iD News and Blog

Careers in Game Design

Hello iD Nation! This week, I’ve got a special guest blogger — Boy Wonder. We’ve got so many students inquiring as to how they can break into the gaming industry that we decided to provide some cool, informative information. Thanks, Ken, for your research and enthusiasm. Let’s Roll!

Begin Ken’s Guest Blog:

Recently I received an email from one of our summer camp students who is researching the gaming industry for a high school paper dealing with careers. Having met and having become friends with several people working in various parts of the video game industry, I share an interest in this topic and was glad to help him out by fielding some answers to his questionnaire. I think this particular topic is also very intriguing for many of our campers who are themselves preparing for a career creating video games. Based on my experience and conversations with friends in the industry, I’d like to relate some of my knowledge on a career in gaming.

Q. What high school classes did you take that help you as part of your work designing games?

A. The high school classes you should take depend on what particular aspect of game design you find most appealing. Game studios have evolved from one or two man shops to enormous operations with many highly specialized members. There are specific positions for programmers, animators, riggers, modelers, concept artists, and so forth. Even within those broad categories there are more specialized positions available. Programmers, for example, can often focus solely on a particular area, such as network programming, engine development, or AI development. The first step to the process would be to figure out what you enjoy the most.

If you think you want to work on the programming aspects of game design, take classes in mathematics and physics. Games utilize a wide variety of mathematical functions, so being proficient in that can be a requirement. Knowledge of physics principles and operations have recently become important as well, especially in 3D games that use complicated physics modeling. Even simplified 2D games can require trajectories, gravity simulations, and other similar topics. In addition to math and physics courses, take a variety of programming classes and branch out among languages. Although a few core languages are important (C/C++/C#), scripting languages are often used in conjunction with development tools to streamline the development process.

If you feel like the art is more your style, then you’ll want to focus on art-heavy classes. All of the artists I know who work on games (as modelers, animators, etc.) are also very talented traditional artists. They can sketch and draw very well. Art intensive programs at colleges and universities will emphasize an initial focus on traditional art creation, so you can get a head start in high school by taking traditional art classes. If there are any digital art classes available to you (Photoshop, modeling, or animation classes), then take those as well. It is important for artists to have a portfolio when breaking into the industry, so having these classes will also allow you to start building up a portfolio.

Other routes include leads or directors, which can be seen as generic “designers”. These are the people who actually design the rules and game play in games. Many of these people have degrees in computer science and yet might also have a little experience in programming, scripting, or art development. Having a large variety of experience (even if it isn’t in depth to the level of the specialists) allows these designers to understand what the team members they are guiding are actually doing. They can understand the obstacles and problems better than someone who has never programmed or created an art resource.

There are more positions than that, such as sound or music directors and so forth, but basically take whatever aspect you would enjoy most and take classes that reflect those skills.

iD Tech Camps is also great venue to help you get started deciding what you’d like to do in the gaming world–especially if you are a younger camper or your high school doesn’t offer some of the aforementioned options.

Q. What does your job entail at iD Tech?

A. During the summers at iD I’ve been an instructor starting with 3D Game Design and Game Modding. More recently, I played a role in helping to launch the iD Gaming Academy, a more intensive program that tries to model the way real game studios actually work. When I was there I focused on teaching the programming aspects of the game engine but also helped with technical aspects of art importation (the process of moving models and art you have created into the game engine). During the off-season I work on a variety of tasks including curriculum development. I also design flash games for our website. Currently, the work we do on that is very similar to a studio, though in miniaturized form. I do all the programming and initial prototyping (a way of figuring out how the game might play) and a co-worker designs all the art.

Q. What is the best part of becoming a game designer?

A. I’d say there are two really rewarding parts to game design. The first is sitting down to brainstorm and conceptualize the game. During this stage you get to come up with all sorts of ideas and you’ll generally flesh them out in sketches or storyboards with an artist. It’s an exciting period where no ideas are thrown out and everything goes.

The second part I enjoy is when your game is finished and produced and you get feedback from people who play it. It really is satisfying to read and hear about your game and how people enjoyed playing it. Just being able to show off your creation is a great reward.

