Kids Get Geek Experience at Summer Camp

LAS VEGAS -- Forget the arts and crafts and field trips, some summer camp kids are going geek. Their getting hands on computer and technology training from the experts.

Going coast to coast, Best Buy's Geek Squad selected about 140 Boys and Girls Club members for the special training. On Tuesday, they were at the Andre Agassi Boys and Girls Club on N. Martin Luther King Blvd.

With so much to know about technology, there's no doubt, learning about it early on will have a great impact on their futures. The Geek Squad says it hopes to ignite and inspire them to use computers in whatever they do.

"Computers are one of the greatest things that has ever happened to civilization besides fire and electricity," said Mekhi Galloway, club member. He describes himself as a supreme geek. "Geek, nerd, whatever fits the bill."

"I'm a nerd and nerd stands for never ending radical dude or dudette," said Darius Thomas, club member.

Targeting 27 cities in 19 states, the teens are the only ones in Nevada getting this important training. Tony Arsenal is one of Best Buy's top geeks.

"You don't go anywhere without seeing a computer, your phone is now your camera, and MP3 player," said Arsenal, a Geek Squad field lieutenant. He says its an asset that's a necessity for upcoming generations, but a luxury not everyone has.

"It's really cool that kids get to dive in, get their hands dirty, tear apart computers and learn this stuff that they wouldn't normally have access to otherwise," said Betsy Vandeusen, education director.

From making their own digital videos to learning about download speeds and the parts inside a computer, the Summer Academy embraces every teen.

"I learned how to take apart a computer and put it back together and I learned how to take apart a VCR and put it back together," said Maya Rivera, club member.

Aside from learning about electronics, 11-year-old Galloway, a returning member to the program says it gives kids confidence, something not everyone has.

"Oh I didn't get it right, I can't do it, and they give up. But I've learned early on in life that you got to keep trying to succeed," Galloway said.

With this new experience, club members are walking away with important skills they can now apply to their life.