IU students lend hand in summer technology camp

For the ninth year running, the School of Informatics and Computing is organizing a summer camp for current and incoming high school students, providing “five days of the Web, Wii and all the technology knowledge you can soak up,” according to
the SOIC website.

For $400, students are able to experience the breadth of technology available both to IU and to their generation. During the five-day program students will have the opportunity to interact with other informatics lovers and foster an appreciation for and understanding of the latest technology.

The summer program aims to teach students how technology is used in a variety of fields, including science, art and visual communication. Campers also have the option of participating in a variety of extracurricular activities, including swimming, bowling and Wii games.

The students have the chance to explore potential careers in technology while enhancing their communication and problem-solving skills. In addition, campers get to experience college life and, more specifically, college life at IU.

From June 19 to 23, the selected campers are given time to work on a project of their choosing that is related in some way to the fields of informatics or computing. At the end of the camp students will present their projects to family, friends and fellow campers.

Nancy Lemons, the SOIC director of undergraduate student recruiting and advising, is in her first year of work with the camp. She and co-director professor Matt Hottell are working to provide an enriching experience for a small group of students.

“We anticipate our largest group ever for the upcoming camp,” Lemons said. “We expect to have between 50 and 60 students.”

Lemons looked to previous attendees for advice on the upcoming camp.

“I have talked to these students about their camp experiences,” she said. “They commented on how much they loved learning about all the aspects of technology and the types of careers available in technology. They loved the hands-on classes and projects. They liked staying on campus and experiencing the academic environment.”

The SOIC also hires undergraduates and graduate students to be counselors for the camp. The counselors supervise students, plan and lead some events and assist the students. The positions are filled for the upcoming session, but students are encouraged to apply for the 2012 session.

To become a camper, high school students must fill out a short application, including a 100-word essay detailing their reasons for wanting to attend the camp. Applications are due May 15. For more information, contact Lemons at nlemons@indiana.edu or manager of communications Lisa Herrmann at ljherrma@indiana.edu.