Some of my industry friends have told me that the part they enjoy the most is seeing other people play their creations. For them, the ability to bring excitement and enjoyment of the game to others is the most rewarding part.

Q. What inspired you to want to become a Game Designer?

A. Both a friend of mine (who is a modeler/animator) and I started when we were very young. We started programming with QBasic on our PCs and continued programming in various forms while growing up and going through school. We didn’t really have Computer Science or Digital Art classes at our high schools so both of us were self-taught until we started college. Our early-on inspirations were the games we both played when we were younger. We are huge fans of adventure games (a genre which doesn’t really exist anymore in the mainstream – check out Sam & Max as an example). The act of creating games (even simple ones) pushed us to learn more and create better and better games. He then went to an art school and I got a computer science degree.

Q. What guidance can you give me on how to become a successful game designer?

A. First, find out which aspect you enjoy the most. Explore different roles (programming, art creation, sound creation). Doing so is important for a few reasons. The more you know about a variety of subjects the better able you will be to work as a member of a team and with those specialists. Also, you may find you like one aspect more than you thought – the good friend I mentioned thought for a time that he was more interested in the programming but discovered he has a talent and interest more in the modeling.

Next I would recommend that you just get started. Start working on games now and start small. Make an asteroids clone, a version of pong or other simple game types and then make them better. Flash is probably the best tool for the job since it makes creating games simple and contains all the elements you would need. Other simplified packages such as Multimedia Fusion from Clickteam (http://clickteam.com/eng/index.php) and Torque Game Builder from GarageGames (http://www.garagegames.com) offer an excellent way to get started building games.

Q. Where do you get you ideas for the games that you design?

A. Most of my game ideas come from games I’ve played and enjoyed. Occasionally I’ll take specific parts of games I like and try to spin off my own version. When you are first getting into game design it helps to create games you’ve already played or that are slightly different, since you can focus on the actual game-making process and the skills needed for that. Later you can work on the ground-breaking new game types and genres.

One process that helps to come up with completely new ideas is to set aside a specific amount of time, either alone or with the team you are working with, and simply brainstorm ideas. Make a list of 30 game ideas and don’t move to the next step until you have 30. Once you have your list, pick 10 you like best and for each of those 10 do a sketch (storyboard) and flesh out the idea a little more. Narrow it down again to your top 3 or 5 and get input from others to make your final selection.

One important note is to follow-through on an idea you start. If you have a game 50% complete it can sometimes be tempting if you get another great idea to start working on that. Force yourself to complete the first game, no matter how difficult or frustrating doing so may become, and then you can focus all your attention on the next idea. You may have tons of great ideas, but a single 100% completed game is still better than 10 half-finished games. Why? You generally can’t show off a half-finished game or put it in a portfolio, but a completed game shows your ability to follow projects through to completion.

For those who like a summary…

I know many of our computer camp students who are interested in creating video games are at a point in their lives where they will need to decide on high school classes or even colleges. To those of you who fit this description I have a few final words that summarize everything in this article. Find what you love about games. Learn as much as you can about that aspect. Practice that aspect, then employ that skill in whatever way you can. Brainstorm ideas then focus and work on projects to completion. When the time comes to decide on classes or schools, find a school that satisfies the roles you enjoy. If you enjoy the art development, take art classes and consider a design or art school. If you enjoy the technical development, stock up on mathematics, physics, and programming and then pick a technology school, like Georgia Tech or the Rochester Institute of Technology, for instance. Discover, learn, practice, focus, and complete: the rest will follow.

End of Ken’s Guest Blog. Thank you, Ken, for the insight!

Until next time, iD Nation!

-Pete

 

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March Madness comes to San Jose

I’m currently drinking an iced tea at Starbucks.  It would seem natural for me to work from Peet’s Coffee and Tea, just across the street, but there’s no internet access.  Can we get some Wi-Fi there, folks?  People in the office are trying to hunt me down.  I have told them that like Dick Cheney, I’m working from an undisclosed, secure location so I can get my blog on.  Someone just emailed me to ask me to bring them a latte from Starbucks–so I guess I am becoming predictable.  I’m watching the GoodYear blimp circle overhead in preparation for March Madness and the NCAA games over at the HP Pavilion.  That’s kind of cool.

