2-Day STEM Summer Holiday Workshop

Build your own AI Weather Buddy using CAD Design, ESP-32 and Claude Code Course Overview This two-day Summer STEM Workshop has been designed and will be run by Zac Hutton, a recent high school graduate from Matthew Flinders Anglican Colleget. Zac has over six years of experience in engineering design and robotics, along with four years of teaching holiday and school-term STEM courses. He has created this workshop to show students how modern engineers bring an idea to life, from 3D design to electronics to code, and how to use AI as a powerful tool along the way. Over the two days, each student will design, build and program their own AI Weather Buddy: a smart desktop device with a colour screen that connects to WiFi and pulls live weather data from the internet. With a tap of its touch sensor, it flicks between screens showing the temperature, humidity, "feels like" temperature and tomorrow's forecast. Students design a custom top panel in Fusion 360, wire up the electronics, and write the code with the help of AI, then take their finished Weather Buddy home. Workshop Schedule: Day 1 – Monday, December 14th – Design & Electronics (9:00am–1:00pm) Students will be introduced to 3D design in Autodesk Fusion 360 and design the enclosure as well as design a custom top panel, which is 3D printed overnight. They will then learn the fundamentals of electronics, wiring up an ESP32 microcontroller, a colour display and a touch sensor, and getting their first code running on real hardware. Day 2 – Tuesday, December 15th – AI Coding & Build (9:00am–1:00pm) Students will learn how professional developers use AI to write code: how to write clear prompts, read and understand the code the AI returns, and find and fix its mistakes. They will learn what an API key is and how devices pull live data from the internet, then program their Weather Buddy, assemble it into their printed enclosure, and finish with a showcase of their builds. What to Bring: • Laptop with charger • Mouse (recommended) • Snacks and water bottle • Positive, growth mindset • Fusion 360 software downloaded and account made (here's a video to assist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR8F0RI_70c) • Arduino IDE software installed (link: https://www.arduino.cc/) • USB-C data cable to connect the ESP32 to your laptop (NOTE: It must be a data cable, not a charge-only one. Apple USB-C cables work well. Check that the other end matches your laptop's port (USB-C or USB-A). Course Pricing: $125.00 (Price includes booking fees, and all electronics and materials. Students take their finished Weather Buddy home.) Contact Details: • Email: [email protected] • PH: 0412471753 Course Benefits: By the end of the two days, students will have hands-on experience in CAD design, electronics, programming and AI-assisted coding, and will understand how internet-connected devices work. They will leave with a working device they designed and built themselves, increased confidence in STEM, and practical skills they can keep building on at home. Suitable for ages 11–17. Limited to 12 students. Reserve your place early to secure a spot.