Girl Scouts Offering Computer Summer Camp

This summer, Girl Scouts in Carrollwood and beyond are no longer just camping and selling cookies.

The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida will receive high-level computer training at MOSI this summer under a program titled "Creating With Computers," a curriculum designed to give young scouts tools going forward in their lives.

"The girls have an opportunity to work with some great software and learn how to write codes that will allow them to use a computer creatively," said Shari Money, director of programs and collaborations for the scouts. "Some of our focuses have become science, technology, engineering and math because we want to expose them to different career opportunities."

With lessons on software such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, topics such as web design, computer-game creation and animation will be covered as the students learn concepts that can be used in a multitude of professions, thus diversifying the professional capabilities of young women.

"Through Girl Scouts, about 2.6 million girls are exposed to careers in those areas," Money said. "Forty-six percent of the labor force is women, but only about 20 percent go into sciences or engineering. We want to change the fact that girls tend to lean toward fields in the social sciences instead of jobs where there are greater opportunities."

The camp is open to non-scouts as well, and will be conducted in four sessions from July 5-8. The camp is open to girls in grades 6 through 12, and will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The cost is $168 per camper.

For information, call 813-282-1685, or visit www.gswcf.org/ors.