So what is a Give Camp anyway?
- A Give Camp is a way to contribute your time and skills to area charities.
- A Give Camp is an event to meet with and hang out with technical people.
- A Give Camp is a way to learn new technologies by working on a live project for a few days.
Charities often need software custom software, but don't have the money to hire someone to write that software. One option they have is to submit their projects to a Give Camp. The Give Camp organizers select projects that are well-defined and can be completed in a weekend. Then, they invite software developers and other IT folks from the community to work on these projects. They provide these folks a place to work and sleep and interact for a few days. Give Camps typically kick off Friday evening and wrap up Sunday evening with completed projects delivered to charities.
The Lansing Give Camp takes place this weekend (April 24-26) at the Impression 5 Science Center in downtown Lansing, MI. The organizers have selected projects from ten local charities, including The Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan and The Boys & Girls Club of Lansing.
If you have skills in software development, design, databases, IT or project management, I encourage you to volunteer for this event. Even if you don't have these skills, you can help with the event itself. I'm brining my 14-year-old son to the Lansing Give Camp, where he will assist with setting up, cleaning up and anything else they need.
Because I'm speaking at the Kalamazoo X conference Saturday, I can only attend the Lansing Give Camp Friday and Sunday, but I'm very much looking forward to it.
You can get more information and register at http://www.lansinggivecamp.org/