App Camp for Girls is an initiative founded by Jean McDonald to empower young girls in software development through hands-on app creation, mentorship from women in tech, and a unique educational experience aimed at increasing female participation in the field. The program combines coding with creative thinking, design, and social skill development, culminating in a pitch to venture capitalists. The camp has expanded to multiple locations in North America and aims to grow further, promoting gender equality in technology.

1. Diversity Through iOS Development
App Camp 4 Girls
Aimee Maree Forsstrom
Aug 31-Sep 1, 2015

2. Who Am I?
Aimee Maree Forsstrom
Software Engineer – Educational Resarcher - Technomancer
@aimee_maree aimee@linux.com
Worked in the field of Information Technology since 2000
Long list of work in Open Source (but this is not relevant today)
Involved with research projects around young girls in IT to change
the perception of programming
Currently working on a program to assist Youth on the Autistic
Spectrum and IT Entreprenureship

3. Why am I Here?
All good things start with a story...
In 2014 I was based in Seattle, Washington, USA
An Aussie Male friend of mine RT a tweet from @askvirginia
“We are looking for mentors for a project mentoring kids”
I responded
“I can help”
And there started my journey to working with one of the most
innovative projects I have come across for young girls in
programming

4. The History
App Camp 4 Girls was founded by Jean McDonald
She was inspired to launch App Camp 4 Girls by the low
numbers of women she noticed at Apple's WWDC.
She started thinking of ways to increase participation of young
girls to help feed the pipeline and increase women's
participation in Apple development.
But she did not want to just teach them to code she wanted to
immerse them in the software development process to inspire
them onto further learning.

5. The Mission
To empower girls by providing
engaging and accessible
educational programs in software
development

6. The Vision
Gender equality in the software
development profession

7. Diversity

8. Women only need Apply
App Camp 4 Girls inspires an interest in software
development through hands-on experience in App
creation led by role models from the industry.
Individuals who self-identify as female,
trans* (of any identity), or gender non-conforming
are encouraged to Apply for mentorship positions.

9. Role Models is the DNA
App Camp 4 Girls is a place where girls can
put their creative powers to work
designing and building Apps while
learning more about the business of
software
and being inspired by
women mentors in the field.

10. Diversity with Role Models
Key ingredient
All attendees are young girls (generally 12 -14)
All mentors and speakers are Women in Technology
This enables us to present them with role
models from different backgrounds with
diverse stories

11. Addressing The Question?
We ask the question “Why do we need a Girls only
camp and not a Boys only camp”
Attendees that have been to App camps before as
the only girl or there were less then 10 in a group of
100
We teach that the best way we can support Women in
Technology is to support each other and be friends
and promote other Women in Tech
Be a friend and feel confident to talk about issues

12. Can Men Still Help?
Yes, always…
Spread the Word
Sponsor a Camp
If you know women who could help out and
would like to volunteer let them
know about the project

13. Curriculam Approach

One week camp

Teach creative thinking as well as design and code

Take students through the process of making an App

This means not just code but UI design, marketing,
presentation skills, creative thinking

Include outdoor activities not just Info tech
workshops

At the end of the week the girls pitch their ideas to
a table of VCs

14. Why Is This Different?
Teaching students about App building enabling all
students to participate in design, marketing and
development of Apps
Include outdoor activities to enable social skill
training and show how we always need a break from
technology work
Introduction of positive role models – not just
mentors but bringing in experts in their fields to
provide talks and teaching workshops

15. Positive Feedback
“My daughter had a terrific time and was so
inspired! Your camp has solidified her interest
in a career as a computer programmer.”
“It’s a fun camp where you get to learn so
much, meet amazing people, and build
friendship and confidence.”

16. Now for the Tech

17. Technology Stack
Teams have Apple Mac Book Pro between students
Each attendee gets an iPod Touch to run and test
App's on that they can take home and show to their
parents
The first camps were written in ObjectiveC
Teams are encouraged to draw and create their own
artwork
Each Team skecthes up their UI designs
Hand Drawn Artwork is printed and scanned in
Each team makes two badge designs of their brand

18. The { CODE }
Calculator or Quiz Game App template was used
This meant about 60% of the code already written
Attendees needed to write the connecting code
Their was time for them to take the App to the next
level and add their own features and improvements
For those who did not want to take it further in code
they could focus on design and still have a
functioning App at the end of one week

19. Growing Technology Stack
First App Camps developed Basic Calculator
Expanded to a more Complex Game Quiz
Future Expansion: Challenge campers with
more complex Games
Apple Watch App's: to be able to add creating
Apple Watch App's to the curriculum

20. Seattle Camp 2014

21. Seattle Camp 2015
2015 was the second App Camp ran in Seattle
Three students from the prior year returned as
intern mentors
Swift was introduced
Girls got to see how just because the code
changed the Approach to building an App and
the basics of programming still Applied

22. What Does The Future Hold?
App Camp for Girls is Growing
In 2015 there have been three camps run in
North America, Portland, Seattle and
Vancouver
The team is always looking at expanding
Current goal establish 4 new locations
in North America (7 in total)
I would love to see one run in
Australia!

23. Support
Buy the App the Students built
itunes.Apple.com/us/App/App-camp-quiz-
compendium/id942207154?mt=8
Donate to the Project
Appcamp4girls.com/contribute
Sponsor a camp
Talk to me
How we can run one in Australia??

24. Thank You Jean!

25. Credits
App Camp for Girls Logo and Photos and quotes
are CopyRight App Camp 4 Girls
App Camp For Girls is a non-profit corporation
in the State of Oregon
http://Appcamp4girls.com/