--- title: "Girls Who Code Next Step: After a GWC Club or Pathways" description: "Girls Who Code next step: what GWC Clubs and Pathways offer, from GWC's own pages, and how a club member moves from block code to real Python projects." canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/girls-who-code-next-step source: src/pages/girls-who-code-next-step.html --- > Girls Who Code next step: what GWC Clubs and Pathways offer, from GWC's own pages, and how a club member moves from block code to real Python projects. In short Girls Who Code runs free Clubs for students in grades 3 to 12, usually 1 to 2 hours a week, and a free online Pathways program for high school students. The natural next step after a club is steady weekly practice that moves from block code into Python and real projects. Modern Age Coders teaches that live online in Princess Coders, our course designed for girls and women, in a batch of 15 to 20 or 1-on-1. The first class is free. Where to go after the club ## Three courses for a club member ready for more Each one picks up where an hour a week of club coding leaves off and turns it into a regular habit. [![Princess Coders course thumbnail](/images/princess-coders.webp) GWCN / 01 Princess Coders Our course designed for girls and women, from first program to finished projects. Open the syllabus →](/courses/princess-coders-complete-coding-masterclass)[![Python and AI for Kids course thumbnail](/images/python-kids.webp) GWCN / 02 Python and AI for kids The first text language after blocks, with turtle art and small games. Open the syllabus →](/courses/python-ai-kids-masterclass)[![Python for Teens course thumbnail](/images/python-teens.webp) GWCN / 03 Python for teens For grades 8 to 12 heading toward Pathways-style projects. Open the syllabus →](/courses/python-complete-masterclass-teens) GWC Clubs ## What is a Girls Who Code Club, and what does it cover? A Girls Who Code Club is a free, regular meeting where students explore coding together with a facilitator. GWC says clubs are open to students in grades 3 to 12 of any skill level and can meet in person or online. ### In GWC's own words The Clubs page describes clubs as "free programs for all 3rd-12th graders of any skill level", and says they "can be integrated into STEM-focused classes or take place after school, on weekends, or during the summer. Held in-person or entirely online." The Programs page adds the practical detail families ask about: clubs are grouped into two bands, grades 3 to 5 and grades 6 to 12, run from beginner to advanced, and take 1 to 2 hours per week, after school or on weekends during the school year. ### Who leads a club A club is led by a facilitator rather than a professional coding teacher. GWC lists facilitators as "teachers, librarians, parents, and volunteers", and says plainly that "Many Facilitators have no technical experience and learn to code alongside their Club members." That is a strength for confidence and community. It also explains why many club members reach a point where they want a teacher who can answer "why does my code do that?" straight away. | Band | What GWC says members do | Tools named by GWC | | --- | --- | --- | | Grades 3 to 5 | Explore foundational computer science concepts and computational thinking through hands-on activities | BlockJam, a drag-and-drop block editor; an AI Literacy Unit using Teachable Machine | | Grades 6 to 12 | Choose their own learning paths from a library of self-guided video tutorials | Projects in web development, cybersecurity, game design, and artificial intelligence (AI) | | Both bands | Free, beginner to advanced, 1 to 2 hours a week | In person or entirely online | Sources: [Girls Who Code Clubs Program](https://girlswhocode.com/programs/clubs-program) and [Girls Who Code Programs](https://girlswhocode.com/programs), read 31 October 2026. Girls Who Code is a registered name of its owner. Modern Age Coders is an independent online school and is not connected with, endorsed by or a partner of Girls Who Code. GWC by grade ## What does Girls Who Code offer after a club, grade by grade? Girls Who Code has its own ladder: Clubs from grade 3, the Pathways program in high school, and College Loops and career programs after that. Knowing the ladder helps a family plan what to add at each stage. | Stage | GWC program | Format and cost as published | Who it is for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Grades 3 to 5 | Clubs (younger band) | Free; 1 to 2 hours a week; in person or online | Any skill level | | Grades 6 to 12 | Clubs (older band) | Free; self-guided video tutorials and projects | Beginner to advanced | | Grades 9 to 12 | Pathways | Free, year-round, 100% virtual, self-paced; 6 to 7 weeks per course project | High school students, including rising 9th graders and graduating seniors | | Ages 18 to 25 | College and Career Programs | Free; career exploration, interview readiness, leadership | College-aged students and early career professionals | | College | College Loops | Campus networks that meet during the school year | 18 + years old, enrolled at a US-based college or university | ### Pathways, for high school GWC calls Pathways "our free year-round program" and lists curriculum tracks in "game design, data science, AI, cybersecurity, and web development", with a community on Discord and optional partner events and career panels. The page gives "6-7 weeks to complete course projects at your own pace" and says "We're 100% virtual" and "We accept applications from students around the world." Students apply; check the Pathways page for the current application window. ### Starting a club yourself If there is no club nearby, GWC lets adults start one. Its Start a Club page lists the requirements: a nonprofit host organization such as a school or library, "2-4 hours to plan and host sessions each week", internet access, a background check, and "I am age 18 or older." Hardware such as laptops, Chromebooks or iPads is, in GWC's words, "Required for 6th-12th grade Clubs, optional for 3rd-5th grade Clubs". A parent or teacher can start a club without coding experience. Sources: [GWC Pathways](https://girlswhocode.com/programs/pathways), [GWC Start a Club](https://girlswhocode.com/get-involved/start-a-club) and [GWC College Loops](https://girlswhocode.com/college-loops), read 31 October 2026. Program details change; always confirm on girlswhocode.com before applying. Blocks to Python ## How does a club member move from block code to Python? By translating one block at a time. A block program and a Python program say the same thing; Python simply writes it down in words and indentation. The worked example below is ours, written for a student who has used a drag-and-drop editor. ### The block program (ours) Picture a stack of four blocks: a "repeat 4" block, and inside it "move 50 steps" and "turn 90 degrees". Run it and the sprite draws a square, because four equal sides with four quarter turns bring it home. Ask the student first: why 90? Because a full turn is 360 degrees, and 360 / 4 = 90. Understanding that one line of arithmetic is what lets her change the shape later. ### The same idea in Python The repeat block becomes a **for loop**. The blocks inside it become the indented lines under the loop. Moving becomes **forward** and turning becomes **right**. The single biggest change from blocks is that indentation now carries meaning. In blocks, a piece sits visibly inside the repeat; in Python, four spaces of indent put a line inside the loop. ***square.py (ours)**Python* ``` # square.py (ours): the block program "repeat 4: move 50, turn 90", in Python import turtle pen = turtle.Turtle() for side in range(4): # the repeat block becomes a for loop pen.forward(50) # "move 50 steps" pen.right(90) # "turn 90 degrees" turtle.done() ``` Run on our machine with Python 3 and its built-in turtle module: the pen draws a 50-step square and stops where it started. | Block idea | Python | What to watch | | --- | --- | --- | | repeat 4 | `for i in range(4):` | The colon and the indented lines below it | | forever | `while True:` | Needs a way to stop, or the program never ends | | if touching edge | `if x > 200:` | A test that is either True or False | | set score to 0 | `score = 0` | One equals sign stores a value | | change score by 1 | `score = score + 1` | Read it right to left: add 1, store it back | | say "Hello" | `print("Hello")` | Text needs quotation marks | 1. **Change one number (ours).** Make the square bigger by changing 50 to 100. Nothing else changes, which shows which line controls size. 2. **Change the shape.** For a triangle, repeat 3 times and turn 360 / 3 = 120 degrees. For a hexagon, repeat 6 times and turn 60. 3. **Name the number.** Write `sides = 6` at the top, then `range(sides)` and `360 / sides`. Now one line changes the whole shape. 4. **Break it on purpose.** Remove the indent from the turn line and run it. The pen draws one line and turns once, because the turn has left the loop. Seeing a mistake happen is how the rule sticks. A club project ## What is a good first real project after a club? Something small, useful to the club itself and finished in a week. Counting a vote is ideal: the club decides what to build next, and the program tells them the winner. The program below is ours. ***club_poll.py (ours)**Python* ``` # club_poll.py (ours): count a club vote on which project to build next votes = ["Game design", "Web", "Game design", "AI", "Web", "Game design"] tally = {} for choice in votes: tally[choice] = tally.get(choice, 0) + 1 for choice, count in sorted(tally.items(), key=lambda pair: -pair[1]): print(choice, count) winner = max(tally, key=tally.get) print("Next project:", winner) ``` Run by us with Python 3: it prints Game design 3, Web 2, AI 1, then Next project: Game design. ### What each part teaches The **list** holds every vote in order, exactly as the club called them out. The **dictionary** named tally keeps one count per choice, and `tally.get(choice, 0) + 1` means "the count so far, or zero if this is new, plus one". The sorted line prints the biggest count first. The last two lines pick the winner with `max`, using the counts to compare. ### Make it hers (ours) Swap in the club's real choices: cybersecurity, data science, a website for the school library. Add a tie check: if two choices share the top count, print both and call a re-vote. Then make it ask for votes with `input()` until someone types "done". That one change turns a fixed script into a tool the club can actually use at its next meeting. | Exercise | A good answer | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | Draw a triangle with sides of 80 | `for i in range(3): forward(80); right(120)` | 360 / 3 = 120 | | Say "Go!" five times | `for i in range(5): print("Go!")