[Note: This is a sponsored guest post contributed by Ingrid Sanden, Co-Founder of Boolean Girl.]
Boolean Girl Camps have been recognized multiple times as a “Best Camp” by local and regional media outlets and, more importantly, by our campers. Here, girls entering Grades 3-8 develop new friendships and have fun as they learn about computer science and engineering in a welcoming, play-based environment with a series of unique projects and creative challenges.
Camps and classes are designed using a holistic approach to learning, with a goal to blend play and programming through hands-on instruction and sustained meaningful exposure to computer science and engineering. Our camps are part of a broad set of lessons and activities designed to encourage girls to progress from beginning coding to building electrical circuits.
While the girls learn a lot at camp, they are not just sitting at their keyboards and looking at screens. We play games, listen to music, play outside, and just be kids. Our instructors are a mix of teachers and female college students from schools like Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, and University of Maryland, and our interns are local high school students. Boolean Girl instructors and interns complete curriculum and classroom management training, as well as first aid certification and background checks.
Fridays at Boolean Girl Camps are special as we celebrate our week of STEM discovery. We have pizza, the campers show off their creative work, and we are joined by one or more Boolean Girl Ambassadors — local women working in STEM careers like electrical engineering and computer science — in the afternoon. Ambassadors share their experiences, lead a short project or challenge, talk about STEM education and careers, and of course they discuss the girls’ projects with them. Parents are always welcome to join their children for the project showcase at the end of the day.
In 2020, we are offering four different types of camps in Arlington, Fairfax, and Montgomery counties, as well as Capitol Hill. Each camp has an age or grade range recommendation, and we caution pushing kids too quickly, even if they’ve coded previously.
Not sure our camp is right for your daughter? Give our Clubhouse a try! Sponsored by Boolean Girl and Virginia Tech, the Clubhouse will meet on the fourth Saturday of each month from 1-4pm, starting January 25. Check our website for more info. And if you have questions or are just not sure, send a note to info@booleangirl.org or give us a call at 202.996.8241. We love talking to parents and are happy to guide you to the appropriate camp for your daughter!
To learn more about our camps and register your daughter, visit the Boolean Girl website. See you this summer!
