The Academy of Games is a program founded on the belief that learning should be fun. We owe it to our kids and our fellows to bring joy and discovery back into education. We do that through games. Games are a teaching medium, whether it be teaching the rules of the game or strategies for navigating life. In a world where people are perpetually overloaded, we wanted to create a safe space to play, socialize, and grow creatively together. Located in Austin, Texas, our afterschool program works directly with children ages 6 through 15 to show them that game design is something withing their grasp. Our program is structured first and foremost around play, but all play is directed toward growth. Whether it's our post-class seminars on the mechanics of games, or the daily brainstorming sessions where children design modifications, or the culmination of each program cycle when kids play the games they've made: it's all about seeing your creative ideas made real. Throughout it all, children socialize with their peers, get a break from their screens, and learn that fun isn't just about distraction. Fun is how we get better. Our professional development unit focuses on utilizing these same tools and beliefs to improve organizational processes. Not only kids deserve creative exploration in their day-to-day lives, and building enriching, enjoyable experiences for workers can improve learning and productivity as much as it can for children. Games are for everybody.