Girl Tech teaches middle schoolers about robots, graphic design, programming and more!

WHAT: Join the University of Illinois Springfield Computer Science Department for two days of fun exploring technology during Girl Tech 2011, a camp for middle school girls. Hands-on activities include robotics, geo-caching, graphic design, Japanese anime, programming and much more.

WHEN: Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: University Hall Building (UHB) on the UIS campus

DETAILS: Studies show the number of women in higher education in computer science is falling drastically. Girl Tech is geared toward girls in middle school because interest seems to start decreasing around that age.

Highlighting the sessions this year are “Explore the Robo-Jungle”, which will look at the world of autonomous robotics by programming a robot to hop and crawl. “Starring YOU!”, where girls will use photos to create digital movies. “Where in the World are YOU?” will let participants hunt down clues for a hidden treasure using technology borrowed from geo-caching. Introductory programming will be featured in “Cartoons!”, permitting the girls to create their own cartoon epic using 3D objects and characters.

Other sessions this summer include: “Hi-Tech Design using Gimp”, which will allow girls to design a t-shirt from the camp to take home. “Girl Tech Idol” – using Japanese anime software, the students will create a virtual Diva and teach her to sing. “Chatbots and Turing Tests” challenges the participants to figure out whether they are communicating with a machine or a person.

Girls returning for their third Girl Tech will be offered more in-depth sessions in games programming, computer graphics and robotics.

The registration fee is $30 per girl, which covers lunch both days, snacks and a participation t-shirt. To be eligible to participate, the girl must be entering 7th, 8th or 9th grade in the fall of 2011. For more information about the camp and to register visit http://csc.uis.edu/girltech/. Registration is suggested by June 6, 2011.