Started by the MIT Media lab in 1993, Computer Clubhouse is a computer focused after-school program with 100 chapters worldwide.
The Computer Clubhouse provides a creative and safe out-of-school learning environment where young people from under-served communities work with adult mentors to explore their own ideas, develop skills, and build confidence in themselves through the use of technology.
Their learning model principles:
1) Learning by designing
2) Following your Interests
3) Building a Community
4) Respect and Trust
Computer Clubhouse also has programs focused on women, and guiding participants on college/career paths.
Computer Clubhouse Site
Here’s a neat tool created by the MIT media lab. It makes creating little flash type animations simple enough that a literate person with no programming experience could do it, all the while learning the basic concepts of programming. Calling it “Logo 2009″ wouldn’t be far off.
Scratch is a new programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art — and share your creations on the web.
Scratch is designed to help young people (ages 8 and up) develop 21st century learning skills. As they create and share Scratch projects, young people learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also learning to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.
Scratch website
Introduction to programming and Scratch (Harvard CS50 Lecture 2)