TEK Camp 2008

The purpose of the program is to identify students with technical potential at an early age, enhance their skills training in the secondary school system and have the graduate enter into an entry level job that has a sustainable career path. In 2007, there were approximately 6,697 high school graduates in the Roanoke region according to the Virginia Department of Education*. If the Roanoke Region can retain and train one tenth of these graduates, our local businesses are guaranteed an annual entry level workforce.

The business sponsors for this program are Virtual IT, LevelVision, First Team Auto Mall, COX Communications, WDBJ Channel 7 and Western Virginia Water Authority. The four major sponsors of the program are Roanoke County Public Schools,

Virginia Western Community College, Hollins University and Roanoke County. Campers participated in a Mock Crime Scene, built and programmed robots, used GPS in a scavenger hunt, experimented with the internal works of a computer and toured local businesses during the technology experience.

In 2004, Roanoke County and Hollins University began exploring ways that they could collaborate to meet the needs of the business community. As the quality and quantity of the entry level workforce continues to be a major concern for area employers, the two partners developed Technology Education for Kids (TEK) Camp.

The target market for the 2008 program is middle school tweens (past recruiting included high school students). If a student’s interest is piqued by a particular industry during camp, there is still time to return to school and take classes to better prepare as a future employee. These students will become our workforce for the remainder of this decade and the beginning of the 2010’s.

The program is designed as a summer camp that exposes students to many different types of entry level technology jobs within the Roanoke Region. These adolescents will not have access to these businesses in any other venue. The camp lasts one week and is underwritten by the partners and corporate sponsors. In 2005, twelve students enrolled in a pilot program. In 2006, the program tripled its enrollment with 38 participants. The TEK Camp Steering Committee then reduced the enrollment for 2007 and 2008 to a maximum of 25 campers in order to incorporate better student to instructor ratios. However, the interest expressed by students and the demand voiced by businesses is accelerating. The future goal of the program is enroll 100+ students per summer with the backing of the business community and become part of the Virginia Western Community College summer camp schedule. Virginia Western Community College and Roanoke County Public Schools joined Roanoke County and Hollins University as sponsors in 2007. Regional businesses will also take part in the program with presentations, demonstrations and financial support.