I’m a summer camp guy.  I’m a computer camp guy.  But, I love my hoops too.  I played in high school and was one of the smallest guys on the court.  I never scored too many points, but I was scrappy and always won the “Charlie Hustle” award.

I didn’t go to a lot of summer camps when I was a kid, but basketball camp became a tradition.  I have incredible memories staying in the dorms at UC Santa Cruz and Santa Clara University.  They both had great basketball camps.  These camps were my first taste of camp–and gave me a great introduction to the college atmosphere:  walking the campuses, eating in the dining halls, learning from great mentors, making new friends.  It was all awesome.

So, what do basketball camp and iD Tech Camps have in common?  I still have the “skills assessment” form from one of my coaches at the Santa Clara University basketball camp.  It narrowed in on a few areas for improvement…like dribbling with my left hand or moving without the ball.  It’s cool to take a step back and reflect upon the lessons and experiences from camp.  Without intending to sound corny, they certainly did help shape my character, build my confidence going into the new school year, and ultimately helped develop my competitive spirit.

That’s exactly what we try to accomplish at iD Tech Camps.  In fact, we just published a press release which covers the topic of how video games are being incorporated into homework assignments during the school year by some of our students:

PRESS RELEASE, Campbell, CA, March 22, 2007

Student Creates Video Game to Complete Algebra Assignment

“Get down here and turn off that darned video game!” Have you ever shouted something like this at your own kids? Well, be careful. How do you know if your kid is playing a video game, or creating his own video game to complete a homework assignment?

Like most kids his age, 13-year-old Jaxon Welsh loves video games. But unlike so many of his peers, Jaxon doesn’t just sit around all day playing the games. He actually creates them.

Thanks to a host of available resources such as easy-to-use software, school activities, and summer computer camps, well rounded kids like Jaxon have found a new way to turn their passion into something their teachers not only approve of, but embrace as a creative new avenue for learning.

Last summer, Jaxon attended a weeklong summer technology program at Stanford University called iD Tech Camps. During the week, Jaxson learned the process of making his own 2D video game with a product called Clickteam® Multimedia Fusion®. He developed a complex, realistic video game with everything from health meters to collision detection. He set behaviors for objects and characters while creating multiple levels. By the end of the week, Jaxon left camp with much more than a completed project. He started out the new school year knowing a lot more about technology, and this built up his confidence and self esteem. The first few weeks back to school, Jaxon applied his new tech skills in a creative new way—to get his homework done. He created a game for his pre-algebra class to help learn variables.

“Why should I use paper and pencil when it’s far more fun to do it on the computer,” Jaxon said.

Mr. Sperry, his teacher, was impressed by the game, which featured a student standing in the lunch line as the main character. The game would cut variables (ie: students in line) based on the numbers that the game player would input into the system.

“The game made learning math more fun,” Jaxon added. “The other students thought it was pretty cool, too.”

Jaxon decided to take his passion for gaming to the next level, but his school didn’t offer any classes or clubs. But that didn’t stop Jaxon. Within a few weeks of returning to school in the fall, Jaxon quickly established a video game club, recruiting—you guessed it—his advanced pre-algebra teacher, Mr. Sperry, to lead the team. Under Mr. Sperry’s guidance and using Jaxon’s video game development knowledge, the club now meets once a week during lunch and currently has ten members—the maximum amount they can take right now.

Jaxon is on to something big. The video game club not only helps students learn how to create innovative video games, but it helps them out with their schoolwork through a creative new medium.

If you visit Jaxon’s middle school, you may see his interactive presentations. His Incas project has a timeline where the graphics open up new pages, teaching information from various historical periods. For his Egyptian project, there is a man walking up a pyramid with new information being revealed with each step.

“The software is so easy to use and it makes my projects look cool,” said Jaxon.

With dreams of someday becoming a computer engineer or game designer, Jaxon is well on his way to a very rewarding career in game development. For now, he’s focused on overlapping his game development talents with his schoolwork. We’ll see what his gym teacher has to say about all this. Conclusion of Press Release.

