Destination Exploration’s Tech Girl Camp promotes computer science and makes it fun!

Monday, August 14, 2017

The girls-only space provides a great way to experience and learn new technologies!

Statistics Canada has reported that only 27% of those pursing a computer science degree were women. Destination Exploration and our national outreach partner, Actua, has recognized that if girls are not engaged in computer science at an early age, we miss an important opportunity to create an equitable society and girls are left behind in obtaining digital skills required for future employment.

Therefore, Destination Exploration has chosen to offer a girls-only Tech Girl camp, running August 14 – 18th. Participants will build, design, create and program using a variety of technologies and robotic platforms. Cassandra Allenby, a U of L graduate student in New Media, will be one of two leaders with the camp. She has a background in computer science and digital media and is excited to engage the next generation of women in computer science and technology.

“It’s going to be a super fun week of learning new technologies,” says Allenby. “I’m most excited about the Mindstorm EV3 Lego Robots and 3D design with Tinkercad.”

Breanalee Beer, a recent U of L Biology graduate and future education student at U of A, will also help guide the young women in learning about technology, as well as themselves.

“I love seeing their faces when they accomplish something they thought they couldn’t do” she says.

Destination Exploration Learning Quest and Codemakers Summer Camps have given more than 400 children the experience of summer camp. Camp leaders have put in a great deal of effort to make this summer a great one for our campers. Camp is also made possible by our wonderful volunteers, grad student TAs, and management staff.

For more information, please visit our website http://www.uleth.ca/destination-exploration/.

When: August 14 to 18th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where:  Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building and Anderson Hall, University of Lethbridge Campus

Media Availability: Media are invited to attend during camp hours Monday to Friday.

Contact(s):

Laura Keffer-Wilkes (kefferwilkesl@uleth.ca) 403-382-7121

Program Coordinator – Destination Exploration

 

Valerie Archibald (Valerie.archibald@uleth.ca) 403-382-7161

Director of Youth Outreach – Faculty of Arts & Science

 

ABOUT Destination Exploration:

Destination Exploration is Lethbridge’s leading youth science outreach organization. We strive to provide our participants with a positive and exciting educational experience in science, technology, engineering and math programs. We offer interactive classroom workshops, stimulating summer camps, inspiring afterschool clubs, as well as special events and science-themed birthday parties. Our programs have been growing steadily since they originated in 2002, and now reach over 4000 youth each year in Lethbridge and its surrounding areas. Please visit our website http://www.uleth.ca/destination-exploration/ for more information.

We are a proud network member of Actua. Actua provides training, resources and support to its national network of members located at universities and colleges across Canada in the delivery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education outreach programming. Each year, these members engage over 225,000 youth in 500 communities nationwide. Please visit Actua at www.actua.ca.