Applications open: Free summer coding camp offered for teen girls

Her Spark, a local nonprofit, is offering a no-cost, week-long coding camp to teach teen girls practical coding languages and STEM skills.

Posted 4:52 p.m. Jun 13, 2018 — Updated 4:52 p.m. Jun 13, 2018

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

Her Spark, a local nonprofit, is offering a no-cost, week-long coding camp to teach teen girls practical coding languages and STEM skills.

The camp, called a coding summit, runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m, July 23 to July 27, at Wake Tech RTP in Morrisville.

Some requirements:

It's for girls ages 13 to 18 who are current high school students in either public, private or home-based schools.
Girls must live in the counties of Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange, Wake, or Wilson.
And they'll need to be able to attend the full program and arrange their own transportation to and from camp each day.

The application deadline is 11:59 p.m., June 19.

Some other details:

Lunch and snacks will be provided daily.
Participants don't need to bring a computer, but a cell phone - Apple or Android - is recommended.
No experience is required.

According to its website, RTP-based Her Spark's mission is to equip girls with the STEM skills and opportunities to succeed in the careers of tomorrow - dedicated to solving gender disparity in computer science, engineering and technology careers. Founded by professional women and business leaders, fueled by the possibilities of engaging with bright, young women to fulfill their passions while diversifying the STEM talent pipeline, the website says.

More information about the summer camp, including the online application, is on Her Spark's website.

Efforts like these work to close the gap and encourage girls and women to seek these often higher-paying STEM jobs. Women fill more than 47 percent of all U.S. jobs, but hold only 24 percent of STEM jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. And though women make up more than half of college educated workers, they comprise just 25 percent of college educated STEM workers.

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