FIRST Robotics Competition comes to San Jose

On a completely different note, San Jose State University hosted a Regional Competition for FIRST Robotics last week.  Go San Jose!  I got to see the action first-hand.  Wow!  Wow! Wow!  High School robotics teams from Northern California participated in the regional competition, and it was a very serious version of BattleBots, without the gore.  It was really, really cool.  The students wore creative uniforms, were cheering each other on, and were insanely passionate about what they were doing.  High school students can get a bum wrap sometimes.  These guys and gals were tearing it up.  Way to go!  To read a bit more about the competitions, read here: http://www.nbc11.com/news/11299399/detail.html.  Sorry, I forgot to bring my camera with me.  Doh!  There were some great pictures to be taken.

We’re excited to be working with the VEX Robotics Design System for our 2007 summer robotics camps.  VEX is a major partner of FIRST.  These are two classy organizations.  We have developed a cool course called RoboContenders for ‘07 which we hope will be used as a launching pad for future robotic endeavors.

Our students will be working in small teams to compete in a fun atmosphere.  Here is a blurb from our website in case you are interested:   “Imagine challenges like robot pull-ups, time trial races and versions of robot basketball, soccer and hockey…”  You get the idea.  Robotics is hot!

Follow up on the new iD baby!

And finally, to follow up on my blog from last week, here’s a picture of Sofia Bella Salvador.  Congratulations to Monte and Novars!  Hope you are catching some sleep.  I still owe you some dinner.  I’m on it!

Also, if any of you haven’t heard, yes, the “secret” picture from last week’s blog was taken at Alexa’s house!  She is well on her way and is expecting this summer.  I think she still thinks she can hide it.  But we can’t be fooled.  Ha!

Until next time, iD Nation!

-Pete

 

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The Sentinel

As appeared in The Sentinel
March 2007

The Quest for a Summer Camp

By Dana Guzzetti

Prepared parents have peaceful summers. This is the time to have a family talk about summer plans. Whether kids want some free play time or even high adventure, the very best summer camps book up early and now is the time to start checking them out.

Day camps and local recreation programs are a wonderful way to give kids enrichment and a change of pace, without having them far from home. These programs are fun filled and allow youngsters to become comfortable being on their own.

Investigate the camp and ask questions, so you will be comfortable too. Be sure camp management does background checks on counselors, and that counselors are well trained in camp safety, experienced in the camp’s specialty and trained to supervise children at your child’s age level.

Another source to check is the American Camp Association. This organization maintains standard minimum requirements for member camps. Ideally parents can visit a resident camp. If that is not possible, ask for references. Some camps provide CDs or videos as well as brochures.

This area is recognized for its variety of high quality summer activities and camp opportunities. Matching a child’s interests and personality to one need not be a challenge. Many camps have camperships available. If one is needed, do not fail to ask.

Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek is sponsoring a Summer Camp Fair in cooperation with the American Camp Association March 3. There will be representatives and information from accredited camps and advice on preparations for summer camp. Seven Hills also has a summer program of its own.

The Athenian School i n Danville offers Devil Mountain Summer Camp, Athenian Sport Camp and a Summer English Language Program at it 75-acre campus at the foot of Mount Diablo. April 18 is Information Night; check www.athenian.org for more information.

Dorris Eaton School in Walnut Creek offers academic enrichment 9 a.m. to noon. “After that it is just fun,” Trina Spencer, director of admissions said. “We have animals, swimming, music, special guests, trips and programs.”

The City of Walnut Creek offers recreational and competitive aquatic summer programs, mini sport camps, teen dances, classes, trips, and summer day camp programs for younger children at Heather Farm.

The City of San Ramon’s Crow Canyon Day Camp is a good local choice for younger children. Many activities take place in the canyon behind the gardens, bisected by the San Ramon Creek. Call 973-3200 or look for new information at www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us/parks/activities.pdf.

Check your city’s park and recreation district office for summer programs.

Traditional Outdoor Fun

Established in 1972, Roughing It Day Camp in Lafayette has four and eight-week sessions loaded with outdoor fun. Kids who are ready to ride might like to try horseback riding as part of the day camp, and then sign up for one of the horse riding camps.

Horizons East Equestrian Center in Livermore has a lighted sand indoor arena and a 200 x 250 foot outdoor sand arena where they have English riding lessons, shows and more (www.showstables.com).

