Partnerships & Integrations

Partnerships & Integrations

Background on KWK partners and how to prepare for integrations like mentor lunches, speakers, or site tours. Review this before camp if your location has a partner, then reference when integrations are scheduled to facilitate effectively and professionally.

Camp Partners

Camp Spaces

Most camps are hosted at partner companies' corporate offices. Your camp will have a private space, but scholars may cross paths with employees in common areas like lobbies and lunch spots. Your team should strive to be respectful of these shared spaces, and you may need to remind scholars to keep the volume down when moving through the building.
We do our best to encourage partners to spread the word internally about Kode With Klossy camps so employees are prepared for our presence. If an employee asks about camp, introduce yourself and share a bit about what scholars are working on!

Camp Location Hosts

Camp Location Hosts are the designated contacts who support Kode With Klossy on-site for location-related logistics (i.e., room access, Wi-Fi passwords, and building entry). You'll be introduced to your Camp Location Host(s) before camp via email and a text message group, and you'll work closely with them to ensure smooth setup and a great camp experience. A few things to keep in mind:
  • Handle small issues directly. If something can be resolved quickly, like coordinating a time to pick up lunch from the lobby, work with your Camp Location Host to sort it out.
  • Escalate bigger issues. If something more significant comes up, like Wi-Fi going down, tag @logistics on Slack so the KWK team can help problem-solve.
  • Be flexible. Camp Location Hosts are typically managing many other responsibilities alongside supporting your camp. They may not always be immediately available, but the team will work together to find a resolution.
  • Be responsive to their needs, too. Your Camp Location Host may have requests for your team, like gathering scholars in the lobby before walking to the space or asking scholars to lower their volume. We collaborate with our hosts to ensure an effective and pleasant camp experience for everyone.

Camp Integrations

Integrations are one of the most dynamic parts of the camp experience, and that means they require flexibility. Schedules shift, volunteers get added last-minute, and sometimes a cool opportunity pops up mid-camp that you'll need to roll with on the fly. Some camps have a packed integration schedule; others have none. It's all normal!
The big picture goal is simple: we want scholars to understand what it's like to work in these spaces and get real opportunities to explore and learn about careers in the field. This page will help you feel prepared to facilitate whatever comes your way. For the specifics of what's actually happening at your camp, check your Camp HQ, but know that even that might evolve throughout camp! The number one thing: stay flexible.

Types of In-Person Integrations

In addition to the Speaker Series, scholars may have the opportunity to participate in other in-person integration experiences. Below are the most common types of integrations at in-person camps. Check your Camp HQ document for details on which integrations your specific camp will have.
  • Mentor Lunch — Mentors from the partner company join scholars for a casual lunch conversation. Scholars have the opportunity to ask mentors about their education and career journeys in a small-group setting.
  • Demo Day Rehearsal with Mentors — Near the end of camp, mentors return to provide feedback as scholars rehearse their capstone project presentations. This helps scholars refine their presentations and build confidence before Demo Day.
  • Integrations of Partner Choosing — Some partners arrange unique integration experiences that don't fall neatly into the categories above. These could include campus or site tours, workshops on topics relevant to the partner's business, visitor observations where company leaders stop by to watch scholars in action, or other creative experiences. Your Camp HQ document will have all the details if your camp includes one of these.
  • Off-Site Demo Day — Occasionally, a partner may host a special Demo Day at an off-site location. If this applies to your camp, the KWK team will provide detailed guidance in your Camp HQ well in advance, and will manage communication with parents and caretakers.
Remember, all camp-specific information about integrations will be outlined in your Camp HQ! If you have any questions about partnerships or camp integrations, tag @integrations on Slack.

