These kids learned valuable tech skills via Fortnite at Localhost this summer

Walking into Localhost in Philadelphia, Nerd Street’s video game and esports venue in the heart of Philly, you won’t just come across gamers playing on the high-speed, state-of-the-art PCs and consoles. The high-tech gaming venue has become a home for organizations, groups and communities looking to utilize the space because of the access to technology it provides.

Video games are a powerful tool to engage with young people about the power of technology. CreateAccess and Launchpad Philly understand that, which is why they’ve been utilizing Localhost this summer for their 3D creation classes using the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN).

According to Liz Dailey, CreateAccess’ Co-Founder and Executive Director, UEFN is a creation experience platform that combines the power and functions of Unreal Engine with the assets in Fortnite.

Photo credit: CreateAccess

"It allows creators to build Fortnite levels using the same tools that professional developers are using, and be able to personalize and customize a 3D experience in Fortnite using both the drag and drop assets that are already in the Fortnite library, and assets they bring in or make themselves,” she said. “So they can make an avatar of themselves, or we show them how to make models of objects in the real world and bring them in. They get to play with environmental features and animations and visual effects, and by the end, the hope is that they have this very personal Fortnite island that they've created."

Bring your group to Localhost!

On Aug. 6, the students presented their creations to wrap up their six-week experience. A flying snowman, giant cat statues and a racetrack amid an arctic landscape were among the whimsical creations. One student’s project included an area where pushing a button moves a row of giant strawberries out of the way to clear a path. There’s an area reminiscent of Star Wars in one student’s project, while another student created a giant slingshot to shoot a man forward into parts unknown.

CreateAccess’ 3D creation class is just one of the cool classes that these students got to take this summer as part of Launchpad’s summer program. Launchpad High School Program Director Nick Imparato said his nonprofit works with over 20 area high schools to find students for their program, which is year-round and gives underrepresented student groups exposure to tech and coding and the career possibilities that stem from these fields.

These Launchpad summer session students are being supported by a group of CreateAccess interns, who, according to Dailey, “are the heart of our programs.” They identify beginner-friendly project workflows, create guides and provide hands-on support in class. The interns include a couple of rising high school seniors, a couple of recent high school graduates -- one going to Villanova and another Cornell -- students from Drexel and the University of Pennsylvania, and a second-year Launchpad student who’s an aspiring game developer.

Photo credit: CreateAccess

“My experience working with the students was delightful,” aspiring game developer Kareem said. “They all had such good ideas for what they wanted to do, and they all showed the want to learn more …”

This class was definitely a hit with the students.

“The best part of the class was putting ourselves into Fortnite and building an island that let our imagination run wild!” said Zahir Alston, one of the students in the class.

“We've been amazed (though not surprised!) by the students' creativity and engagement, and how quickly they've picked up the skills we introduced,” Dailey said. “They've readily embraced the playful, joyful spirit of our programs, and we are having an absolute blast.”

Create Access x Launchpad x Localhost

Dailey founded CreateAccess alongside her partner Patrick Cozzi, the CEO of Philly geospatial company Cesium, to inspire, encourage and support kids who are interested in 3D creation. Using the popular video game Fortnite as an entry point to this kind of tech made a lot of sense.

"It's a hook, because a lot of young people know Fortnite, and it helps build confidence, because there are so many tools that are drag and drop and intuitive," Dailey said. "So confidence-building is really important to us -- kind of getting people over that hump of, 'Oh my gosh, there's this big interface with all these buttons!'"

Partnering with Launchpad to execute these 3D creation classes was a no-brainer. According to Dailey, Launchpad does “amazing technical skills and professional development training for folks who are underrepresented in tech.” Launchpad works with high school kids to help them build the skills they need to develop successful careers in tech.

Photo credit: CreateAccess

“Launchpad is a two-and-a-half year program, and we really identify as … workforce development,” Imparato said. “So we work with students while they're still in high school, but we stay with them after they're done with high school and really try to act as that bridge from completing high school to a lucrative career.”

Holding these classes at Localhost was a natural fit. Not only is Localhost parent company Nerd Street all about providing greater access to the video game industry, but Localhost is an ideal location for a class like this.

Read more: Why Localhost in Philadelphia is a home for young gamers

Localhost’s spot at 401 N. Broad St. in Center City is already a tech hub, which provided tech access for nearly 1,000 kids this summer from the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation department as well as hundreds more from local schools, nonprofits and Nerd Street’s own Camp Localhost. Plus, Localhost is no stranger to serving as a space for tech classes and communities. The Uncommon Individual Foundation (UIF) has held coding classes at Localhost.

“Where could we connect students with high-powered PCs that was in a convenient location for the students that they could get to easily on public transportation and to have enough devices that could effectively run the stuff?” Imparato wondered.

Photo credit: CreateAccess

Localhost just made sense, and the place has been a hit with the students.

“This is my first time going to something like this and it has left an AMAZING impression. I would definitely go here in my free time!” Alston said.

With over 100 PCs, a capacity for 800 people, and 17,000 square feet of space with ample stage area for presentations, Localhost in Philly is unparalleled when it comes to the breadth and depth of gaming and tech access it provides in the city.

More than just fun and video games

Of course, not every kid in this class is a gamer or looking to go into video game development.

"We have one student who's not a gamer, not that excited about gaming, but she's really excited about fashion,” Dailey said. “And we actually showed her some tools that allow you to put different clothes on an avatar."

The beauty of the technical skills being taught in this video game-centric class are their widespread applications.

"We often start our sessions with a mini presentation on connections between the skills they're learning and opportunities in tech. 'These animation skills that you're learning can also be useful in forensics. You can use motion capture in medicine, or use augmented reality in sports'" Dailey said. "And so I think it's very important to us that the students see those connections and can envision themselves in roles where they're working in these different fields."

Photo credit: CreateAccess

“I think both of our organizations have a strong commitment to an employer connection,” Imparato added. “We're not just teaching them this stuff because it's good to know. We're getting input from employers about … what are in demand skills right now that the current workforce is lacking, and how can we equip young adults with either those skills or a set of experiences that will encourage them to pursue that independently or want to dive deeper into it.”

And the tech exposure that the students are getting goes even beyond career exploration and preparation. Imparato thinks this class has done an excellent job of encouraging the students to use technology to explore their own identity and passions.

“I think that that's been my biggest win for CreateAccess and in the work that we've been able to do at Localhost is students are seeing technology as a way to learn more about themselves and share aspects of themselves and their identity with their communities.”

Even as the students wrap up their work in this class, the hope is that this is not an end but a beginning of these kids’ love of tech and the opportunities it provides. Everything considered, the class is a victory royale.

Lead photo credit: CreateAccess