Thanks to your incredible support and Nokia’s matching grant, we are thrilled to announce our goal of sending 25 youth to Summer Tech Camp has been met. Together, we raised over $21,000 to send these kids on an unforgettable experience that can have a lasting impact on their lives.

Each summer, CI students participate in an extended wilderness expedition and document it with digital photography, video and journaling. Throughout the Summer Tech + Trek program, participants are trained in leadership, teamwork and communication skills. Once back to NYC, they are immersed in an intensive information technology and digital-design program. Ranging from computer basics to photo editing, video editing, and web design, these kids are equipped with an array of tech skills. They then share their experiences with the world:

“My name is Sarah Rodriguez and I am 12 years old. This is my first year being at CI. My Discipline is development, which is the process of using letters and numbers, or code, to make a website. At CI we get to go on trips that include camping, rafting, and more!

The kids at CI including myself are put into two groups. One is Trailblazers and the other is Discover Outdoors. Each go on a camping trip for a week. I was in the Trailblazers group.

One thing that prepared me for tech on the trip was hiking. The reason why it helped me is because when hiking in a group, you have to use teamwork to get through it. It is basically the same thing because we all have to use teamwork when building our website”.

Thank you again- and a heartfelt thank you to sponsors, Nokia, for backing this campaign, matching every dollar you contributed.

“Nokia are very proud to support such an inspirational program that will change the lives of many young people and help educate them in technology. Its so important that we develop these initiatives in order to make a positive change and harness social media and mobile technology for good.

Social Media is transforming the worlds communications and mobile technology is supporting this radical change at a pace never seen before. Without properly educating the youth of the positive opportunities that can be unlocked in technology we are doing them an injustice.

Summer tech camp is the first step in transforming the next generation to a world of technology and data-driven opportunities.”- Craig Hepburn, Director of Social Media