‘Geek Squad Academy’ Teaching Kids All Things Techy

DULUTH, Minn.– For this year’s geek squad academy, they partnered up with Valley Youth Center to put on this camp.

Around 20 students have the chance to rotate through four different stations.

“I think when you see kids at the Valley Youth Center or a playground or a park or in a school room, there’s going to be kids that tech is what they’re interested in, not necessarily sports. So this is for them, really, to highlight what they can do and showcase to us their talents,” said Russ Salgy, Valley Youth Center Director.

The two-day camp covers everything from photography with cameras, navigating music technology, learning to create 3d printed objects, and also figuring out basic robotics.

This camp is not just based in Duluth. It travels all over the states.

“It started in 2007 in Chicago with the Boys and Girls Club, and it’s been going ever since. We now do about 35 to 40 camps a year, and we’ve had over 50,000 junior agents come through our program,” said Kalli Gant, Event Manager, ‘Geek Squad Academy’.

“It shows the integrity of Best Buy. You know, Minnesota based company giving back to their smaller towns. I mean, Geek Squad Academy. This is, this is huge for our kids, and hopefully our kids remember, you know, Best Buy is a part of being what their lives are about,” said Salgy.

The entire event is free. And the technology the kids get to try out is all donated from Best Buy.

“It’s that light bulb moment for the kids where they get to learn something new, they get exposed to something and then they get to show off this amazing thing that they’ve created. We’re very passionate about it. We are all about building brighter futures through technology and opening doors for the future,” beamed Gant.