BPL Partnering With Girls Inc. to Offer Girls Coding Camp August 3-7

What: Intro to Game Design

When: Monday to Friday, August 3-7, 2020 (6th and 7th Grades

Where: Girls Inc. online class; register at this link
Details: Intro to Game Design is a code-based camp designed to support girls who are interested in developing computer science skills. The camp is funded in part by a $6,000 grant the Birmingham Public Library received from NCWIT AspireIT. There are still 10 spots left as of Friday, July 31. Participants must get a waiver signed by their parents. The registration deadline is noon Sunday, August 2. To register, go to   https://forms.gle/vfa3jQwMJ7y3gKnQ7 

Intro to Game Design will be offered August 3-7 for 6th and 7th graders participating in a virtual camp hosted by Girls Inc. of Birmingham. The code-based camps will help participants gain a new set of digital and technological skills. 

Students will be introduced to more basics of Scratch coding using CS First and transition to its application with robots. The program will also touch on a variety of social issues such as computer science career paths, advertisement tricks and the role of storytelling in the spread of diversity.

BPL Regional Manager Bessie Miller said the camps are courtesy of $6,000 in AspireIT grant funds have been graciously donated by Apple, Google, Northrop Grumman, Amazon, Walmart, the Televisa Foundation, the Cognizant USA Foundation, and the Department of Defense.” We anticipate that girls will show an increase in awareness and interest in STEM-related disciplines and careers," she said.

Camps are being led by UAB recent graduate Zena Banker and high school student Katelyn Miller. The programming team includes UAB mentors, high school interns, and the BPL Youth and Teen staff.

In November 2019, BPL won a $15,000 Computer Science for All grant for a Girls Code205 workshop that was led by Banker, the UAB engineering school graduate. The program was a partnership between the Birmingham Public Library and the National Center for Women & IT.

As the state of Alabama faced stay-at-home orders, Girls Inc. of Central Alabama looked for ways to combat the isolation our girls may be feeling. The organization decided to offer Virtual Summer camp to girls throughout the state of Alabama to support the families that have made the decision to continue social distancing throughout the summer. BPL received a grant to partner with Girls Inc.

The virtual summer camp is centered on girls discovering their personal power and inspiring them to be strong, smart and bold in all areas of life. During sessions, girls can be expected to be led by our trained and dedicated staff via Zoom calls to participate in virtual field trips, receive Girls Inc. research-based programming, create strong and healthy bonds with peers, and engage in many more fun online adventures.