A No-Cost Camp Expands Access to Robotics, Engineering and Coding

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

A collaborative program created by two specialists in Henrico County Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education program, Summer Robotics, Engineering, and Coding — or REC — Camp provides up to 40 rising seventh-graders the chance to explore computer science at no cost. The mission of the program was to promote, enrich and increase learning experiences available to students who are part of underrepresented, and often underrecognized, demographics in computer science fields. Offering transportation and a no-cost alternative for the two-week program eliminated the financial burden and a roadblock experienced by many disadvantaged students within the community. Removing obstacles put the focus on engaged learning as a primary objective.