Tech-savvy kids are taking their computer skills to the next level thanks to a free program. NY1's Shannan Ferry filed the following report.
Gabriel Morales may only be 9 years old, but he has big dreams of one day creating his own video game.
"He's [the main character] gonna be in a forest trying to look for a treasure," said Morales.
Now, Morales is one step closer to achieving that goal after learning basic coding skills at the Queens Library.
It's all part of a new partnership with Google to provide free computer science lessons for kids this summer.
"I wanted to learn how to make software for a computer and make, possibly make apps," said another participant.
Leaders officially announced the program Tuesday at the Children's Library Discovery Center in Jamaica.
The program, known as Google CS First, aims to empower kids to pursue careers in the tech field.
"In 2020 the U.S. Labor Department predicts at least a million jobs in the computer science field, more than graduating students coming out of college," said William Floyd, Head of NY/NJ External Affairs at Google.
Queens Library is the first in the New York Metro area to host the program. It will be available this summer at 26 different Queens Library locations.
"They can learn to animate characters, they can learn to tell stories, they can integrate their artistic skills, everything," said Debra LoCastro, who is a program manager for Google.
Kids seem to be lining up for the chance to learn how to code. Organizers say there are 300 seats available in the program, but more than 900 students have already applied.
"It sounds educational and cool," said another student.
"We want them to not just go into the technical world, technology world, we want them to be the innovators, the creators, and coding is a great foundation for that purpose," said Dennis Walcott, who is the President/CEO of the Queens Library.
Additional sites will be announced for the fall.