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Bedford Launches Fall AI Programs for Youth Through Partnership with Overture Games
When the school bell rings at Lane Elementary, a new kind of creativity will echo through the library’s quiet halls. Starting September 21, 2026, Bedford’s Recreation Department will open its doors to a cohort of third‑ to fifth‑grade students who will sketch characters, outline worlds, and, by the end of eight weeks, see their ideas jump off the page as animated videos and even a fully playable video game.
The program, titled Introduction to AI, slots into the town’s fall schedule every Monday from 2:46 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The curriculum weaves together game design, animation, and storytelling while insisting on the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools. At a fee of $305, parents can give their children a hands‑on, supervised experience that demystifies AI while sharpening creative skills.
A week earlier, on September 15, the middle‑schoolers in grades six through eight will step into a different kind of workshop. Entrepreneurship with AI meets every Tuesday from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of John Glenn Middle School. Students learn to think like entrepreneurs: they identify real‑world problems, brainstorm AI‑powered solutions, and practice pitching ideas clearly. The program, priced at $214, offers a structured path from concept to communication.
Recreation Director Josh Smith explained the motivation behind the new offerings. "We typically add new programs each season and this is just another one for kids to try," Smith told local media. "The department runs four recreational seasons per year, working with instructors and vendors to provide a mix of new opportunities and seasonal favorites for the Bedford community."
The partnership brings in Overture Games, a Chicago‑based startup that has carved a niche in AI literacy through analog, paper‑and‑pencil activities. In the classroom, students brainstorm in small groups, jotting prompts by hand. Instructors then feed those prompts into AI tools, which generate apps, videos, or interactive games that bring the students’ concepts to life. Co‑founder Aspen Buckingham emphasized the company’s philosophy: "Parents and educators know AI is here to stay, but they don’t want children navigating a chatbot alone. Our model gives kids a safe, paper‑and‑pencil introduction to how these tools work and where they fall short, while keeping the technology itself in the hands of a trusted adult."
Overture’s reach already spans Massachusetts and Illinois, and the startup is expanding nationally. Bedford is one of 18 Boston‑area communities that now host Overture Games programs, reflecting a broader trend of community‑based AI literacy initiatives.
By blending the Recreation Department’s established seasonal programming with Overture’s hands‑on curriculum, Bedford offers a structured, supervised environment where youth can safely explore AI. The programs align with wider educational goals: fostering responsible AI use, encouraging creativity, and honing problem‑solving skills.
Certified Overture instructors guide students from paper prompts to AI‑generated media, ensuring that while the technology remains under adult supervision, students can experiment with its creative potential. Registration is handled through the MyRec.com platform, and parents and guardians can sign up online or contact the department directly. All details, including the fall schedule and fees, are posted on the Recreation Department’s website.
The Introduction to AI sessions will run through mid‑November, and Entrepreneurship with AI will conclude in late October. After the programs end, the department will evaluate participation and plan for the next season.
The partnership also underscores the importance of community engagement in AI education. By situating the programs in familiar school settings and scheduling them after school hours, the Recreation Department and Overture Games aim to make AI literacy accessible to a broad cross‑section of Bedford’s youth.
In sum, Bedford’s fall AI programs offer a carefully structured, responsible introduction to artificial intelligence for students in grades three through eight. Leveraging Overture Games’ analog teaching model, the initiative keeps technology in adult hands while encouraging creativity and entrepreneurship among young participants. The programs are part of the town’s broader effort to provide diverse recreational and educational opportunities each season.
The program, titled Introduction to AI, slots into the town’s fall schedule every Monday from 2:46 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The curriculum weaves together game design, animation, and storytelling while insisting on the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools. At a fee of $305, parents can give their children a hands‑on, supervised experience that demystifies AI while sharpening creative skills.
A week earlier, on September 15, the middle‑schoolers in grades six through eight will step into a different kind of workshop. Entrepreneurship with AI meets every Tuesday from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of John Glenn Middle School. Students learn to think like entrepreneurs: they identify real‑world problems, brainstorm AI‑powered solutions, and practice pitching ideas clearly. The program, priced at $214, offers a structured path from concept to communication.
Recreation Director Josh Smith explained the motivation behind the new offerings. "We typically add new programs each season and this is just another one for kids to try," Smith told local media. "The department runs four recreational seasons per year, working with instructors and vendors to provide a mix of new opportunities and seasonal favorites for the Bedford community."
The partnership brings in Overture Games, a Chicago‑based startup that has carved a niche in AI literacy through analog, paper‑and‑pencil activities. In the classroom, students brainstorm in small groups, jotting prompts by hand. Instructors then feed those prompts into AI tools, which generate apps, videos, or interactive games that bring the students’ concepts to life. Co‑founder Aspen Buckingham emphasized the company’s philosophy: "Parents and educators know AI is here to stay, but they don’t want children navigating a chatbot alone. Our model gives kids a safe, paper‑and‑pencil introduction to how these tools work and where they fall short, while keeping the technology itself in the hands of a trusted adult."
Overture’s reach already spans Massachusetts and Illinois, and the startup is expanding nationally. Bedford is one of 18 Boston‑area communities that now host Overture Games programs, reflecting a broader trend of community‑based AI literacy initiatives.
By blending the Recreation Department’s established seasonal programming with Overture’s hands‑on curriculum, Bedford offers a structured, supervised environment where youth can safely explore AI. The programs align with wider educational goals: fostering responsible AI use, encouraging creativity, and honing problem‑solving skills.
Certified Overture instructors guide students from paper prompts to AI‑generated media, ensuring that while the technology remains under adult supervision, students can experiment with its creative potential. Registration is handled through the MyRec.com platform, and parents and guardians can sign up online or contact the department directly. All details, including the fall schedule and fees, are posted on the Recreation Department’s website.
The Introduction to AI sessions will run through mid‑November, and Entrepreneurship with AI will conclude in late October. After the programs end, the department will evaluate participation and plan for the next season.
The partnership also underscores the importance of community engagement in AI education. By situating the programs in familiar school settings and scheduling them after school hours, the Recreation Department and Overture Games aim to make AI literacy accessible to a broad cross‑section of Bedford’s youth.
In sum, Bedford’s fall AI programs offer a carefully structured, responsible introduction to artificial intelligence for students in grades three through eight. Leveraging Overture Games’ analog teaching model, the initiative keeps technology in adult hands while encouraging creativity and entrepreneurship among young participants. The programs are part of the town’s broader effort to provide diverse recreational and educational opportunities each season.
