Kode with Klossy camps are free, two-week intensive coding programs created for girls and gender-diverse teens aged 13 to 18, groups that are typically underrepresented in STEM fields. These programs offer modern courses that not only introduce participants to the fundamentals of coding but also help them develop a lifelong passion for science and technology. After completing the program, participants gain new practical skills and join an active alumni community for continued learning and support. Read on for more details about this social and educational project on bronx-future.com.
The Vision Behind the Program and Its Founder
The Kode with Klossy project grew out of personal experience and a deep awareness of inequality in the world of technology. The founder, Karlie Kloss, first became interested in coding when she kept hearing about this mysterious language that only a few people seemed to know. She saw how code was changing entire industries, especially at a time when social media was just beginning to impact the world.
Growing up with four sisters, Karlie always believed that girls had the same opportunities and talents as boys. But when she saw the reality of the tech world, she realized there was a critical lack of diversity in the field. After starting to learn programming herself, she understood that this situation wouldn’t change until young people, especially girls, had equal access to knowledge and opportunities in STEM.
This idea became the foundation of Kode with Klossy. Karlie wanted to create a space where girls not only learned to code but also saw themselves as a part of the technological future. It was a place where they could share their experiences—like being the only girl in a computer science class or in an environment where their gender was underrepresented. Karlie wanted to empower them to succeed in fields where they traditionally lacked a presence and, in doing so, change the entire industry.
She shares her memories:
“When I think back to my school lessons, we didn’t have any computer science classes at all. For the boys, there was ‘shop class,’ which involved drilling and sawing, very stereotypical male things, or ‘home economics’ for the girls, which included cooking, baking, and home care. It was a kind of cliché.”
Karlie Kloss’s path to technology was unexpected to many. From childhood, she was fascinated by science and dreamed of becoming a doctor like her father. However, the world of fashion captivated her as a teenager, and it changed her life. Despite this, her interest in technology remained, and over time, it came to the forefront. The reaction to Karlie’s shift from runways to programming was often one of surprise, as it didn’t fit the typical image of what a model or a woman in the fashion industry should be. But Karlie Kloss sees a deep connection between creative and technical fields. She advocates for the STEAM approach, which combines science with art, and wants to teach girls that they don’t have to choose between math and music, or between fashion and coding. They can combine everything and turn it into new opportunities.
Kode with Klossy is not just about code. It’s about opening doors to a new world where every girl can realize her potential and change the future.
The Journey from a Small Idea to a Global Movement
In 2015, Karlie Kloss took a coding course at Flatiron School on her own initiative. That same year, she funded 21 scholarships for young people in New York, taking the first step toward her bigger dream.
In 2016, the dream became a reality when the first official season of Kode with Klossy summer camps launched. That summer, in three U.S. cities—Los Angeles, New York, and St. Louis—over 80 participantsreceived scholarships and learned the basics of programming languages like Ruby, JavaScript, and Swift. By the end of each camp, participants created their first websites or mobile apps.
2017 marked significant expansion: there were now 11 camps nationwide and over 500 scholars. The project also began providing grants to regional organizations, supporting the development of local educational initiatives.
In 2018, the scale grew even larger—1,000 scholarships and 50 camps in 25 U.S. cities. Significant resources were invested in building a high-quality teaching team, with over 100 instructors and assistantsjoining to lead the camps.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020, Kode with Klossy adapted to the new conditions. Learning, programs, and work formats moved online. This unexpected challenge became a new catalyst, and the program went global. Over 2,000 scholars from 47 U.S. states and over 20 countries joined the camps in a virtual format.
In 2022, a hybrid format was launched for the first time. In-person and online camps reached even more young people—4,000 scholarships were awarded. They also began providing laptops on loan to those in need. That same year, the first curriculum for artificial intelligence was introduced, reflecting current trends in the world of technology.
In 2023, the organization held its first international in-person workshops, including one in London. As of 2025, Kode with Klossy is not just a camp; it’s an influential non-profit organization with a wide network of partners. These partners include Apple, Google, Chegg, Estee Lauder, Goldman Sachs, Wix, Infosys, and educational institutions like the Flatiron School, Turing School, and Teach for America.
What Makes Kode with Klossy Learning Special
The camps run during the summer, from June to August. You can join online or in person in New York, San Francisco, London, and many other cities. The format is simple: two weeks of learning, team-based work, and a presentation of your own project at the end.
At first glance, it sounds serious, but the atmosphere is far from strict schooling. It’s a place for play and experimentation. Participants work on projects that are meaningful to them: they create mobile apps for planning studies or volunteer initiatives, websites for their favorite bands, and some even take on building AI-powered chatbots.
The curricula vary, and each opens up a new world. There are four main tracks:
- Web Development provides the tools to create dynamic websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Mobile Apps introduces Swift and SwiftUI, with the final result being a fully functional iOS application.
- Machine Learning & AI teaches how to work with algorithms, data, and NLP to bring a chatbot to life.
- Data Science allows participants to take a real-world problem and explore it using SQL, Python, and visualizations.
But Kode with Klossy is not just about education. It also hosts other events, such as CODE-A-BRATION—two-day gatherings where participants form teams, create small projects, share ideas, and find friends and mentors. It’s like a party, but instead of dancing, new startups are born.
A Camp That Changes the Future
Many alumni turn their first lines of code into real projects that serve their communities.
For example, in 2017, Sophia Ongele created the ReDawn app, which helps survivors of sexual assault find necessary resources and support. Another participant, concerned about her own safety during evening runs, developed an app that plots safe running routes.
Maya Dummett went even further, working on social services and creating a chatbot named “M” that motivates young people to explore STEM. And scholar Etasha Donthi founded her own organization to ensure that children from marginalized families also have a chance at a future in technology.
These are just a few examples out of thousands. Statistics show that 78% of girls who attended Kode with Klossy camps chose computer science as their major or minor in college. Some have even won the prestigious Apple Swift Student Challenge.
Karlie Kloss says that what inspires her most is seeing young women use their skills not just for a career but for social impact.
“They’re using technology to fuel their passions in a wide variety of fields. It gives me hope for the future,” she says.
Kode with Klossy is proof that the fundamentals of programming can lead to real change—in a single person’s life and in society as a whole.
A Scholarship That Opens Doors to Tech
Karlie Kloss took the next step by launching the Career Scholarship. This new program is designed for young women aged 18 and older who dream of starting a career in programming.
“Technology touches everything today,” Kloss says. “The scholarship provides access to an intensive nine-month program that can be the launchpad for a promising career.”
The training is conducted online on the learn.co platform, owned by Flatiron School in New York. Participants immerse themselves in learning programming languages, work on their portfolio on GitHub, and create fully functional web applications—both independently and in teams. After completion, they get a chance to intern with Kode with Klossy’s partners.
The program requires no prior experience. The only things needed are curiosity, determination, and a desire to learn.
“We are looking for women who are driven, curious, and creative. You don’t need to have a background in coding to apply,” Karlie explains.
Scholarship applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and a new winner is announced each month. Karlie believes this project will help women confidently enter the tech industry and tear down yet another wall on the path to equality in IT.
