The program aims to introduce 1,500 local middle schoolers to future tech careers
ROCKVILLE, Md., April 20, 2022 – For the fourth year, the unique and innovative Montgomery Can Code public-private partnership formed by Montgomery College, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) with Apple will offer local middle school students an enriching and educational summer camp experience to learn computer coding.
Enrollment is currently open to MCPS middle schoolers for the virtual, half-day camp, with a goal of tripling the number of program participants to 1,500 students. There will be five weeklong Montgomery Can Code camps taking place from July 11–August 12, 2022.
Students will learn the skills they need to pursue careers in today’s app economy by working in Swift, Apple’s open-source, easy-to-understand programming language. Students experience the chance to solve real world problems by using coding skills they learn at the camp.
The Montgomery Can Code sessions are taught through Montgomery College’s Information Technology Institute by instructors trained in Swift code. Students receive a loaner iPad and a Montgomery Can Code T-shirt at the start of each session. At the week’s end, participants will receive a certificate of completion.
At the end of the summer, students will pitch their app solutions in a Student App Showcase event following the conclusion of the camps. MCEDC will coordinate with local business leaders to interact with the students, adding a real-world element to the experience.
In a program extender, spring after-school coding clubs have been formed at select schools in Montgomery County. Now in its second year, these after-school clubs give students additional coding experience.
Teaching code not only teaches the language of technology, it showcases new ways of thinking and prepares students for future careers. Local companies continue to search for highly skilled workers in fields like cybersecurity, app development, gaming, life sciences and hospitality technology. Early exposure to develop these skills provides students with a future advantage in being hired.
“Montgomery Can Code is a direct investment in our students to make sure they are ready for a workforce that has already seen an increase in demand for highly skilled STEM workers,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “This collaboration between Montgomery College, MCPS, MCEDC and Apple has been expanding to serve more students over the past four years, and we are proud of what can be accomplished by working together.”
“Montgomery Can Code embodies our County’s commitment to innovative learning that will prepare our children for the evolving workforce,” said County Councilmember Craig Rice, chair of the Council’s Education and Culture Committee. “Each year, we have increased the number of participants, giving more students the opportunity to develop a valuable skill set. I applaud Montgomery College, MCPS, MCEDC and Apple for their partnership in ensuring that every student can participate in the virtual environment. I’m confident that Montgomery Can Code will continue to thrive and grow thanks to the hard work of our program partners.”
“MCPS is thrilled to continue working with our partners to expand access for middle school students to the Montgomery Can Code summer camps and school-year coding clubs,” said Dr. Monifa McKnight, Superintendent of schools. “We are committed to providing our students with engaging and innovative opportunities that build their skills and prepare them for the jobs of the future. We look forward to building upon these camps with new innovations through digital learning and the soon-to-be IgnITe Hub at Montgomery College.”
“Montgomery Can Code is an initiative that connects dots: .gov, .com, .edu and .org to address an important issue of creating homegrown talent for 1,000s of open IT jobs in our region while also advancing economic equity and inclusion,” said Dr. Sanjay Rai, Senior VP of Academic Affairs for Montgomery College. “Exposing middle schoolers to coding, app development, and complex problem solving will certainly create the next generation of IT professionals, and also the next generation of entrepreneurs who will expand our economy and create even more jobs”. We are delighted that we are building on Montgomery Can Code by opening the new IgnITe Hub at Montgomery College. This new digital learning and innovation space will allow us to enhance our programs for middle schoolers while expanding opportunities to people of all ages including less affluent adults, college students, and local businesses. We are having significant social and economic impact.”
“The Montgomery Can Code partnership with Apple continues to spotlight our commitment to invest in STEM education to support our innovation-led economy,” said Benjamin H. Wu, President and CEO of MCEDC. “Each year, the program grows and provides important technical skills that are valued in today’s economy. We are proud of this partnership which brings together academia and the business community to invest in our future workforce.”
Learn more and find enrollment information at Montgomery Can Code.
About Montgomery College
Montgomery College is a public, open admissions community college with campuses in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, plus workforce development/continuing education centers and off-site programs throughout Montgomery County, Md. The College serves nearly 60,000 students a year, through both credit and noncredit programs, in more than 100 areas of study. Learn more at https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/
About MCEDC
The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is the official public-private economic development organization representing Montgomery County, Maryland. Created in 2016, MCEDC is led by a Board of Directors of business executives. Its mission is to help businesses start, grow and relocate in Montgomery County by helping them gain access to top talent, business and market intelligence and prime locations. For more information, visit https://thinkmoco.com/
About Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is the largest school system in Maryland with 162,680 students. A diverse school system with students coming from 157 countries and speaking 150 languages, it consists of 134 elementary schools, 40 middle schools and 25 high schools in the system. MCPS is an award-winning system recognized with 39 National Blue Ribbon and 8 National Green Ribbon schools. Learn more at https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/
Link to press release: https://thinkmoco.com/blog/mcc-2022-camp