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The challenge to attract high school students to information technology related careers is huge. In collaboration with high school teachers in the populated district of North Karelia, Finland, the Department of Computer Science of the local university created a program to teach university-level computer science studies to high school students. The goal was to provide a flexible and reliable distance-learning environment for the students that would ensure a meaningful way of learning. The educational design is based on a Candle model: the students are faced with authentic learning needs and receive help through exercises, learning tools, and feedback, via a web-based environment. The learning material consists mainly of traditional textbooks. Preliminary results indicate that the scheme chosen has increased students' motivation to learn. The main reasons for dropping out are lack of time and difficulties in program concepts, especially arrays and methods.