In Walnut Creek North Gait Equestrian Center has summer camps running Mon. through Fri. 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. where small groups of youngsters learn horse safety, anatomy, tacking, riding, mucking and bathing the horses as well as old-fashioned fun experiences like line-dancing and bobbing for apples (www.northgait.com or 925/932-2282).

East Bay Regional Park District has a complete schedule of summer camps. Visit www.ebparks.org or call 510/636-1684 to receive a camp directory and information on camperships.

At John Muir Mountain Day Camp, held at the National John Muir Historic Site in Martinez near the intersection of HWY 4 and Alhambra Avenue, campers learn the John Muir heritage with focus on creativity, music arts and crafts.

Girl Scout and Boy Scout Camps and the YMCA immediately come to mind for traditional day-camp experiences that might include nature and environmental science, art, sports and just plain play.

Non-Girl Scouts can go to one or more of the 10 Diablo Day Camp sessions at Little Hills Ranch or Twin Canyon. Camp sign-up includes Girl Scout membership. It is a fun outdoor program which includes swims, crafts, songs and much more at a reasonable price. The camp program, which has a different theme for each session, is run by screened and trained volunteers.

The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA has all-day, week-long Team Adventure summer programs at schools and YMCA locations throughout the area. Visit www.mdymca.org/class for more information.

Camp Galileo in Lafayette, developed with the Tech Museum of Innovation, de Young offers kids kindergarten through fifth grade a change of pace. Medieval Arts and Ocean Explorers, Modern Master and Invent It, African Art and Building Big are some of the camp session names of a program run by Galileo Educational Services. For information visit www.thetech.org/summercamps.

Diablo Mountain Sports and Recreation (DMSR) offers weekly traditional (hike, crafts, swim, etc.) day-camper sessions mostly in Briones and Castle Rock Park throughout the summer beginning in June.

DMSR runs the same kind of day camp with a youth ministry focus, which is called Resurrection Day Camp. For information on either camp visit www.diablosports.org or call 925/952- 4450.

Science, Computer, Language

ID Tech Computer camps in game design, video creation and game “modding” are offered at St. Mary’s College in Moraga and U.C. Berkeley on a day-basis. These award-winning camps historically fill up fast. Save $50 per family if you sign up before March 31.

Vision Tech is a not-for-profit San Ramon company that operates computer camps for children throughout the Bay Area. The program includes such subjects as Game Design, Film Making, Build a PC, and Robotics. Each course in camp is for 5 days and each one is for different age groups. The Robotics program in one that is for the younger children, aged 6-10. The programs go on up to age 17, so there is a program for any child.

Consider the Endeavour Camp for youth space education just north of Santa Barbara for an out-of-the-ordinary experience. Campers have a week-long camp experience learning about earth, astronomy, satellites, and space travel (www.endeavours.org).

For similar topics closer to home contact the Chabot Space & Science Center where they have week-long half and full-day session summer science camps for grades 1-8 from July 9 to Aug. 17.

Older teens may be intrigued by one of the adventure learning experiences listed at www.academictreks.com.These are distant destinations and not what one might call economical, but they are said to be the best in experiential learning. Camp titles include accredited Marine Biology sessions in San Salvador or the Bahamas, Immersion French language study in France and a community service Amazon Expedition in Brazil.

The Berlitz School in Walnut Creek has special class for kids or adults in the summer. The three week children’s (small classes grouped by age) intensive language classes generally run for one-half day, four days a week.

There is also a weekly total immersion class that runs all-day, five days a week. “There are high school students who are starting a program or want to maintain their language proficiency over the summer. We tailor to match their needs,” said Berlitz language Center Director Celeste Lindahl. She says Spanish, French, Italian and Mandarin are in demand now, but they teach any language requested (925/935-6428).

Tall Ships Academy offers experience-based learning for high school age girls. It includes oceanographic research and schooner sailing. San Francisco State University gives three units of college credit for program participation. The program is from June 25 to Aug. 3 and March 16 is the deadline for registration (some camperships available).

