Shadow Mountain Branch Library hosts tech labs for children

Twentynine Palms -- The Combat Center’s Shadow Mountain Branch Library hosted a technical seminar called Space Maker Lab that allows children of military families from August 8-10, 2017 to learn how to develop application programs for mobile devices.

Shadow Mountain Branch Library, located in bldg. 692, is new to the Combat Center community and conducted the class to help foster excitement about the future of technology in children from military parents and open their minds to positive opportunities.

The three-day-long class is taught to school-aged children who know how to use an e-mail account. The average age of participants is 13 to 15 years old. During the class, students learn about computer operations, programming and how to create applications. To graduate, students must receive a passing grade on the tests they took throughout the course and upload an app they created to the Google store.

“The idea is to spark innovation and get the children interested in science,” said Maj. Terry Traylor, commander, Fardgo, N.D. U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command. “Children are able to come to [the Combat Center] and learn to cope, lead and build apps.”
Marine Corps Community Services is the primary sponsor for the lab, but it is also supported by students at the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School here and the Fabrication Labratory.
“With the help of our sponsors, we are able to offer a hands-on class and get children closer to the device,” Traylor said.

The students are able to create applications which give them full authority over their final product and can be used as a recreational tool for their age group.

“I’m excited to graduate tomorrow,” said Bryce Gussman, student, MSL. “It’s fun and I’d recommend it to other kids.”

The library is open from Monday to Friday 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed on holidays. Shadow mountain provides additional programs on the last Wednesday and Friday of every month such as, Electronic Snap Circuit, Building Robotic Lego with Technology and Super Building Set, along with a summer reading program. For more information about the library’s programs and initiatives, call 760-830-4265.