POLLOCK, La. – The LSU AgCenter’s Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center is bringing computer literacy opportunities to central Louisiana.

Camp Grant Walker will serve as a computer training center for 4-H members and the general public.

This center is made possible through the AgCenter’s broadband Internet education and awareness initiative, called Connect My Louisiana, according to Valerie Vincent, an AgCenter extension agent and a Connect My Louisiana coordinator.

The initiative shows the value of being connected to the Internet, and the computer training center will be another avenue to help both youth and adults become computer literate, Vincent said.

“The computer lab will be used by campers while camp is in session,” Vincent said. “We also will be doing classes on computer literacy and job readiness.”

Vincent said those classes will begin sometime during the fall, but the schedule is not finalized.

Recovery.gov, a federal program, has provided funding through the Louisiana Division of Administration- Office of Information Technology for a computer training center consisting of 15 touch screen computers and a printer for a train-the-trainer facility at Grant Walker.

This program is part a sub-grant written by Vincent through the LSU AgCenter’ s Connect My Louisiana program through the Louisiana Broadband Initiative.

“Approximately $20,000 was awarded to help provide the equipment for computer-based trainings and hands-on computer skills to participants,” Vincent said.

Each week as residents, both youth and adults, visit the facility, the camp will offer opportunities for computer classes.

“The computer courses will range from basic computer literacy to advanced computer skills and social media,” Vincent said.

Camp Grant Walker is located near Pollock on Highway 8 about 15 miles northeast of Alexandria.

This 80-acre facility features beautiful tree-covered grounds, a large outdoor recreation area, climate-controlled cabins, bath facilities, a modern kitchen with a spacious dining hall, new classrooms and outdoor pavilions.

These facilities are available for rental year-round for public use.

Johnny Morgan