Microsoft Goes to Camp

Aug. 3, 2007 — -- The sound of teenage chatter and clicking laptop keys reigned at Digigirlz, a Microsoft camp where 40 high school girls turned their two-day Web page concepts into reality.

The five five-member groups frantically raced to make the most creative page for the Washington Mystics, a WNBA team in Washington, D.C. Fans will choose the best site during a game half-time show Aug. 14.

Girls are selected for the program based on "their applicant essays, their interest in technology, and why they want to be in Digigirlz," said Donna Woodall, public outreach director for Microsoft's public sector.

A majority of the applicants are from Washington, D.C., but five participants from South Carolina, North Carolina and New York joined the program as well.

So far this camp has been offered in cities such as Stockholm, Chicago, Dallas, Seattle, New York, Fargo, N.D., and Charlotte, N.C., but it's the first time it has been done in Washington, D.C.

"This particular camp lasts only three days, but they can be anywhere from two to five days, with the camp in Seattle being seven, since it's our headquarters," Woodall said.

The young women only have a day and a half to design the page. The first day of the competition is dedicated to lectures, icebreakers and workshops about technology from Microsoft mentors and speakers.

The camp also offered the Digigirlz the chance to meet and talk to the Mystics.

"It was a good learning experience meeting the Mystics," said Alyssa Battle, a DigiGirl and a student at Potomac Falls High School in Virginia.

"[You] don't hear anything about technology in school…and it's just interesting to have a hands-on experience," said Taylor Morgan of Aiken, S.C.

In addition to elements of Web design, the program, which is only open to women high school students between sophomore and senior years, the program teaches the campers about different aspects of technology, such as robotics.

"[This program] is really breaking down barriers about women in technology," said Johnetta Saygbe, an incoming senior at Jeb Stuart High School in Virginia.