Rose-Hulman Coding
This program is currently postponed due to Covid.
A big thank you to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) and Professors Dr. David Fisher and Dr. Dave Mutchler for creating the first RHIT community outreach program in which their students could receive college credit to serve the community! This course, CSSE-290 Programming in the Community, chose Camp Navigate as their first after-school community partner.
In 2017, Camp Navigate received a $10,000 grant from the Wabash Valley Community Foundation for a new CODING program we wanted to offer our young students. This grant made possible the purchase of computer hardware. At that time, we reached out to Rose-Hulman and they were eager to help us develop this new program. Fast forward to the Fall of 2019, our great working relationship grew into the establishment of a sustainable program that would continue for many years between Camp Navigate and Rose-Hulman. The Rose-Hulman class, CSSE 290 Programming in the Community, resulted in a pilot program. The Rose students receive academic credits to teach our after-school children CODING skills. The professors were quite pleased with the number of students who registered for this new class/program.
The timing was perfect to submit a proposal for a Vectren grant.
Vectren also saw the value in teaching children CODING and was the major funder for our new Chromebooks, as well as additional equipment for instruction. We also received funds from other generous individuals, foundations, and Duke Energy.
It is exciting and gratifying to witness the success of this program. The Rose students are so very fun and engaging with our after-school students! It is great to see Rose-Hulman staff and students giving back to our community!
We are looking forward to beginning this program once again in a post-COVID season.
"Camp Navigate provides quality programming for the youth of Vigo County, uniquely incorporating science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) activities at all levels. Students arriving at Rose-Hulman who already have strong “soft skills” as well as STEAM exposure and expertise are instantly better prepared for an increasingly competitive and demanding curriculum and ultimately the broader workforce they seek to enter. With the extra burdens placed on families and children due to the pandemic this past year, Camp Navigate is even a more important community asset, and one worth supporting." - Rose-Hulman President Rob Coons