` | range(5) runs 5 times | | Start a score at 10 and add 5 twice | `score = 10`, then `score = score + 5` twice | The score ends at 20 | | Print "Big" only if n is over 100 | `if n > 100: print("Big")` | The test decides | | Count the letter a in "banana" | `"banana".count("a")` | The answer is 3 | Twelve weeks ## How can a girl keep coding between club meetings? With a short, regular routine and one project at a time. A club gives community; a weekly lesson and twenty minutes of home practice give steady progress. This twelve-week outline is ours. 1. **Weeks 1 to 2 (ours).** Rebuild a favorite club project in blocks, then translate it into Python line by line using the table above. 2. **Weeks 3 to 4.** Variables and loops in Python: shapes with turtle, a times-table printer, a countdown. 3. **Weeks 5 to 6.** Decisions with if and else: a quiz that keeps score and a guessing game with hints. 4. **Weeks 7 to 8.** Lists and dictionaries: the club poll above, then a reading log or a playlist sorter. 5. **Weeks 9 to 10.** A project of her own choice, planned on paper first: what goes in, what comes out, what the user sees. 6. **Weeks 11 to 12.** Finish, test with two friends, fix what they found, and show it at the next club meeting. ### Grades 3 to 5 Stay with blocks a little longer if she enjoys them, then try the square in Python. Short sessions, lots of drawing. ### Grades 6 to 8 Move fully to Python. Small games and quizzes keep it fun, and the club's video tutorials become easier to follow. ### Grades 9 to 12 Look at GWC Pathways tracks, and build a portfolio project in web development, data or AI with Python. Want more girls-focused options? Our [coding classes for girls](/coding-classes-for-girls) page describes Princess Coders and the choice of a girls-only batch or a mixed batch, and our [Technovation Girls guide](/technovation-girls-guide) covers a team challenge many club members enter. Where she is now ## Four stages from club coder to independent programmer Our own description of how a young coder grows, so you can tell what kind of help fits. | Stage | What it looks like | | --- | --- | | 1. Follows along | Completes club activities step by step with the tutorial open | | 2. Changes things | Edits numbers and text in a working program to see what happens | | 3. Builds from a plan | Writes a small program from her own idea, with help on errors | | 4. Debugs alone | Reads an error message, finds the line and fixes it herself | ### For parents Most girls leave a beginner club somewhere between stages 1 and 2, which is exactly right. The jump to stage 3 is where a regular teacher helps most. Ask to see what she made rather than how long she spent. A finished small project is worth more than a long unfinished one. ### For students When code breaks, read the last line of the error first. It usually names the problem and the line number. Keep a notebook of mistakes you fixed. By week twelve it will be the most useful page you own. The catalogue ## Coding courses for girls in grades 3 to 12 Live courses that take a curious beginner from blocks to real, shareable projects. I ### First code Grades 3 to 5 GWCN / A / 01 #### Scratch coding Blocks done properly. [Open the syllabus](/courses/scratch-programming-complete-course) GWCN / A / 02 #### Problem solving Thinking before typing. [Open the syllabus](/courses/problem-solving-and-computational-thinking-for-kids) GWCN / A / 03 #### AI literacy How AI learns from data. [Open the syllabus](/courses/ai-literacy-for-kids-course)II ### Text code Grades 5 to 8 GWCN / B / 01 #### Princess Coders Designed for girls. [Open the syllabus](/courses/princess-coders-complete-coding-masterclass) GWCN / B / 02 #### Python and AI Turtle art and games. [Open the syllabus](/courses/python-ai-kids-masterclass) GWCN / B / 03 #### Web for kids A first real website. [Open the syllabus](/courses/kids-ai-web-development-course)III ### Projects Grades 8 to 12 GWCN / C / 01 #### Python for teens Beginner to advanced. [Open the syllabus](/courses/python-complete-masterclass-teens) GWCN / C / 02 #### Cybersecurity White-hat defense. [Open the syllabus](/courses/cybersecurity-course-for-teens-ethical-defensive) GWCN / C / 03 #### Game development Shipped games in Unity. [Open the syllabus](/courses/complete-game-development-masterclass-for-teens) How lessons run ## Weekly coding lessons that build on club time Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. Weekdays After school, on days that do not clash with club. Weekends Longer project sessions with time to finish. 