Facilitation Guides

Reference the guidance below for detailed guidance on facilitating specific integrations. Open each toggle to view the details.
Mentor Lunch
Before the Session
  • Let scholars know about the mentor lunch in advance so they can start thinking about questions.
  • Distribute the mentor lunch question prompt cards (included in your camp supplies — they arrive as 8x11 sheets of paper).
  • Make sure the lunch area has enough seating to accommodate the additional mentors.
  • Divide scholars into small lunch groups so each mentor is paired with a group.
When Mentors Arrive
  • Plan to welcome mentors about 10-15 minutes before the session to give them time to settle in and get oriented.
  • Take attendance of mentors who are present (your Camp HQ doc will have the expected list).
  • Introduce yourself and briefly share what Kode With Klossy is: "Welcome to Kode With Klossy! Our scholars are excited to meet you. Kode With Klossy summer camps are free, two-week intensive programs designed specifically for young women and gender-expansive teens aged 13–18. This camp is focused on [CAMP CURRICULUM]. Scholars are learning [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHAT SCHOLARS ARE LEARNING]."
  • Explain the structure and expectations: "We'll pair you up with a group of scholars in a moment. When you meet them, please start by introducing yourself. Share your name, pronouns, role, and a bit about what you do. After that, scholars will start asking you questions. There are some conversation prompts on the tables that you or scholars can use. While chatting, we ask that you be mindful that our scholars come from various gender identities, so we use gender-inclusive language like 'folks' and 'scholars.' We also ask that you use language appropriate for this age range and that you do not share personal contact information with scholars outside of LinkedIn."
  • Direct each mentor to their assigned scholar group.
During the Session
  • Circulate and help facilitate conversations, especially in groups where the conversation may be stalling.
  • Use the prompt cards to help jumpstart any quieter groups.
Closing the Session
  • Give a 5-minute warning so conversations can wrap up naturally.
  • Thank the mentors for their time.
 
Demo Day Rehearsal with Mentors
Before the Session
  • Let scholars know about the rehearsal in advance and adjust your daily agenda accordingly.
  • Make sure scholars have their Demo Day presentations ready to rehearse.
  • Ensure the space has enough seating for mentors to sit with scholar groups.
When Mentors Arrive
  • Plan to welcome mentors about 10 minutes before the session starts.
  • Frame the event for them:
    "Thanks for joining us! Scholars have been working on their capstone projects, and tomorrow is Demo Day when they'll present their work. They've been preparing their presentations, and we'd love your help giving them feedback. You can share feedback in any format that works for you. Scholars are familiar with what we call the 'ladder of feedback,' which looks like this:
    • Clarify — Ask clarifying questions to fully understand the project
    • Value — Share what you like or value, with specific examples
    • Concerns — Kindly express any concerns
    • Suggestions — Offer suggestions for improvement"
During the Session
  • Circulate and monitor scholar rehearsals.
  • Help facilitate feedback from mentors, especially if a mentor seems unsure of how to engage.
  • Encourage scholars to take notes on the feedback they receive.
Closing the Session
  • Give a 5-minute warning so rehearsals can wrap up.
  • Thank the mentors for their time and support.
  • Take attendance of mentors who participated.

Thank You Notes

After integrations where mentors or volunteers spend meaningful time with scholars, we ask that you facilitate a quick thank you note activity. This is a small but meaningful gesture that strengthens our relationships with partners. Physical cards are included in your camp supplies. The IA who is focused on integrations should be responsible for organizing this activity. There are a few ways to do this, so choose whatever feels right for your group:
  • Group card: The IA writes a thank you message and everyone signs it.
  • Passed card: Pass a card around and each scholar adds a short note.
  • Individual cards: Give each scholar a card and ask them to write a note to a mentor whose words really resonated with them.
This works well as a closing circle reflection exercise after an integration, or it can be done during a break. The key is doing it while the experience is still fresh! Completed thank you cards should be collected by the logistics-focused instructor and delivered to the mentors or volunteers when convenient.

How Should I Show Up in Integrations?

As an Instructional Leader, you represent Kode With Klossy, and we're thrilled to have you aboard. Here are some guidelines to help you feel confident and comfortable when interacting with partners:
  • Put your best foot forward. You're the face of the camp you're leading. We hired you because we're confident you'll showcase kindness, leadership, and dedication in all your interactions.
  • Scholars-first mentality. Everything we do is to benefit our scholars, and they are always our first priority. Our partners know this, so although we may ask you to greet partners or coordinate with hosts, scholars and their experience always take priority.
  • Lead with professionalism. Speakers, mentors, and employees are often inspiring, and you may want to connect with them further. All camp interactions should be scholar-focused, but if you make a professional connection you'd like to maintain after camp, we encourage you to use LinkedIn.
  • Be transparent. We want to hear about integrations! If something feels off or doesn't go according to plan, please report the issue immediately so we can support you in determining next steps.