Tech Camp 2022 took place Tuesday July 19 through Friday July 22, 2022, at the historic Franklin Jr High in Des Moines. As the flagship program of Tech Journey, the event demonstrated these core values. Specifically, Tech Camp 2022:

  • Opened doors for 99 central Iowa students representing a more diverse distribution than that of Iowa students participating in AP Computer Science exams;
  • Provided knowledge and inspiration through 19 half-day or full-day technology sessions across tracks of software development, hardware and physical computing, web development and media and maker camp;
  • Enabled encouragement in technology and tech careers through two keynote speakers, a tech careers presentation and panel, an alumni panel and other group activities;
  • Mobilized 78 local volunteer technology professionals to serve as keynote speakers, session facilitators, student mentors, camp hosts or serve in other capacities;
  • Provided 42 Chromebook devices and accessories to students to take home after camp, fostering continued development of skills and ongoing enrichment; and
  • Granted $7,500 in scholarships to seven graduating seniors who participated in Tech Camp for three or more years during their high school career.

One camp. 4 days. 20+ sessions. 60+ volunteers. 100+ students. Infinite impact.

Tech Camp is an immersive annual summer camp experience for central Iowa students in grades 8 through 12. A cohort of 8th or 9th grade students are invited with consideration given to socioeconomic status, gender and ethnicity. The new cohort, as well as the previous four cohorts, are invited each year to attend the one-week summer camp.

Each year at Tech Camp students attend inspirational keynote sessions, technology learning sessions and other activities including a closing ceremony and reception where they can demonstrate projects they worked on. Technology learning sessions are grouped into three tracks: software development, hardware and physical computing and web development and media. Example technologies and topics presented include, but are not limited to, Agile, Arduino, cloud computing, cybersecurity, game development, HTML/CSS/JS, machine learning and Python.

  • We provide knowledge and tools

    Students connect with professionals

    All sessions are delivered by local technology professionals serving as volunteer facilitators and mentors. Students not only learn from the professionals, but they get to talk with them about education, careers, jobs, skills and the like.

    Students have the tools

    Students have a computer to use at Tech Camp and receive a Tech Journey domain account to use across multiple applications. Students receive tech items, swag, plenty of snacks and daily meals.

  • We open closed doors

    Serving the underrepresented in tech

    Our target demographic for Tech Camp is underserved and underrepresented in tech. For Tech Camp 2020, 55% of students attending were female and the ethnic breakdown was Asian 26%, Black/African American 14%, Hispanic/Latinx 21% and the balance being White/Caucasian or other.

  • We commit to a journey

    Tech Camp lasts four to five years

    Once a student attends Tech Camp for the first time as an 8th or 9th grader, he/she is invited back each remaining year of high school to continue exploring tech. for Tech Camp 2020, 83% of the students attending agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “After Tech Camp, I am still interested in learning about technology.”