1-on-1 For a girl racing ahead or catching up. ### A real teacher Errors explained on the spot. ### Blocks to text A planned bridge into Python. ### One project a month Something finished to show. ### Original exercises Written by our teachers. ### Girls-only or mixed The family chooses the batch. ### Group or private Fifteen to twenty, or one to one. Student work ## Projects our young coders have built Games, websites and small tools made by students in our classes. See more in [student labs](/student-labs). ![NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot](/images/projects/nutrilife.webp) AI and ML #### NutriLife An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target. by Bhavya · [Open it](https://nutrilife-bhavya.lovable.app) ![Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot](/images/projects/misti.webp) AI and ML #### Misti A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student. by Harshit · [Open it](https://misti.modernagecoders.com) ![GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot](/images/projects/guardianx.webp) AI and ML #### GuardianX An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online. by Vivaan · [Open it](https://guardianx-cybersaver.lovable.app) ![SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot](/images/projects/skycast.webp) Web app #### SkyCast A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location. by Krish Fees ## Fees Coding lessons are paid month by month, so a club member can try steady weekly classes for a term and continue only if she loves it. Free first class USD 0 no card required - A free first class - Bring a club project - No card needed Book it Group batch USD 100 a month, billed in US dollars - Fifteen to twenty learners - The same teacher each week - Pick a batch time - Monthly Start here One to one USD 150 a month, billed in US dollars - One teacher, one student - Paced to her projects - Times that suit you Enquire What families say ## Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews What parents wrote on Google, unedited. ★★★★★ "The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content." Ria Mukherjee Parent ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease." Samriddha Mondal Student ★★★★★ "One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development." Vansh Agarwal Student ★★★★★ "My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative." Sonam Oswal Parent of Dhairya ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation." Sonu Goyal Parent ★★★★★ "I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding." Ritu Kedia Parent Questions from families ## Girls Who Code next step: questions answered ### What do you do after Girls Who Code? Within Girls Who Code, high school students can apply to the free online Pathways program, and older students can join College Loops or career programs. Outside GWC, the most useful next step is regular practice that moves from block code into Python and finished projects. ### Is Girls Who Code free? Yes. Girls Who Code describes its Clubs, Pathways and College and Career programs as free on its Programs page. Clubs usually meet for 1 to 2 hours a week. ### What grades can join a Girls Who Code Club? GWC says clubs are for students in grades 3 to 12 of any skill level, grouped into a grades 3 to 5 band and a grades 6 to 12 band. ### What is Girls Who Code Pathways? Pathways is GWC's free, year-round, fully virtual program for high school students. It offers self-paced tracks in game design, data science, AI, cybersecurity and web development, with about 6 to 7 weeks per course project. ### What language should she learn after club block coding? Python is the usual first text language because its short, readable lines map neatly onto blocks. A repeat block becomes a for loop and the blocks inside it become indented lines. ### Can a parent start a Girls Who Code Club? Yes, if you meet GWC's requirements: a nonprofit host organization such as a school or library, 2 to 4 hours a week, internet access and devices, a background check, and being 18 or older. No coding experience is needed. ### Do you have a coding course just for girls? Yes. Princess Coders is our coding course designed for girls and women, and families can choose a girls-only batch or a mixed batch as described on our coding classes for girls page. ### How is a class with you different from a club? A club is a free, friendly community led by a facilitator who may be learning alongside the members. Our classes are taught by a coding teacher on a planned course, with homework and feedback each week. Many girls enjoy doing both. ### When are your classes? Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. ### Are you part of Girls Who Code? No. Modern Age Coders is an independent online school and has no connection with Girls Who Code. We describe GWC only from its own public pages. Elsewhere on this site ## Related pages More for girls who code and their families. ### [Coding classes for girls](/coding-classes-for-girls) Princess Coders and batch choices. ### [Technovation Girls guide](/technovation-girls-guide) A team app challenge, explained. ### [Computer science extracurriculars](/computer-science-extracurriculars) Clubs, contests and projects compared. ### [Free coding programs for high schoolers](/free-coding-programs-for-high-school-students) No-cost options, side by side. ### [Coding for elementary students](/coding-classes-for-elementary-students) Where grades 3 to 5 begin. ### [Coding for middle school students](/coding-classes-for-middle-school-students) The move into Python. ### [Python