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Santa Monica Daily Press

As appeared in Santa Monica Daily Press

March 17-18, 2007

Bigfoot won’t trouble these summer campers

By Irene Manahan

Summer camps were once synonymous with campfires, smores and cumbaya.  But kids today might be left to ponder the purpose of all those sleeping bags and tents.

Traditional summer camping, complete with all its familiar outdoors trappings, remains a summer standby, though some Santa Monica parents have found it to be, well, old school!  The camping experience is new and improved.  Nowadays, whether it’s theatre, surfing or intense gaming that piques their interests, there seems to be a summer camp for every kid.

This year, let them leave the bug spray and propane lanterns at home.

Modern camps often introduce their youth to creative and professional jobs.  Internal Drive, or iD Tech Camps, is the nation’s largest, most recommended summer computer camp.  The family-owned Silicon Valley-based company is in its ninth season.

“Like sports or religious camps, iD Tech is a summer technology camp,” said Karen Thurm Safran, VP of Marketing for iD Tech Camps.  “Students sign up for different courses to learn how to build robots, make 2D and 3D video games, or make Web sites or movies in just a week.”

Beat that, popsicle stick birdhouses!

Beginning in June, iD Tech Camps will offer week-long, day and overnight summer computer camps for more than 17,000 students, ages 7-17.  This summer, camps will bring life to 22 U.S. states in 50 prestigious universities throughout the country, including Brown, Stanford, Columbia and Georgetown.

Santa Monica residents can send their campers to UCLA, Pepperdine University and Cal Lutheran University.  Not too far from the bay, at UC San Diego and UC Santa Cruz, iD Tech’s ‘Surf and Tech’ program allows campers to spend half their day surfing and the rest creating a video game or Web site.

“It’s a different way for them to articulate their creativity,” said Thurm Safran.

With only five students per staff member, students have the chance to use their own computers and other industry standard products.  The hands-on, project-based curriculum allows campers to complete a project by the end of their session.

“We’re different because students really take something away with them,” Safran said.  “It’s a lifelong learning experience.  After their session they may get hired by their parents or use their skills for the school.  In the future, our campers may have a side business or become successful entrepreneurs.”

iD Tech only uses the leading, cutting edge products in their courses.

Adventures in Comic Creation, a course for 7- to 10-year-olds teaches students about taking pictures, creating images, distorting faces and making comic books using Adobe Photoshop and Wacom templates.

RoboContenders is a popular program that teaches kids about robotics.  Using VEX, thousands of kids throughout the country create their own robots.  Thurm Safran said it takes just a couple of days to create it and throughout the week students compete to do different things with them.

“Every year we listen to the kids and parents to see what they want,” Safran said.  “Last year, we learned that there are some very serious gamers out there who want to learn more about actually making a game and who may even want to make it their profession.

“Kids are having fun and their self-esteem blossoms,” she continued.  “Parents are happy.  The staff is happy.  You can’t surpass kids learning in a fun, stimulating environment.”

Striking Close To Home

CREST (Child care – Recreation – Enrichment – Sports – Together) Camps at Virginia Avenue Park offer more interaction for summer campers through physical and creative activities.

At CRET, up to 120 campers participate in each specialty class or activity.  Parents and kids can choose from different themes that will challenge the campers’ minds and bodies.

With classes in both the morning and afternoon, counselors create the curriculum for their 8- to 14-year-old campers.  Participants don’t spend the night at this camp, but rather, they come from day to day during their session to enjoy activities during spring or summer.

CREST’s theater program ranges from musical to improve to comedy, according to Adrianna Torres, community services specialist.  The visual program offers themes like nature or recycled art that encourage campers to learn new skills and new ways to express themselves, while their sports experience, which is typically held at John Adams School, gives campers new fitness ideas with a variety of outdoor activities.

Campers also go on weekly local trips to hike or swim, or visit such sites as theme parks, museums, parks and sporting events.

“The kids love it,” Torres said.  “They especially love going on the trips and meeting kids from different schools.  Everyone comes from a different background.  It’s just really diverse.”

Rosie’s Girls is an impacted class designed specifically for girls in middle school.  Unlike CREST’s other programs, space is limited to just 40 girls each session.  Rosie’s Girls hopes to build self-esteem, leadership and physical confidence through non-traditional activities like carpentry, welding, mask-making, furniture design, kayaking and ropes courses.

