TXT2011: Teens eXperiencing Technical Education at DCTC

Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount will soon help middle school-age girls explore answers to the all-important question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” while giving them something fun to do this summer.

Girls entering grades five through eight this fall will get a unique chance to experience a week-long preview of college at TXT2011: Teens eXperiencing Technical Education.

The summer camp takes place 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday, July 25 through Friday, July 29 at in Rosemount.

In its first year, the program was developed “to give girls a chance to try out different career options with hands-on workshops and to know that technical education is an option for entering those careers,” said Linda Foster, director of Instructional Technology at Dakota County Technical College, adding that it also aims to bring community awareness of programs offered at the college.

As a highlight, DCTC and Best Buy Geek Squad will team up to
provide a Geek Squad Summer Academy session at the end of the week. Participants will be able to graduate as junior agents with the Geek Squad.

The summer camp cleverly redefines very common online acronyms kids use – “LOL” means “lots of learning” and “OMG” stands for “only middle school girls.”

Indeed, currently, it’s “no boys allowed” at the program: “Part of the reason for the limitation is that we are partnering with Laura Jeffrey Academy from St. Paul…a charter school for girls in grades five through eight,” said Foster. “We want to maintain consistency for their students.” 

The camp, open to 200 participants, will feature interactive hands-on workshops in the college’s program areas:

Mon. July 25: Business & Design

Programs include: Interior Design, Visual Communication, Architectural Technology, Wood Finishing, Photography, Business Entrepreneurship, and Personal Finance.

Tues. July 26: Transportation & Industry

Programs include: Automotive Technology, Auto Body Technology, Heavy Duty Truck Technology, Welding, Biomedical Equipment Technology, Electrical Construction, and Electrical Line worker.

Wed. July 27: Health & Science

Programs include: Medical Assistant, Medical Lab,
Exercise and Sports Science, Early Childhood Development, Nursing, Nutrition, Biology, and Nanotechnology.

Thurs. July 28 to Fri. July 29: Technology

Presented by Best Buy Geek Squad Summer Academy,
this will include digital video, digital photography, computer networking, computer hardware and more.

DCTC faculty from the various program areas will teach the sessions.

Other TXT2011 camp activities will include leadership skills and team building, as well as athletic workshops with coaches, athletes from the DCTC Blue Knights teams, according to Foster.

For more information, visit www.dctc.edu/go/txt or contact Linda Foster at 651-423-8439.

Learn more about the Geek Squad Summer Academy online at: http://blogs.dctc.edu/youblue/2011/06/02/txt2011/