DETROIT -The
12th annual Michigan Council for Women in Technology (MCWT) summer technology
camps are in full swing. The Wayne County Community College in Harper Woods
hosted dozens of 5th to 8th grade girls this week who designed apps,
created video games and websites, and programmed robots.
Harper Woods is
just one of the locations MCWT uses to run its successful summer
camps,funded from a grant from Ford Motor Company. Harper Woods is
already the fifth camp session to run this year.
The curriculum
offers the girls interactive experiences with a variety of technologies. The
goal is to help them get exposure to technology and pursue a technology career
in the future. Students who choose non-tech careers will find the
experience helpful in today’s digital world.
“Companies
across Michigan are serious about attracting more diverse IT talent, and it
starts with educational opportunities like Camp Infinity,” said Sandra T.
Robinson, PhD, president of Wayne County Community College District University
Center. “We must develop a pipeline of students who can see the endless
possibilities a technology career can bring.”
Technology
interest tends to wane during a girl’s middle school years. MCWT designed the
camp to keep them engaged, introduce the innovation and social impact
opportunities involved in IT, and provide access to relatable role models in
vibrant technology careers. The program has been able to expand to include more
weeks and generate even a bigger impact on the young girls in the community.
Zwena G. is a
13 year old girl who attended the camp who says, “I learned to not get
frustrated with the robots and I loved web design the most.”
Alexia A., also
13 years old, says, “It’s not as hard as I thought it would be. It’s so much
fun and you can come to this camp and they take time to teach everyone. Even if
you are at a different level, they help you.”
These young
minds can carry the lessons with them throughout the rest of their education.
Many of the volunteers are also women, so the young girls have access to
excellent role models. Kiyesha E. is 23 and has been working at the camps
since 2009.
“The girls
actually inspire me to be more involved in technology. They can take something
simple and expand it to be so much more. That’s what makes me want to be more
like them.” says Kiyesha.
The girls are
encouraged to continue to use the skills they learned
with various free tools they can access at home.
Right now
demand far outweighs the number of qualified IT workers in Southeast Michigan,
according toCrain’s
Detroit Business. MCWT’s corporate partners support the nonprofit’s efforts
to inspire and grow women in IT. Several partners host extrasessions on
topics such as in-vehicle technology and app development.
“The support of
our long-time partner Ford Motor Co. to fundCamp Infinity provides a
great opportunity for our state as these effective programs always fill up
fast,” said Cindy Warner, president of the MCWT Foundation. “Each year we hear
from students about how we’ve piqued their curiosity in an IT career.”
Spending time
with the youngest group of girls proves that the camp is making an impact.
Keeley L. is 11 years old and “loves that you can create your own website
around beauty shops or fashion with technology.”
Gaby D. is a 10
year old that stated that her “favorite part of camp was the website design.
You get to make it your own and put a little bit of you in each project.”
By creating a
program that expands on traditional interests of young girls, the program links
things they like to technology. MCWT strives to inspire and grow women in
technology fields at all stages in life. They hope to make Michigan the number
1 state for women in technology. Starting young is just one way to get girls
thinking about future careers in a technology area. Camp Infinity delivers an
experience these girls will not forget and lessons they can use beyond the
camp.
To learn more
about the Michigan Council for Women in Technology and their Summer Camps,
visit:www.mcwt.org
