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September 28th, 2007 by: Pete
Our summer camps have wound down. We’re now in development mode for the 2008 season. With thousands of kids attending our program each summer season, we now see our role in developing future IT talent to be all the more relevant.
Being a Silicon Valley-based company, there is not a day that goes by where we don’t hear grumblings from a big tech company. “There isn’t enough talent to fill our job vacancies.” Solution? Look overseas and bring talent from abroad to fill the vacancies. This is a partial solution. But, a true solution lies in a diversified approach of increasing the talent pool by looking abroad, but also by fostering a new initiative for fostering the next generation of tech and science leaders here at home.
Phil Bond, president and CEO of the Information Technology Association of America recently wrote an article for the San Jose Mercury News where he quoted some interesting statistics:
- America will add more than 1 million IT jobs between 2004 and 2014, according to the Department of Labor.
- Undergraduate enrollment in Computer Sciences declined 59% over the period from 2001 to 2005.
So, what gives? We hear about jobs being outsourced to India and China. The fear is fueled, in part, by the illegal immigrant situation here in the States and our increasing paranoia and xenophobia, coupled with uncertainties about the employment situation here at home.
“We are losing. We can’t compete. Sound the alarms!” The fact of the matter is, we live in a global economy. Students who embrace technology and science (and while I mention it, learning a foreign language wouldn’t hurt either) at an early stage will have a better chance at competing in and redefining what “the global economy” means in the years to come.
Mr. Bond argued that one of the problems in attracting young students to the IT field is that the older generation doesn’t know how to hook the younger generations. He nailed it! Students often perceive IT fields to be dry. But, these viewpoints can be easily changed if we get hip. How? I have talked previously about how school curriculum needs to change to incorporate what kids are into (video games, the internet, social networking sites) and using these interests as a launching point.
But most schools can’t keep up and that is where iD Tech Camps comes in. iD Tech is one of many private sector companies that is bridging the gap and teaching young students where an interest in video gaming, social networking, web design, programming…can ultimately lead. We teach our courses in small clusters of 6 students in a summer camp setting. We often hear that we teach more in a week than a student learned in an entire semester at school. But this is because we create a fun environment where students WANT TO LEARN. By attracting and engaging young students in an open, collaborative environment, the next IT leaders are coming up through the ranks. But, we have to do more.
September 28th, 2007
Posted in: CEO's Blog
September 25th, 2007 by: Jimmy
iD Tech Camps is America’s #1 Tech Camp, but don’t just listen to us. Visit this blog each Tuesday to hear what our students and parents are saying. You’ll soon see why we have such a high return rate.
“We were extremely impressed with the energy and thoughtfulness of the staff. Our family has been involved in a ton of other programs, and iD Tech Camps is world class.”
Karen Williamson, Parent, ASU
“Right after I finished camp, I went home and thanked my mom for sending me to iD Tech Camps. I’m coming back for sure. ”
Bijan, Student, UT Austin
For more testimonials, visit www.internaldrive.com/testimonials.htm
September 25th, 2007
Posted in: Summer Camps
September 24th, 2007 by: Jimmy
Hi, I’m Ruth! I will be writing a guest blog column called “Snacks!”
I have always been a big supporter of snack time so when I started at iD Tech Camps, I was determined to provide some seriously tasty goodies to my iD Family. Snacks = happy iDers = happy campers. As a result, this iD Snacks blog was created! (Disclaimer: The creation of an iD Daily Exercise blog might be needed after a few of these entries.)
I know I’m very fortunate to live in California because most fruits are in season year-round. I say “most” because one of my favorite fruits is only around during the summer season. Since summer officially ended last week, these fruits are going to disappear from your local market soon. So on that note, this week on iD Snacks I bring to you FIGS!
Everyone knows what a fig newton is, but not many people (campers and non-campers alike) have eaten fresh figs. My favorite are categorized as kadota figs. They’re small, have a firmer texture than most figs, and are iD Green! These figs are also usually found only at farmer’s markets so eat local, iD!
Unfortunately, these figs are rarely found outside of California since they perish quickly and bruise easily. So the next time you’re in California during the summer, try to snack on these tasty little bulbs.
To further celebrate summer fruits, I brought some fresh strawberries and some apple slices. Fruits are not only tasty, but they’re healthy and full of vitamins! So please eat your fruits, campers and iD Families.
That’s Bonsai enjoying the variety of summer fruits brought to her by yours truly.
Countdown to summer camp and eating summer fruits officially begins now! 
-Ruth
Check back to the iD Blog at blog.internalDrive.com for weekly iD Snacks updates where you will find recipes, funny pictures, and of course tasty snacks to get you ready for the summer camp season.
September 24th, 2007
Posted in: Summer Camps
September 21st, 2007 by: Pete
Multitasking is every day life here in the Valley–and so many other places in this day and age: Running a computer camp company, dropping the kids off at pre-school, getting to the grocery store, commuting to work, interruptions on the cell phone…they all add up. How do I manage it all? Well, here’s what I did yesterday.
