Virtual Ventures wins award for leadership and innovation

Carleton’s Virtual Ventures program is the proud recipient of the 2012 Actua & GE Canada Award for Leadership and Innovation! The award was created in 1998 as a way to recognize member organizations that have best exemplified the Actua spirit of innovation over the past year.

Virtual Ventures is a non-profit organization run by students who want to make a difference in the lives of today’s youth. A nationally recognized technology and engineering summer camp for youth, fall and winter clubs, and a school outreach program provide the youth of Ottawa with experience in all aspects of computers, information technology, engineering, and science.

The award recognized Virtual Ventures for its considerable achievements in 2012 in engaging Ottawa’s youth in innovative and relevant STEM programming, including significant enhancements to the quality and sustainability of the program, and innovations in the development and delivery of high quality tech curriculum.

Virtual Ventures partnered with Actua and theOttawa Network for Education (ONFE) to deliver five weeks of TechU.me technology camp, a program that engaged 100 local youth. The unique experience, held on-site at the Ottawa IBM campus, had youth working extensively with mobile technology (including BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, Apple iPads and iPods), LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robotic kits and digital media equipment. The program also featured weekly visits from mentors from the Ottawa technology sector, adding to the 90 mentors Virtual Ventures engaged throughout all of its barrier breaking programs in 2012.

Virtual Ventures’ commitment and efforts to expand to reach new audiences of youth is making a significant difference in the lives of youth in Ontario. Their dedication, hard work and commitment to excellence in inspiring youth is contributing to Actua and GE Canada’s shared goal of building a new generation of innovation for Canada.

Learn more about Virtual Ventures.