DETROIT — Metro Detroit girls from grades five through eight will design apps, create video games, and program robots at an interactive technology camp made possible by a grant from Ford Motor Co.
Presented by the Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation, Camp Infinity will run July 20-24 at Wayne County Community College district’s Mary Stempfle University Center in Harper Woods.
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 camp is in its 12th year of operation.
MCWT Foundation president Cindy Warner says the camp helps overcome that decline in tech interest: “Each year we hear from students about how we’ve piqued their curiosity in an IT career.”
Added Dr. Sandra T. Robinson, president of the WCCCD University Center: “Companies across Michigan are serious about attracting more diverse IT talent, and it starts with educational opportunities like Camp Infinity. We must develop a pipeline of students who can see the endless possibilities a technology career can bring.”
According to Crain’s Detroit Business, the region’s demand for qualified IT workers far outweighs the supply. MCWT’s corporate partners support the nonprofit’s efforts to inspire and grow women in IT. Several of them host camp sessions on topics such as in-vehicle technology and app development. Female IT leaders have lunch with the girls and mentor them throughout the week, encouraging them to continue using the skills they learned through various free tools they can access at home.
This will be MCWT’s fifth Camp Infinity this year. To register, visit www.mcwt.org.