I promised my wife I’d be home by 5:15. “I promise.” I normally rush to get home to get the wrestling going in the living room with the boys–to give my wife a break.
Well, yesterday, I received a phone call at 5 PM while I was getting ready to head out of the office. It was an important call, so I had to take it. I was heading out the door, on my cell phone, and I began my commute home. A few people honked at me for being on my cell phone. I ignored them and kept talking. The person on the other end of the phone was having trouble hearing me too because I was going so fast!
25 minutes later I arrived home safely, still on my cell phone. My wife was waiting at the front door (not too happy). But, she wasn’t happy because I was late. She was upset because I was talking on my phone and riding my bicycle home from work at the same time.
I don’t recommend multitasking in this way! This is the culture in the Valley–every second counts. Trying to “gain time” is a challenge that I know a lot of us face. But sometimes we can take multitasking too far. I promised I wouldn’t do it again. I know they are enacting laws about hands-free cell phone use in motor vehicles here in California, but I know of nothing that says you can’t ride your bike and talk on your cell phone. My wife sees it differently.
September 21st, 2007
Posted in: CEO's Blog
September 21st, 2007 by: Pete
This post was brought to us by Ms. Julie of iD Tech Camps who was kind enough and thoughtful enough to send us photos of Somer’s big day. Santo was born on Tuesday, September 18. Over 9 pounds! Whoa! Big Boy. We’ve had a lot of iD babies born over the last few years–but none as big as Santo. He is going to be a baller for sure! I know Somer’s summer camp staff out there will be really excited to read this post–this is a small way we keep you connected to the iD Family and our culture. Enjoy! Please leave some comments for Somer in this post (at the bottom) if you have a second!
So, if you thought Miss Somer was tough before you should have seen her in action this weekend!
Santo’s Arrival:
After spending Saturday doing a 2.5 mile hike (to entice Santo to come out) and a pedicure (to look fabulous for his arrival), Somer and I decided to go see the movie Superbad. I kept joking, “You’re going to have the Superbad baby!” (Surely to become a classic). Little did we know the Super LONG nights ahead…
Finally…Super Santo was born. And he was so Super cute that mommy Somer forgave him for the last 60 hours (yes 60).
Morale of the story…no one better mess with Super Mom. Seriously, beware…we have a Superhero in our midst.
Somer is headed home from the hospital on Friday. Mom and baby are very happy and totally healthy! Somer, Santo and I have been relaxing and getting to know each other. All of the nurses and staff were in awe of Somer’s perseverance and strength throughout those three days. Now, though, they can’t stop commenting on how big he is and what a full head of fabulously Super highlighted blond hair he has!
I have to head back to the hospital. It’s time for Somer and I to have a milkshake!
She can’t wait for you all to meet Santo!!
Santo arrives!
Santo sleeps!
Proud Auntie Julie!
September 21st, 2007
Posted in: CEO's Blog
September 17th, 2007 by: Jimmy
Hi, I’m Ruth! I will be writing a guest blog column called “Snacks!”
I have always been a big supporter of snack time (and sharing, of course) so when I started at iD Tech Camps, I was determined to provide some seriously tasty goodies to my iD Family. I’ve become rather infamous in bringing armloads of food to the office to share with everyone. Snacks make people happy, and happy iDers make happy campers. As a result, this iD Snacks blog was created! (Disclaimer: The creation of an iD Daily Exercise blog might be needed after a few of these entries.)
What do snacks have to do with technology and kids? My answer: Everything. I know I’m not alone when the sudden urge to munch on something becomes very apparent while working on the computer, especially during summer camp season. Also, it’s a scientific fact that for kids the urge to snack is much stronger.
So for all you iD Families out there, please enjoy this blog and have a snack on iD.
This week’s snack: Gingersnap Cookies
Who doesn’t love cookies?! Apparently yesterday was Gingersnap Cookie Day because while at the market, I bumped into a woman who was buying the exact same ingredients as me. I asked her if she was making gingersnap cookies, and sure enough she was indeed. We ended up following each other around the market trying to find the same cookie-making materials. Small world. I wonder if she will blog about it too.
The Recipe
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp ground ginger, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp salt. Sift again to make sure everything is mixed well. In a separate mixing bowl, cream together ¾ cups of shortening. Beat in 1 cup of sugar, 1 egg, and 1/3 cup of molasses. Once it’s all together, start beating in the flour mixture a little at a time until it is all incorporated. Drop cookie dough in 2 inch balls onto a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Makes 30 cookies.
What does a cookie-eating internalDrive worker look like?
That’s me, Ruth, spreading the cookie love!
Snack on, iD!
-Ruth
Check back to the iD Blog at blog.internalDrive.com for weekly iD Snacks updates where you will find recipes, funny pictures, and of course tasty snacks to get you ready for the summer camp season.
September 17th, 2007
Posted in: Summer Camps
