EVANS, Ga. (WFXG) - Code Ninjas aims to build coding and problem-solving skills early for kids. For the owner of the Evans location, the mission is personal.

“We just teach kids how to code in a fun way.” said Ray Battle, Evans Code Ninja franchise Owner. Battle knows coding can be difficult. “If you try to learn programming as an adult, it is not fun at all.”

That’s why he says it’s important for kids to start with the basics when learning coding skills. “We start with scratch, we progress them through a nine-belt coding system, it teaches them three different programming languages.” said Battle. 

However, this method of learning has a twist. This involves video games.

"At the end of the lesson, you’ve learned computer coding concept, but you also actually have a game you can play at the end - which I don’t think I've met a kid who doesn’t like video games!” said Battle. 

Battle’s connection to computer science  is personal. It all started during his six years of service in the army. “I was a cyber operator on Fort Gordon. I did that for a while and really got a huge passion for coding and all things computer science.”

Retiring the uniform didn’t mean retiring a passion. For Battle, it meant passing it on by opening a resource for the community and his children. “I really wanted to really introduce my daughter to coding and was looking for a program around here. I couldn't find it, so I decided I should probably be the one to bring it to this area."

Through Code Ninjas, Battle hopes to help educate the next generation. “They have the tools they need to make the software of the future that we're going to use later on in life.”

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