games for kids](/python-games-for-kids) Small projects to try next. ## Related pages in this guide Part of the guide: [US math and coding competitions guide](/us-math-and-coding-competitions-guide) ### Projects and next steps - [ISEF computer science project mentoring](/isef-computer-science-project-mentoring) - [After the Hour of Code](/after-hour-of-code-next-steps) - [US competitions calendar 2026-27](/us-coding-math-and-ai-competitions-calendar) ### Math contests - [MOEMS math olympiad preparation](/moems-math-olympiad-preparation) - [Noetic math contest preparation](/noetic-math-contest-preparation) - [Math League contest preparation](/math-league-contest-preparation) - [Continental Math League preparation](/continental-math-league-preparation) - [Math competitions for middle school students](/math-competitions-for-middle-school-students) - [Online math circle for kids](/online-math-circle-for-kids) - [Art of Problem Solving alternative](/art-of-problem-solving-alternative) ### Coding and robotics - [Bebras Challenge practice](/bebras-challenge-practice) - [FIRST LEGO League coding help](/first-lego-league-coding-help-usa) - [FTC programming help](/ftc-programming-help) - [VEX IQ programming help](/vex-iq-programming-help) - [Science Olympiad coding events help](/science-olympiad-coding-events-help) - [ACSL competition preparation](/acsl-competition-preparation) - [Coding competitions for middle school students](/coding-competitions-for-middle-school-students) - [Coding competitions for high school students](/coding-competitions-for-high-school-students) More guides: [US state math tests by state](/us-state-math-tests-by-state) · [US gifted and selective school tests](/us-gifted-and-selective-school-tests-guide) · [US math placement and college readiness tests](/us-math-placement-and-college-readiness-tests) · [Homeschool and school math curricula guide](/homeschool-math-curriculum-guide-usa) Start here ## Book a free first class Tell us her grade and what she built at club. If she has a project, bring it: the teacher will start from there. Before booking you might like to read [how we teach](/how-we-teach) or browse [every course](/courses). [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/919123366161?text=Hello%20Modern%20Age%20Coders%2C%20my%20daughter%20in%20the%20US%20has%20been%20in%20a%20Girls%20Who%20Code%20Club%20and%20wants%20to%20keep%20coding.%20Could%20we%20book%20a%20free%20first%20class%3F) · [+91 91233 66161](tel:+919123366161) · [connect@modernagecoders.com](mailto:connect@modernagecoders.com) Classes are live video lessons taught from India, scheduled around US school days and club evenings. WhatsApp reaches us fastest. ### Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo A priority demo is a full class of about 45 to 60 minutes. After the class the mentor sends a written skill report and a personal learning roadmap on WhatsApp. If you enrol, the demo fee is adjusted against your first month's fee. Share your demo Order ID with us on WhatsApp and we take it off. [Book a priority demo](/book-demo) ## Keep exploring Modern Age Coders ### Related courses and guides - [GitHub Classroom Retired: Help for Students in 2026](/github-classroom-help-for-students) - [After a Girls' Programming Network Workshop: Next Steps](/girls-programming-network-next-step-australia) - [Godot for Kids and Teens: Free Engine, GDScript, Real Code](/godot-for-kids-and-teens) - [Gifted and Talented Test Prep: An Honest Guide for Ages 6 to 9](/gifted-and-talented-test-prep) - [Google Colab Help for Students: Errors, Files and Limits](/google-colab-help-for-students) - [The Modern Age Coders Gazette](/gazette) - [VS Code Setup for Students: Python and Java Without Errors](/vs-code-setup-for-students) - [Learn to Code Minecraft Mods in Java: A Guide for Teens](/learn-to-code-minecraft-mods) - [T Level Digital Software Development Help](/t-level-digital-coding-help) ### Learn more - [AI and Python Academy for Girls in Australia](/ai-and-python-academy-for-girls-australia) - [Python Projects for Kids: 20+ Finishable Python Projects (Ages 8 to 15)](/python-projects-for-kids) - [AI and Python Classes for Girls in the UK](/ai-and-python-academy-for-girls-uk) - [AI and Python Academy for Girls in Ireland](/ai-and-python-academy-for-girls-ireland) ### Free resources - [Python Tutorial for Beginners: Complete Guide](/resources/python) - [JavaScript in the Browser](/resources/javascript/javascript-in-the-browser) - [Sets in Python](/resources/python/sets-in-python) - [Strings and Template Literals](/resources/javascript/strings-and-template-literals) ### From the blog - [Armstrong Number: Definition, Full List and Python Program](/blog/armstrong-number-python-complete-guide-examples-code) - [Big O Notation Explained Simply, With Real Code](/blog/big-o-notation-explained-simply) - [Star Pattern Programs in Python: 30 Patterns With Code](/blog/star-pattern-programs-in-python) ### Start here - [Real projects built by Modern Age Coders students](/student-labs) - [Browse every live course at Modern Age Coders](/courses) Free class[Priority demo](/book-demo)[Call us](tel:+919123366161) --- *Canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/girls-who-code-next-step*