Calling All Kid Minecraft Fanatics! Have you joined Connected Camps yet? #connectedcamps #sponsoredpost #minecraft

My eight year old is such a fan of the game Minecraft. He actually started playing it while we were on vacation out of state, while visiting his cousins. They were hooked on it and soon enough, he was too. 
I ended up buying him the playstation 3 video game version so that he could play it at home. He plays it almost every day. I'm serious. It is truly addicting. Although, some of you may be thinking, "Oh no, that can't be good for kids..." 
Let me explain a few things.
For those of you who are new to the world of Minecraft--yes, it is a computer game, but actually, it's also so much more than that. It's not like your average game. There are so many things that kids can learn just from playing it. That is one of my favorite things about the game. I love just how educational it can be. It is also a part of my son's homeschooling curriculum. I've even heard and read several stories of it being used in different schools.
Kids have to use their brains in many different ways to complete different skills in the game. It isn't just a game with simple rules and a predictable outcome. No. Not every player plays the same way, and there are so many different places to explore, things to find, fun activities to play. Kid's have to be creative and use their imagination, using logic, trial and error, and they can also learn how to work with other players as a team. Yes, that means that there is a multiplayer online world as well. 

The newest thing that I've recently discovered is the Connected Camps site. As stated on their site, their mission is "to build a global online community where kids build, code, play, and learn from one another. We tap the power of youth tech experts to teach and mentor, and have served thousands of kids through our online and community-based programs."

It is geared toward children, ages 8-15, and they can play the game in a safe and moderated world. They can work with other players to complete challenges and games. Connected Camps is free to join, but you have to own the computer version of Minecraft, and an active internet connection. If you don't have the game, you can quickly purchase it and download to your computer.

There are set hours in which the server is open and they have a list of fun and engaging activities for the kids to play. There are some events that you must pay for, such as coding and game design courses, but there are quite a few free events too. There are several holiday themed events and free play. The free events include hunting, building, survival mode,  creative art mode, and more.

In the coding and game design courses, kids get ten full hours of hands on learning from an expert counselor. One on one mentoring is also available. No worries if your child has no previous experience with either course, they will learn everything that they need to know. I honestly think that it's wonderful that kids can learn these types of things at an early age. I wish there was something available like this when  I was my son's age.

Sound like something you would love your kids to be a part of? My son absolutely enjoys it. 
Join here!


Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, all opinions expressed here are my own.