The following is the text of a press release we put out yesterday for CompCamp Halifax.
CompCamp, a technology camp for teenagers, is pleased to announce that several leading digital enterprises in Nova Scotia will fund scholarships to the camp this summer, allowing young women and disadvantaged youth to develop their passion for technology.
CompCamp offers four programs – each lasting one week – that will teach young people from all walks of life not only how to use technology to enrich their lives, but also how that technology works. They will emerge from the camp understanding the potential of technology and how to use it as they plot their career.
In recognition of CompCamp’s contribution to training the next generation of tech leaders, three respected voices in the tech community have thrown their support behind the project by providing scholarships:
- GoInstant, a Halifax company, will provide at least five scholarships. (Visit goinstant.com for more details on GoInstant.)
- John Hamblin, President of Clarke IT Solutions Inc., will donate the Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship to a young woman who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend the camp.
- DemoCamp Halifax, the forum for tech companies to demo their products at Dalhousie University on Sept. 23, will donate its surplus funds to future scholarships for CompCamp events. (Visit www.democamphalifax.com for more information on DemoCamp.)
“We believe strongly that society will benefit from CompCamp because we are giving young people a head start in what’s probably the fastest-growing industry in the world,’’ said Rose Behar, Co-Founder of CompCamp. ``CompCamp allows teens who are interested in technology to explore that interest in a productive way with similarly minded young people. This will help them to excel in high school and university, and very likely their career.’’
CompCamp’s programs include Game Development 101, Social Media Unmasked, Hardware and Structure and Web Development and Design. Relying on small groups, community mentors, and hands-on teamwork, Behar and fellow Co-Founders Michael Johnston and Taylor Quinn will provide a safe, stimulating environment for male and female teens to explore each of these fields.
The digital technology industry is now worth $1.5 billion in Nova Scotia, employing more people than farming, fishing, and forestry combined and growing faster than almost any other industry. And across the country, digital industries will need skilled employees in order to grow. The federal Information and Communications Technology Council has estimated Canadian employers will need between 126,400 and 178,800 ICT employees between 2008 and 2015.
"The Digital Technologies industry in Nova Scotia needs dynamic young people to ensure its ongoing growth," said Digital Nova Scotia Chair Jason Powell. "Digital Nova Scotia supports CompCamp as one avenue to engage teenagers who will develop into leaders in this exciting field."
CompCamp is now accepting applications from 14 to 18 year olds for its camps at The Hub Halifax, 1673 Barrington Street. The courses, which include morning and afternoon training, begin on July 9 and run until August 3.
For more information, please visit our website at compcamp.ca.
Contact:
Rose Behar, rose@compcamp.ca, Phone: 902 497 8316
Michael Johnston, Michael@compcamp.ca, Phone: 902 222 1269
