W E D N E S D A Y
August 7, 2019 Vol. 40, No. 1 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL
Sojourner House Page 19
of Oak Park and River Forest
Incredicamp brings tech to learning Coding coach trains kids to fight cancer while learning immunology By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
A new pop-up shop has emerged in the Hemingway District that is challenging kids in science, technology, engineering, math, and more — and along with playing video games, they’re learning valuable lessons that can help them later in life. Heph Ed Incredicamp is the brainchild of Steve and Sheila Conner — their coding classes are more like hangout sessions where learning comes naturally. Steve Conner said in a recent interview that the idea is to “make learning the most fun, engaging experience [students] can possibly imagine.” At Incredicamp, students build remote-control cars and drones, build their own video games using professional-grade programs and are exposed to digital arts, dance and martial arts — all with a technological twist. “It’s not about learning by rote or teaching a test,” Conner told Wednesday Journal. “It’s about the experience and the love of figuring things out.” Conner’s new pop-shop — the location could become permanent — isn’t his first foray into educating Oak Park’s youth in the STEM fields. Heph Ed Incredicamp has been embedded in the Oak Park school system for several years, bringing the fun of learning technology directly to students. The Oak Park-based company also is working with Oak Parker and Loyola University Professor See CODING on page 15
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
EASY RIDER: Mike Shanahan, left, sits on his bike as his son, Marty, stands next to him, outside of PACTT Vocational Services on Lake Street in River Forest. Shanahan has biked thousands of miles to raise money for PACTT.
Shanahan’s 500-mile fundraiser More than $500,000 raised over the years for son’s group home
By NONA TEPPER Staff Reporter
On Aug. 3, Michael Shanahan hopped on his bike at 5:15 a.m. and started peddling. He won’t stop until he’s biked than 500 miles over the next week through the hills, valleys and farms of northern Wisconsin, riding as a fundraiser to benefit the Chica-
go group home where his son Marty lives. “Everyone who goes on this ride does it for their own reasons,” Shanahan said. “Some people do it just for the joy of riding a bike for a week, and some people do it as a family outing. I just wanted to do it as a vehicle to raise money for Marty and his buddies.” Shanahan has competed in the Great
Annual Bicycling Adventure Along the Wisconsin River race for at least 14 years. He joins some 300 other riders in a circular race that starts and ends in Stevens Point. The River Forest resident has raised more than $500,000 for PACTT by racing; those interested in donating See SHANAHAN on page 13
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