Computer Camps are NOT just for Boys!
We’d like to start by pointing out that at our organization, iD Tech Camps, roughly 50% of our camp instructors are female, 65% of our camp directors are female, and 50% of our full time staff are female.
iD Tech Camps encourages more girls to explore computers and technology. We hope to help unleash the amazing talents and creative powers of girls at our girl summer camps. In order to do that, we need to start by dispelling two of the biggest myths that mislead girls into thinking that technology and computer camp are not for them.
Myth #1: Girls don’t like computers
Yes, they do! They love to IM, publish web pages about their favorite bands and TV shows and engage in popular Web 2.0 activities, share music, and play video games. But girls can get turned off to computers if the environment isn’t right.
Myth #2: Girls need different technology
Not true. We’ve learned that what they need are imaginative examples of how computers and other technology might be used for non-linear, creative endeavors. Girls like computer games that involve mystery, adventure and winning cooperatively while challenging their decision-making skills. They like games like DDR, Sims, Civilization (E for Everyone), Age of Empires & Age of Mythology (T for Teens), Myst (T for Teens), The Urbz: Sims in the City (T for Teens) and other games in which the primary focus is not violence and destruction but problem-solving and creativity.
Now that we know that girls like computers and that the technology already exists to allow them to do the things they enjoy doing, let’s take a look at what might be holding them back. A study conducted by Suzanne Silverman and Alice M. Pritchard of the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund regarding Girls and Technology Education found that girls in technology education classes in middle school had confidence in their abilities and performed as well as boys. But, once they went into high school they were turned off by the fact that the field was male dominated. In addition, there is research to support that adolescent girls experience genuine and substantial drops in self-esteem which are accompanied by a loss of interest in math and science. During these years, girls become more concerned with their physical appearance and become more accommodating to what they perceive as appropriate feminine behavior.
Defying this statistic are girls who shared a feeling of being “path breakers”. The girls surveyed in Connecticut who did continue to take technology education courses wanted to prove that they were as good as boys. These girls said they were encouraged by family, teachers, friends, guidance counselors and themselves. We call that internal Drive! Girls should come to camp. We are proud of the fact that each year, more and more girls are breaking through the stereotypes and showing us what they’ve got.
So, get out there and give summer computer camp a try! We’ve got small group clusters averaging 6 students per instructor, for personalized, non-intimidating instruction. Each student has her own computer, so there is no need to share and “fight over computers.” This is a perfect environment to gain valuable tech skills.
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