Outreach
The Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing is committed to making computing a field that includes participation of individuals across the intersections of gender identification, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and disability status. This page contains a list of programs that we offer for K-12 students.
Programs - Fall and Spring Semester Outreach Programs
STEM/Robotics K-12 Outreach
Throughout the year, MCWIC Ambassadors take our curriculum on the road to visit local organizations and schools (ex. local Girl Scout troops) with a fun STEM activity. Activities last approximately 2 hours. STEM options include LEGO Mindstorm Robots, cryptology activities and programming that provide an introduction to computing principles. If your group is interested in learning more about these options, please complete this form to tell us more about your group and your interest.
Weekly Elementary & Middle School Outreach
In a weekly after-school program, MCWIC Ambassadors provide weekly after-school programs in the local community to expose more students to computing through hands-on activities and real world problems. Much of the curriculum is adapted from CompSciConnect. Schools can only be added to our current program between June- August and December- January. If your school is interested in this program, please complete this form.
Ladies Navigate Computer Science- High School Recruitment Event for Women interested in computing
October 6th, 2019, from 11:00am - 4:00pm
Are you interested in virtual reality, cyber security, game development, or programming? Come learn about Computer Science and all of the opportunities for women in computing at the University of Maryland. This event is open to all students who identify as females in high school. Information will be geared towards Juniors and Seniors. 1 Parent/Guardian is welcome to attend, but must register in advance (on the same form) and will attend a different program.
RSVP here: https://go.umd.edu/LNCS.
Please view our flyer here.
JumpStart Computing Workshop at UMD
December 7th, 2019.
RSVP link coming soon.
Elementary students are invited to the University of Maryland for an interactive learning experience in computing, robotics, and cybersecurity! Undergraduate students lead workshops in topics such as Python Art, Robotic Challenge, and Cryptography. This event provides students with the opportunity to explore computing topics, and learn about additional resources to continue their learning. Audience: Current 3rd- 5th Graders.
Previous
Date: May 5th, 2018
Date: December 8th, 2018
High School Computing Workshops at UMD
October 19th, 2019.
RSVP link coming soon.
Each semester, MCWIC hosts 1-3 one-day workshops geared toward exposing students to different types of computing early in their careers. Workshops tend to focus on one main topic for the day and are opened to all students from 8th-12th grade. Registration is opened to current 8th-12th graders.
Note: There is a $20 fee for each student participating. Scholarships are available.
You will be contacted to confirm your participation, receive logistical information, and pay your registration fee.
Past workshops include:
- Intro to Programming
- Virtual Reality Programming
- Find Your Niche: Creating Animations with Alice Programming
- Find Your Niche: Intro to Python
- Find Your Niche: Introduction to Interactive Web Development
Girls Who Code - UMD Chapter
By 2020, there will be 1.4 million jobs available in computing related fields. US graduates are on track to fill 29% of those jobs. Women are on track to fill just 3%. Girls Who Code was founded with a single mission: to close the gender gap in technology. Join us on Sundays from 1-3pm at the University of Maryland to have fun, learn computer science, and meet awesome friends! TGWC recruits at the beginning of each semester. To receive more information about the UMD GWC chapter email gwcumd@gmail.com.
Register here: https://go.umd.edu/GirlsWhoCodeRegistration
Rise-Up 4 CS - Maryland
Project Rise Up 4 CS helps underrepresented (Hispanic, African American, American Indian) women pass the Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science A course and exam. You must be enrolled in an AP CS A (Java) during the 2019-2020 school year to apply.
Program Components:
- Kick-Off Event September 29th 4:00pm-7:00pm Located in the Brendan Iribe Center room 1207
- Remote one-hour help sessions twice a week (only need access to a computer with an internet connection)
- In-person help sessions with free food at the University of Maryland every month
- One-on-one online sessions taught by UMD CS Students
Program Benefits:
- Deepen your knowledge of computer science and do well in your AP CS A course
- Meet other high school students who are passionate about computing
- Chance to win a prize if you send your AP score by the end of July
To register, please fill out this form: https://go.umd.edu/RiseUpInterest
View the full flyer here.
NCWIT Aspirations
In collaboration with National Center for Women In Technology (NCWIT), Maryland-Delaware Affiliate Chapter, the Center recognizes young women in high school who pursue their passion in computing in an award ceremony each Spring. Applications open every year on September 1st. Applications are typically due early November. View past winners and events here.
The Maryland Center for Women in Computing at the University of Maryland is proud to host the eighth annual NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC) in 2019-2020. The University of Maryland, College Park, UMBC, and Loyola University Maryland partner together to help recognize the best students for this prestigious award in the Maryland region.
The Award for AiC honors 9th-12th grade students who self-identify as women, genderqueer, or non-binary for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education. Since 2007, nearly 14,000 students have received an Award for AiC. Students can apply regardless of their technology experience at www.aspirations.org! For more information visit: https://www.aspirations.org/recognitions/AiCAward
You can encourage students to apply with this link.
