Ages 8–17
No experience needed. Everyone starts in Junior Scratch.
Everything you need before your first session
Saturdays, 10:00–11:30, Gorey Community School, during school term. Free. Ages 8–17. Read this page once and you’re set.
The basics
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Free, always
The Dojo and all activities in the Dojo are free, absolutely no hidden fees.
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Bring a laptop
And a charger, plus a notebook and a pen.
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A parent or guardian stays with younger Ninjas
See the note below.
Supervision: a parent or guardian stays on site for Ninjas under 12. From 12, Ninjas don't need a parent to stay once they have signed the appropriate section of the registration form.
How to register
- Step 1
Email us with the details.
Include: Ninja's name, age, any experience, a parent contact.
Also, anything we should know (additional needs, allergies, access).
A short email is fine (the button below opens a template).
- Step 2
We'll get back to you with details.
We confirm a start date. Everyone starts in Junior Scratch and mentors will suggest when it's time to move up.
- Step 3
Turn up on Saturday.
Sign in at the door from 09:50. Bring a laptop and a charger, plus a notebook and a pen.
We communicate using WhatsApp groups for the parents of Ninjas in each room and you'll be told of any scheduling changes etc.
Places are limited by the number of mentors and rooms available each term. If a room is full we'll put you on the waiting list and contact you as soon as a place opens.
How Ninjas progress
The Dojo is split into rooms by skill and interest, so every Ninja has peers working at about the same level. Everyone starts in Junior Scratch and mentors will suggest when it’s time to move up.
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Junior Scratch
Who it's for: Brand new programmers
Scratch, a visual programming language for games and interactive stories. Drag blocks together, no typing required.
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Intermediate Scratch
Who it's for: Ninjas who have finished a few Scratch projects
Builds on the core fundamentals from Junior Scratch.
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Project Scratch
Who it's for: Ninjas ready to work on their own ideas
Where Ninjas pull everything they have learned in Scratch together to develop their own projects.
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Advanced rooms
Three rooms for Ninjas ready to move beyond Scratch. Mentors often focus on Python, web development, micro:bits and physical computing or game development.
Try something at home first
What to bring
- A laptop and its charger. Windows, Mac or Chromebook all work.
- Headphones, if your Ninja prefers them.
- A notebook and pen.
There is limited wifi for Ninjas subject to acceptable use policies and bandwidth. Any software needed will be advised by mentors after a Ninja starts.
FAQ
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Does my child need any experience?
No. Most Ninjas arrive having never written a line of code. Junior Scratch is built for exactly that.
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Do I have to stay?
For Ninjas under 12, yes, a parent or guardian stays for the session. From 12, Ninjas don't need a parent to stay once they have signed the appropriate section of the registration form. There's space to sit and wait on site.
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How much does it cost?
Nothing. The Dojo and all activities in the Dojo are free, absolutely no hidden fees.
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What if we miss a Saturday?
Nothing is lost. Ninjas keep their own projects and pick up where they left off. Let us know if you'll be away for a few weeks so we can offer the place to someone on the list.
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Is it every week?
Weekly during school term, subject to the school being available. We announce changes on the home page and by email.
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My child is 8 and quite shy.
That's common. Tell us when you register and a mentor will settle them in. Ninjas work individually, so nobody has to speak in front of the room.
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Will photos be taken?
Sometimes, for our website and social media. We only take photos with written consent, which is part of the registration form you fill in on your first day. You can change your mind at any time by contacting us.
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Is everyone vetted?
Every adult volunteering with us is Garda vetted. See our safeguarding documents on the Contact page.
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What will my child actually learn?
Scratch, game design, physical computing with micro:bits, Python, HTML and CSS, depending on what each Ninja chooses. Alongside that, debugging, patience and asking good questions (which transfer to everything else).
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Can I come as a parent and help?
Yes, please. Many of our volunteers have children in the Dojo too. See the Volunteer page.
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Do you have an AI policy?
Not really, we believe there's a huge value to learning fundamentals properly but can see benefits of assistant tools also, especially as Ninjas follow their creativity. Currently we are not recommending Ninjas to use AI for their learning but this may change in the future.