Partnering for the Future: The Teen Tech Camp Experience
RSSLillian Johnson, public relations supervisor, Memphis Public Library & Information Center
Talk to Najee Ali, and you'll soon discover that the reserved, soft-spoken 17-year-old has already mapped out his career path. He's decided to go into computer programming. Ali arrived at that decision three years ago, after attending the Memphis Public Libraries' Teen Tech Camp, which his mother enrolled him in so the home-schooled Ali would be able to take part in an enrichment activity with other kids. Rick SanRoman, the president of the Memphis chapter of the Society for Information Management (SIM), a group of IT leaders, says Ali is the epitome of what SIM's for when it approached the library in 2004 to see if it was interested teaming up to launch a weeklong tech camp for 13- to 15-year-olds. The camp, now in its seventh year, has been going strong ever since and now offers kids hands-on experience in webcasting and Scratch programming and opportunities to learn more about mobile devices, digital photography, and the latest technology. "This program reaches the bright, inquisitive kids that ordinarily would not have an opportunity to interact with leaders in the information technology industry, and helps them develop tech skills in a structured environment," says Kay Due, the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library's public services manager, who also pitches in on the camp's planning team. So how do these kids handle a camp that feels a lot like school? "I am always amazed how focused the kids are," says librarian and camp facilitator John Lloyd. "We never have to tell them to work on their projects." No cajoling required. SIM underwrites the cost of instructors and materials, and kicks in laptops for the computer labs. Thanks to their generosity, the camp is free for young campers. But that doesn't mean that it's easy for would-be campers to get a foot in the door. The selection process for the limited spots is rigorous. To attend, parents or caregivers must complete an application, potential students must write an essay, and teachers must submit a recommendation. To learn more about SIM, visit its website at www.simnet.org. Click here for an overview of the Memphis Public Library Teen Tech Camp project. This article originally appeared in School Library Journal's enewsletter SLJTeen. Subscribe here.
Together, SIM's members and our library staffers teach a class of about 20 students. During the camp session, participants tackle daily activities such as designing games using Scratch and watching demonstrations of other applications, like Audacity and Artrage. Mornings are for "show and tell"; afternoons are spent at work on students' final projects which range from webcasts to software development. On the last day of camp, they present their projects, demonstrating everything they've learned, to library officials, SIM's executives, and—gasp!—even their parents.
