SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN) — Amazon today announced a new summer camp designed to inspire youth to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This summer, hundreds of students from across the Seattle area ages 9 to 14 will participate in the “A to Z Experience,” a new summer camp hosted by Amazon at its urban headquarters in downtown Seattle and nearby robotics fulfillment center.

Students participating in the A to Z Experience will be “Amazonians for the day.” They will go through “new hire orientation,” get their very own Amazon employee badge, tour Amazon’s urban Seattle headquarters, and brainstorm Amazon’s next “big idea.” They will then head to an Amazon fulfillment center in Kent, WA, to take a tour, learn to prep and ship an Amazon package, and build their own Amazon robot. During their one-of-a-kind visit, they will meet and interact with dozens of Amazonians who will share their own experiences pursuing careers in STEM fields. Amazon is partnering with the Seattle nonprofit Washington STEM to develop a robust STEM curriculum for the attending students. The Amazon STEM Store will also provide handpicked items for the attending students to continue the inspiration at home.

“Careers in STEM are in such high demand right now, and giving students a look behind the scenes at the inner workings of one of the most innovative companies in the world will be invaluable,” explained Caroline King, CEO of Washington STEM. “This is exactly the kind of program that can help inspire the next generation of inventors and scientists, and we are excited to partner with Amazon to make this a fun, educational experience for students growing up in Seattle and South King County.”

“We can’t wait to welcome hundreds of curious students to Amazon,” said Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Consumer. “Whether they walk away wanting to build advanced robotics technology, invent brand new devices, or build applications that make customers’ lives easier, we hope that being Amazonians for a day helps them feel inspired and empowered to pioneer and invent in whatever field they choose.”

This program will begin in July and run through August. Schools, parents and organizations wanting to learn more can visit our About Amazon site. To follow along on social media, sign up for the @AmazonNews Twitter feed or search #AtoZExperience on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.