South Ogden — Say the words “video game” and your kids are bound to stop and listen. The local owners of the new Code Ninjas, a learning center at 5735 Harrison Blvd., know that video games aren’t only fun, but educational. Code Ninjas serves the local area by teaching children computer coding and problem-solving skills while having fun building video games. 

The South Ogden location is owned and operated by friends and business partners Jared Snell and Rick Sollis. Jared, a Utah resident for a number of years, brings over 25 years of experience in technology for higher education, building learning management systems and web portals for colleges and universities. Rick also brings a background in technology, certified in Microsoft, Novel, and Cisco. Rick has excelled as a former tech manager and consultant, supporting management technology systems for a national financial services company.

“We don’t just want to create a place for children to code, but a place where children can learn, create, and gain confidence in themselves,” says Sollis “My wife, Mindy, will serve as the center director, and she believes, as well as I do, that Code Ninjas will help kids focus and develop their skills in coding and STEM education.”

Weber County children ages 5-14 can look forward to visiting the new Code Ninjas center to learn how to code in a fun, safe, and social learning environment where gaming is celebrated, and STEM is cool. Everything about Code Ninjas is built around fun, which keeps kids coming back. But the center also provides the results that parents are looking for, as their children gain coding and problem-solving skills, they’ll fill the need for the jobs of the future.

Code Ninjas accomplishes this with a robust, game-based curriculum made up of nine belts, just like martial arts. The curriculum is self-paced, but not self-taught; kids get immediate help and encouragement from Code Senseis and fellow students as they advance from white to black belt. The program keeps kids motivated with little wins along the way, and “Belt-Up” celebrations where they receive color-coded wristbands to mark their graduation to the next level. By the time a child finishes the program, they will publish an app in an app store.

“The world is full of different interests, with several opportunities for sports. How often do they have the chance to fall in love with STEM?” says Snell. “That’s what Code Ninjas offers, we help them find new passions, things they can do at home and make their lives better.”

Code Ninjas offers a variety of opportunities for children to get involved, including a flexible weeknight drop-in program, camps and Parents Night Out events on weekends. A new program to Code Ninjas is CREATE, a belt-up program where ninjas build video games and develop ninja coding skills on the path from white to black belt. The program is available in-person or remotely with virtual help of a sensei through zoom/conferencing software.

For more information about the South Ogden Code Ninjas location, please visit https://www.codeninjas.com/utah-south-ogden or call 801-810-6826.

About Code Ninjas

Founded in 2016, Code Ninjas^® is the world’s largest and fastest-growing kids coding franchise.  At Code Ninjas centers, kids learn to code while building their own video games. They gain problem solving, critical thinking, and STEM skills in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment.  Kids have fun, parents see results^®. For more information, visit codeninjas.com.