Share the Flyer Here
View the Sharing Packet Here
Cyber Girls Ambassadors
In partnership with WIT (the local professional Women in Technology), UMD Computer Science students go into the high schools to coach high school students to participate in the CyberPatriot competition through after school programs in local schools. This program is managed by the ACES Honors Program.
CompSciConnect Curriculum in a Box
Computer Science Connect “Curriculum-In-A-Box” is a series of hands-on curriculum modules, video lectures and other resources that will be available for free, online. The Curriculum-In-A-Box enables educators, parents, and universities interested in creating outreach programs to do so easily, with pre-packaged, pre-tested curriculum. This project is supported by the Association of Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education Special Projects Grant.
Summer Camps
AI4ALL
Target Camper: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th Graders
Dates for Summer 2020 will be announced in January
AI4ALL is a three-week long, residential computer programming and artificial intelligence (AI) summer camp. Students will come away from the camp knowing how AI can be used to help people and an idea of what kinds of careers there are in AI. The camp will be offered to rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in the area with a specific focus on Washington, DC and Prince George’s County (MD) Residents. Students will be exposed to personal growth, education, and hands-on experiences presented by faculty, guest lecturers, and students at the University of Maryland.
Throughout the program, students will experience a blended learning environment with formal instruction, group work with UMD AI faculty and graduate students, as well as field trips, lab visits, and guest speakers.
CompSciConnect
Target Camper: Rising 6th, 7th and 8th Graders
Dates for Summer 2020 will be announced in January
CompSciConnect is a three-year summer camp (Yellow, Red and Terp groups) that typically begins with rising 6th graders joining the Yellow group. Each summer, students learn more advanced skills and also meet once a month throughout the school year to maintain those skills. Through the three years, students explore block programming with scratch and Lego robots (Yellow); web programming with HTML, CSS and JavaScript (Red); and Python and Unity 3D programming (Terp), along with cybersecurity/safety, cryptology, number bases, logic and computer use skills. Through the three years, we emphasize how these skills connect to other areas of study and to making the world a better place.
For more information, visit https://mcwic.cs.umd.edu/outreach/csc
Cyber Defense Training Camp
Target Camper: Rising 11th and 12th Graders
Dates for Summer 2020 will be announced in January
Cyber Defense Training Camp is an intermediate level (some technical experience is required) seven-day residential summer program for both male and female students. Students will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of cybersecurity and gain practical skills through instruction by an experienced security professional, while living on the UMD campus. Students learn about career options in the field, take at least one field trip and hear from a variety of speakers to learn more about how to prepare to enter this exciting profession.
Introduction to Computing 101
Target Camper: Rising 9th-12th Graders
Dates for Summer 2020 will be announced in January
Come join us for a 1 week camp to learn the basic of Python. Students will spend the week with current computer science students to explore the field. Students will have lab visits and field trips. Students with previous computing experience should explore one of our other camps as this is created to be an introduction to computing.
JumpStart Computing Elementary Camp
Dates for Summer 2020 will be announced in January
Elementary students are invited to an interactive learning experience in computing, robotics, and cybersecurity. Undergraduate students will cover topics such as Python Art, Number Theory, Scratch, Cryptography and Robotics over the course of this one-week camp. This event will provide students with the opportunity to explore computing topics, and learning about additional resources to continue their learning. Students should have a basic level of reading comprehension and math skills.
Before and After Care will be available for an additional fee.
Make Your Own Wearables
Target Camper: Rising 8th-12th Grade Girls
Dates for Summer 2020 will be announced in January
This one-week camp is designed to introduce students to the world of wearable technology. Here, students will take an inside look at the possibilities of creating wearable technology and the revolution behind such technology. Students will foster their talent and creativity by being introduced to the principles of cloud computing, progressive web application development, electronics and the Internet of Things. This hands-on experience provides students the ability to learn about software, hardware, and applying Arduino programming to create wearable items such as light-up keychains, bracelets, and brooches, as well as time to discover their own passion for creating fashion. Labs will consist of creating a prototype design on a breadboard, and verifying the design works, using our state-of-the-art test and measurement equipment.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for all of our camps. They are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Please make sure that you are applying for both a camp and a scholarship to be considered for camp.
FAQ's
Can my son participate in this camp? With the exception of the Make Your Own Wearables camp, all students are eligible to apply for camp. Some camps are geared more towards girls, but we accept boys into all of our camps.
How will my student's teacher be contacted to be a reference? We will send out an electronic form to all teachers that have been listed. Teachers can also complete a paper form.
When do I pay for camp? Applications for day camps will be reviewed in mid-March. You will be contacted to confirm your participation and complete payment information by the end of March. Residential camps follow a different process and will be explained in the confirmation email.
My student is really excited about XX camp. Is there any exception for grade requirements? We currently have camp opportunities for rising 4th- 12th graders. Our camp grade requirements are for students rising into a particular grade. We are not able to make grade exceptions for any reason. We hope you can find a camp that matches your student's interest.
I am interested in CompSciConnect. Can my student attend week 1 of one session and week 2 of another session? Due to the nature of CompSciConnect and the team environment, your student must be able to attend an entire full session of camp.