Wednesday, May 27th, 2009...12:30 am
Hot Site – Geek Girl Camp
This week’s Hot Site is more of a Hot Idea. At least, it’s one I can really get behind. Geek Girl Camp is an organization that is driven toward the idea of making women more comfortable with technology. Now I know that the fellow female geeks I run with aren’t going to let a few programs intimidate them. But through all of my years of teaching one thing always seemed to set my female students apart from my male students, and that was fear. For some reason the running thought the women had was that because a computer was a machine, they were somehow going to break it. This thought, however, never crossed the minds of the men. So while the men would move quickly through the lessons, the women would often need encouragement to get started.
Geek Girl’s mission is to break apart these all too common fears and bring about a sense of being "Tech-Empowered" in women of all ages. They are the encouragement that all of my female students needed.
Quote Geek Girl: "We wanted something for the “average wannabe geek girl”. In an environment where no one ever has to feel silly about asking the wrong question and getting laughed at… Nope. This is for the average gal, the beginner, the intermediate and even the advanced who wants to be involved. It’s for paying it forward, helping out, having fun and feeling empowered."
They also realize that there is strength in numbers. Women like to know they are not alone, so being in a room filled with others who are going through the same thing you are brings about a sense of comfort. That’s why you will find that the Geek Girl Camps are group events. Classes on computer programs, information sharing, social networking, and systems management go on throughout their events. But, because it is a gathering of like-minds, the fear fades, the education begins, and by the time it’s over you find yourself with a network of friends who understand you.
Geek Girl Camp is a wonderful concept and I applaud the lovely ladies behind it. So click the pic and see about attending an event in your area. And to tech savvy women everywhere I say – YOU GO GIRL! 
I love this!!!! I wish they have a conference near me… I’d be there in an instant! And I want summer camp for my step-daughter… and, and, and… Simply brilliant!!!
Hi Betsy!
Thanks for the kind words! Just email me or get me on Twitter and we will come to your town with your help! @GeekGirlCamp
Thanks-
Leslie
Great idea! Speaking from personal experience, once you break out of the “I’ll break it” mode, you can do anything, and, wonder of wonders, after a while, it’s even easy! Who knew! Let’s hear it for the girls!!!
Yay! Thanks, Janine! What is so nice about this program is that all the speakers are Geek Girls, too! Really builds confidence in a field where there are tons of male speakers at conferences but not as many women represented.
Leslie
Wow! This is fabulous! Thanks so much, Firgs (Elizabeth)! This means a great deal to us to get other “Geek Girls” such as yourself and your followers involved! We really focus on the those who “technology passed by”, and cater to the audience of the beginner. There are tons of conferences for the geeks, but hardly any for the beginner “wannabe a Geek Girl”! We also just donated 3K from the last two Boot Camps to women’s scholarship funds, so we are definitely trying to pay it forward and give back, in addition to educate and empower.
We would love to come to Chicago and have you all involved, or any other town/city your readers would like. Just email me or connect on Twitter – @GeekGirlCamp .
Thanks again SO much, Firgs! You are the best!
What a cool concept! Love it!
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Hi, gr8 post thanks for posting. Information is useful!