11 Aug App camp aims to guide girls toward high-tech careers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A big push is happening to get more women into the male-dominated fields of science and technology, and a camp going on in Kansas City this weekend hopes to foster interest at an early age.
The KC Engineering Zone is an app camp with no boys allowed. It hopes to encourage girls to get into science, technology, engineering and math careers.
“Our goal is to show them that there are women in STEM fields and there are a lot of opportunities in STEM careers,” said Gretchen Neis, of the Kansas City STEM Alliance.
At the camp, more than 20 middle and high school girls will learn the basics of coding and how to create an app on a cellphone.
“I know the general code and building, like, websites and stuff like that,” said Laney Zabroske, a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
Zabroske said she wants a career as a computer programmer. She said the idea of building a game or program out of nothing is the coolest feeling in the world.
Another goal of the camp is to give the girls the empowerment and confidence to know that they can do anything.
“We want to be the people that are sending the message that they can do anything, and if they find this interesting and they find it fun and they’re really capable, then they can do that as a career,” Neis said.
The campers will make apps all week and then show them off at a showcase and celebration on Friday afternoon.
Story by Matt Evans, KMBC
