Guess How Many Techie Campers — July 2025
Summer was a busy season for AZ StRUT — Techie Camps from Tucson to Nogales, a national spotlight on Cox Yur View, a longtime instructor turning donated tech into careers, and a behind-the-scenes look at the 19,000 pounds of technology we move every single week. Here’s everything that happened.
AZ StRUT on Cox Yur View 🎬
AZ StRUT had the incredible opportunity to serve as the filming location for a full-day production of Cox Yur View. Their crew spent the day capturing our mission in action — showcasing the heart, hustle, and impact behind our work to refurbish, reuse, and recycle technology for communities across Arizona.
From interviews to hands-on shots in our warehouse, they captured the spirit of our organization and the amazing people who make it all possible. Watch our 3-minute feature: AZ StRUT — Refurbish, Reuse, Recycle.
Instructor Spotlight: Brad Chamberlain 👨🏫
After 30 years in education, Maricopa High School’s Brad Chamberlain is turning donated tech into life-changing opportunities — and he’s just getting started.
From Old Computers to New Careers
For the past 13 years, the Maricopa High School computer maintenance and network security teacher has partnered with AZ StRUT to bring real-world technology into his classroom. In the early days, AZ StRUT provided the basics — monitors, desktops, and parts — when his program had nothing. Over the years, that partnership has grown into something much bigger: a Techie Lab where students tear down, rebuild, and repurpose donated equipment, gaining industry-recognized skills and certifications along the way.
The lab has even developed its own “tech store,” where refurbished Chromebooks — often better than the school-issued ones — are sold to students for $50 to keep as their own. “It’s the best of both worlds,” says Chamberlain. “The kids get reliable tech they can take ownership of, and we raise funds to keep our program thriving.”
The impact is clear. Chamberlain can rattle off success stories without pausing: Nate, who became a senior network engineer by age 21; Robert, an exchange student from Germany who earned several advanced cybersecurity certifications in one semester; and dozens of others now working in IT for companies like Wells Fargo, Microchip, and ASU.
But for Chamberlain, the real reward isn’t the résumé-worthy achievements — it’s the spark he sees when students realize they’re doing real work that matters. “We all learn more by doing,” he says. “When a kid spends lunch, weekends, or free periods in here just to keep building and fixing things, that’s when I know our Techie Lab approach is working.”
I do it for that phone call years later from a student saying, “This class is what got me here.” That’s why I teach. — Brad Chamberlain
Where Your Tech Goes Next 💻
Every device that comes through AZ StRUT has a second life waiting for it — and sometimes the story is even more meaningful than we expect.
Recently we received three Abbott ID Now Instruments through our donation stream. Instead of sitting unused or heading to a landfill, these specialized medical testing devices were refurbished and placed into Westwood, Mountain View, and Mesa High — three Mesa Public Schools high schools in our Techie Lab partner network.
“For my Principles of Biomedical Science course, we’ll be starting our clinical care unit after fall break. I’m planning to introduce students to point-of-care testing and demonstrate the device to give students hands-on experience with in-office labs. Thanks so much for the generous donation, AZ StRUT!” — Chris Julian, Biomedical Sciences teacher at Mountain View High School
Our Weekly Circular Economy ♻️
Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at AZ StRUT each week? You might be surprised by the scale.
Our team follows a consistent cycle of collection, processing, refurbishment, and responsible recycling. Every item we receive is evaluated and routed toward its highest possible purpose — repaired for reuse, refurbished for a Techie Lab, or recycled for valuable materials.
Thanks to your donations, AZ StRUT receives and processes an average of over 19,000 pounds of technology every single week. That’s nearly 10 tons of electronic waste diverted from landfills and given new life through our mission.
Summer Tour: Techie Camps 🚐
From Casa Grande to Tucson to Nogales and across the Phoenix Valley, AZ StRUT has been keeping hundreds of hands and brains actively learning about computer hardware, tech careers, and sustainability — all using your donated computers.
Thanks to onsemi Giving Now, SRP, and Thunderbirds Charities, we engaged over 200 learners this summer — and each took home a refurbished computer.
Thank you for my very first computer!
Winner Winner! 🏆
Last month we invited our newsletter readers to guess how many Techie Camps AZ StRUT completed during June and July. The correct answer was 10 Techie Camps — a busy summer of hands-on learning across Arizona.
Congratulations to Elizabeth, our contest winner! She guessed correctly and received an AZ StRUT swag bag as her prize. Judging by her smile, she’s pretty happy about it.
Thank you to everyone who played along, supported our mission, and continues to stay engaged through our newsletter. Your enthusiasm keeps our community strong!
Support AZ StRUT ❤️
As we continue to expand our programs and deepen our impact, please consider making a financial contribution. Your support fuels sustainability, education, and opportunity — ensuring that technology continues changing lives across Arizona.
Our mission is to improve the competitiveness of Arizona’s technical workforce by supporting applied learning, providing refurbished equipment to schools and nonprofits, promoting diversity through technical education, and responsibly recycling e-waste.
