Although women pioneered the computer industry alongside men, they were and remain under-represented in this promising field. Empowering young women to shape society’s technological future on equal footing is behind Fairfield University’s Technology Camp for Girls. The computer camp is designed to equip 25 female students entering the seventh grade with lifelong computer skills, a solid foundation in computer technology, and a strong interest in advanced study in high school and college. The one-week summer camp will be conducted in the Bannow Science Center, a state-of-the-art facility on the University campus. The camp will be directed by Dr. Michael P. Zabinski, Professor of Engineering at Fairfield University. Dr. Zabinski is the founder and executive director of America’s original computer camp, the National Computer Camps (NCC). The Technology Camp for Girls will be staffed by female computer science majors currently enrolled in Fairfield University, as well as experienced NCC counselors. These young women will serve as role models, fostering intergenerational relationships and gender-affirming identities with the adolescent campers. Each school will name a liaison teacher who will assist in recruiting participants.

The camp will utilize a “camper friendly” teaching methodology, including “learning by doing” (rather than through a classroom/chalkboard style), a favorable 5:1 camper-to-staff ratio, good practice exercises, and a wide-range of programming topics. This approach will result in the achievement of the following objectives: 1) to stimulate interest among girls in computer technology; 2) to offer instruction in computer programming and provide a suitable basis for subsequent study in high school; 3) to teach age-appropriate application software, covering topics such as graphics and animation; 4) to familiarize campers with the Internet and teach campers how to write their own home page; 5) to encourage both creativity and logical analysis by providing opportunities for campers to explore, discover, and problem-solve; and 6) to provide a proper balance between educational and recreational computer usage.

The one week camp will be conducted July 2 to July 6, 2012. The daily schedule will consist of 2 hours of programming instruction in BASIC, 2 hours of software application instruction, 2 hours of web page design and 1˝ hours of organized computer free time. Computer programming instruction will be available in the BASIC language for all levels of background. Web page design will consist of learning HTML, writing a home page, acquiring a free domain, uploading a personal home page and enhancing the Web page with graphics and animation. Application software includes Flash and PhotoShop. There will be no need for textbooks, lectures, or blackboards. The curriculum will consist of worksheets and each camper will have her own computer. The distinct advantages of this learning format are that it does not require a homogeneous group of campers, and each camper can advance at her own pace as she advances through the worksheets. Organized computer-free time will permit campers to use the computers for recreation and to play educational games, surf the Internet, or continue with their programming projects.

Only girls who will enter 7th grade in September 2012 and who attend (or will attend) a participating middle schools in their town are eligible. No computer background is required.

The liaison teachers from each participating school will select the participants from their school. The campers' parents, the liaison teacher and the principal need to sign the registration form. The health form must be signed by a parent and a physician. These forms are available on line (click the links at the top of this page). The registration and health forms are collected by the liason teachers and are then forwarded to the project director.

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