CREST also offers “generous financial assistance for low to moderate income families,” said Rebecca Spring, program analyst for CREST.

Where kids were once just sent off into the woods, the words “summer camp” now beat a fun and constructive connotation.  The option are as varied as the imagination this time of year; the time to send the little rascals off.

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Kids. Lots of them.

As the owners and employees of the most successful computer camp in the country, we are surrounded by kids all summer long.  Hundreds of kids.  Thousands of kids.  It’s an awesome, awesome responsibility.  Because we’re surrounded by so many kids, many of us put off having kids of our own…until recently.

When we first launched iD Tech Camps in 1999, neither Alexa (my sister, biz partner and iD’s CFO) nor myself had kids of our own.  But we still took safety seriously.  Very seriously.  Nine years later, both of us have young kids.  The old saying goes, “put your money where your mouth is.”  Our response to that is “put your kids where your camps are.”  We say in our catalog and on our website that we constantly ask the question, “Would we send our own kids to iD Tech Camps?”  The answer to the question is yes.  They aren’t quite old enough for iD, but when they turn 7, game on!

We are always pushing the boundaries of technology–this is something you would expect.  But as we focus on teaching technology skills, we are also unceasingly committed to executing our risk management plan behind the scenes.  Our plan strives to reduce risk at each location, each week, each year.  The ultimate goal is to ensure that our summer camps become safer each year–and are among some of the safest camps that exist.

When parents and students show up for camp, they trust that we have trained our staff appropriately.  They trust that we have done our homework and the students will be fully supervised.  They expect that we’ll deliver on our promises.  So, how do we follow through?  We circle back to the original question, “Would we send our own kids to iD Tech Camps?”

Now more than ever, Alexa and I (and the rest of our employees) understand the emotional bond between a parent and child.  It is a bond that runs so deep that it truly cannot be explained with words.  When a parent drives off from camp, and they see their student waiving goodbye in the rearview mirror, they need to feel secure with the camp.  Very secure.  We’ve always tried to create this security, but now that we have more and more iD employees that are having kids of their own, it becomes easier to answer the question and spread the message:  Each camper at iD Tech Camps is precious.  We have the responsibility of treating every single camper like we would treat our own kids.  This is what we mean when we talk about “The iD Family.”

We fully expect our 2007 computer camp season to be our best yet.  We thank you for your trust!

Speaking of kids…this just in!

A new iD Tech Camps baby was born yesterday at noon.  A 7.4 lb beautiful baby girl, named, uhm, we don’t know the name yet.  And pictures?  We don’t have those either.  But let’s focus on what we do know.

1)  If you call our Client Services department in the next few weeks, you might get some crankiness on the other end of  the line.  Why?  Our Client Services Manager is the proud papa.  How’s that sleep, Monte?  Because we have no pictures of the baby yet, here’s a good picture of the father.

2)  We also know that the mother, Champagne Supernova, acted like a rock star yesterday.  She took care of business and has a lot to show for it!  She was a little upset yesterday, however, because the hospital would not deliver pancakes from IHOP.  Again, we have no pictures of the big day, but if you look really closely, you can see the outlines of blueberry pancakes on her tummy.

3)  We also know that Monte and Supernova are two proud parents.  Congratulation you guys!  It is a day to celebrate!

4)  I might also point out that as soon as you both wake up, you’ll realize that this is not a dream.  That WAS your baby crying.  It IS 2 AM.  And she DOES need to be changed.  But that’s the fun stuff.  If we fast-forward just a few years, here’s what you can expect:

More iD Babies on the Way?

We have some other significant announcements at iD.  We currently have two other gals that are expecting-mothers.  Our employees know of the first gal already. Somer-Lovin’, big-time congratulations to you!  We look forward to your relocation to the West Coast!

The other expecting-mother is someone you might have expected, but didn’t know about.  I hope she doesn’t kill me for this, but check out this picture.  Do you know who it is?  Let’s get the water cooler chit chat going, folks!  (Double-click the picture to enlarge for a clue).

Until next time, iD Nation!

-Pete

 

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