Registration for Tech Savvy Camp for Girls is now available and Program Director Jan Mahar is encouraging young women entering grades six, seven and eight to register now.
This free camp runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. June 13-17, in the IST building on Penn State's University Park campus
Middle school girls will have the opportunity to learn about and develop skills in fields related to technology and participate in three mini camps focusing on teamwork and development of video games. Girls will be selected by the IST Tech Savvy team and camp instructors, for one of the three camps: Girls’ Digital Stories, My Avatar Games and Games 4 Girls.
Mahar has been the director of the camp for the last three of its eight-year run. She wants young ladies to embrace technology and learn how it can apply and improve lives.
“Technology makes a difference in the world and women play a critical role,” Mahar said.
At the end of the week, there will be a closing program where participants will showcase their creations, Mahar said. The entire community is invited to attend the showcase from 2-4 p.m. Friday, June 17.
Mahar is currently scheduling female distinguished speakers for the camp.
“I want to say to the girls ‘you can make it in this world and here are some women who did,’” she said.
Tech Savvy is funded this year by the Equal Opportunity Planning Committee (EOPC) at Penn State, Deloitte, and a federal grant as part of the Strategic and Global Security Program at Penn State. Campers will receive t-shirts and a jump drive loaded with the game they create during the camp to share with their friends and family.
Only 75 spots are available for campers and last year interest rose 50 percent.
Mahar also said that, in an effort to reach out to the Philadelphia Community, Tech Savvy has partnered with Gear Up and the Philadelphia Area School District to bring 20 youth and four counselors to Penn State as resident campers for the week.
Registration can be completed online at ist.psu.edu/summercamp or in schools until April 1. Questions should be directed to techsavvyforgirls@ist.psu.edu or the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 814-863-7548.