Local Students Explore STEAM Careers at Electronic Arts Summer Camp

August 11, 2026 - 09:33

A group of local middle and high school students spent part of their summer inside the studios of Electronic Arts, the video game company behind franchises like Madden NFL and The Sims. The weeklong camp, held at the company's Orlando-area campus, was designed to introduce young people to careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, or STEAM.

Instead of just playing games, the students worked in small teams to design their own game concepts. They sketched characters, wrote simple storylines, and used basic coding tools to build playable prototypes. Along the way, they heard from actual EA employees, including game designers, software engineers, and digital artists, who talked about their daily work and the paths they took to get there.

Organizers said the goal was to show students that a career in gaming is not just about being good at playing, but about problem solving, creativity, and collaboration. Many of the students had never considered how much math and physics go into making a game feel realistic, or how much writing is needed to build a compelling world.

The camp also included a session on portfolio building and tips for applying to internships later in high school or college. For some students, it was the first time they saw themselves working in the tech industry. One participant said she had always liked drawing but did not realize she could turn that into a job making characters for games. Another student said he was surprised to learn that testing games is an actual profession, and that it involves more than just playing for fun.

The program is part of a broader push by the company to reach students from diverse backgrounds and to build a future workforce that reflects the community. Local school district officials helped select participants and provided transportation. At the end of the week, each team presented its game idea to a panel of EA staff, who gave feedback and handed out certificates.

Parents who attended the final showcase said they were impressed by how much their children had learned in just five days. One father noted that his son came home every day excited to talk about what he had built, rather than just what he had played. The camp is expected to return next summer, with organizers hoping to expand the number of spots available.