Charlottesville, VA (July 19, 2016) C4K is thrilled to be offering 10 weeks of S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) focused camps that also emphasize pathways to careers for low income youth ages 11-18 years.
C4K Executive Director Kala Somerville, says, “At a time when so much of the news is disheartening, we are thrilled to share the good news about what is happening at C4K. Our young members choose to join C4K and become a valued member of our vibrant, creative community where they are building career and life skills every day they walk in the door.”
C4K’s free summer programming plays a special role in our local community, both providing a safe summer environment and preventing “the summer slide.” Loss of academic skills over the summer is one of the most significant causes of achievement gaps between lower and higher income youth and one of the strongest contributors to the high school dropout rate.
Our campers are: learning the ins and outs of drone operation; using hip hop and multimedia tools to create branding concepts for local businesses; developing a business product to market, using C4K’s technology equipment to create a prototype, and devising a business plan; filming and producing a short film and a music video; working on 3-D game design; collaborating with musicians to bridge the gap between digital music production and live instrumentation; engaging in daily maker activities; and composing large scale photo collage self-portraits that examine the interplay between personal and cultural identity.
Partnerships with PVCC Kids College, the City of Charlottesville’s Office of Economic Development, Maker Ed, Music Resource Center, Light House Studio, and Youth Orchestras of Central Virginia are making this expansive and enriching slate of camps possible. A grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts will support C4K’s self-portraiture camp, which includes a field trip to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.
Computers4Kids (C4K) is a year-round out-of-school time learning studio that empowers low-income middle and high school youth through daily hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) activities. C4K provides regular one-on-one and group mentoring opportunities to build skills and spark new interests for college and career success. C4K is a member of The Clubhouse Network, an international community of over 100 clubhouses worldwide, headquartered at the Museum of Science, Boston, and started over 20 years ago in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab.
For more information please contact Michaela Muttom at 434-817-1121, ex.1 or michaela@computers4kids.net.
