collaboration with Wellington Heights Community Church, NewBoCo is now hosting CoderDojo sessions every second Wednesday of the month from 3:30 PM–5:30 PM, offering even more opportunities for kids in the Cedar Rapids area to get involved and explore their love for coding.
For NewBoCo’s Director of K12 Education, Samantha Dahlby, her connection to CoderDojo is personal and professional. “I first learned about CoderDojo when my oldest child was 2, and I started attending and volunteering later that year,” she shared. “It filled the desire I had for young kids to experience hands-on activities that encouraged them to ‘see themselves’ in STEM. I was excited to later join the NewBoCo team and work to continue this and other education programs at NewBoCo
A Decade of Impact, A Future of Possibility
As we reflect on the past 10 years of CoderDojo, it’s clear that the program has played a pivotal role in NewBoCo’s mission to create a more tech-savvy and resilient future for Iowa. We look forward to continuing this journey, reaching even more kids, and inspiring the next generation of innovators. Join us on September 21st at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market in Greene Square Park from 9 AM–12 PM and be a part of this exciting milestone. Watch kids tinker, create, and discover the possibilities of technology—just as they have for the past decade.
Together, we celebrate not just 10 years of impact, but the countless bright futures yet to come. See you there! Learn more about NewBoCo’s CoderDojo program at www.newbo.co/coderdojo.
Every contribution, no matter the size, ignites our mission and gets us closer to our goal of raising $10,00 to kick off the celebration.