SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- Some local girls got the chance to nurture their interest in science and technology July 14 - 18 at Camp Infinity, a program sponsored by the Michigan Council of Women in Technology at Lawrence Technological University.

Local 4’s Andrew Humphrey spent one day with the girls as they explored their creativity, had some fun and learned a few things along the way.

"I learned how to program a robot, make a Web page using HTML and have a lot of fun," said Farmington seventh-grader Elise Newcomer. "You can learn new things and bring it to everyday life."

Program director Julie Patterson said there is a need to keep girls’ interest in technology and science through fun activities between fourth and seventh grade.

"Around middle school the girls start to drop off," Patterson said. "They start to not like science as much, not like math as much."

Patterson said research hasn't found why that happens but it is why the camp is targeted at that age group.

"It makes me feel like I'm here for a reason and I'm doing something helpful," said camp counselor Gregory Furlow.

"What we're doing is giving these girls every opportunity to choose where they go with their lives," said Rosemary Bayer, founder of Camp Infinity.

"I've realized that most of the superheroes are actually men, and I've decided that if I could make a girl superhero, there might be more girl superheroes," said fourth-grader Aerin Morris, of Detroit.

"If Detroit, southeast Michigan and Michigan as a whole is going to be a leader in this new high-technology world, these are the people that are gonna do it," said Bayer.

The MCWT Online