As appeared in Family Times – High Tech Camps: Computers and much, much more! by Karen Haywood Queen
March 2008
By Karen Haywood Queen
March 21st, 2008
Posted in: iD In The News, Macalester College
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As appeared in The La Canada and Crescenta Valley Sun – article about our CA summer camps for kids and teens
Stimulating imaginations and learning
March 14, 2008
Producing digital movies and learning languages like C++, Java or HTML might sound intimidating to those of us who grew up using a typewriter and listening to records. Not so, though, for Willis Danielson and others from Los Angeles and throughout the country. At a young age, Willis is learning tech skills in school that we might hesitate to tackle even as adults. Though we may feel overwhelmed by technology, for the new generation of “digital kids,” this is the stuff of dreams.
This new generation of digital kids is leaving many not-as-computer-savvy parents struggling to find new ways to encourage their children’s interest and development in technology. One answer may be found in supplemental programs such as iD Tech Camps (www.internalDrive.com), a weeklong technology summer program for ages seven to 17 located at over 50 prestigious universities in twenty-three states, including UCLA, Cal Lutheran University, Pepperdine University, UC Irvine, UCSD and Stanford University.
“We struggled to find a program that would fit Brent’s interests,” said parent Lara Ward. “iD Tech Camps helped foster and develop those interests. It opened up a whole new world for him.”
iD Tech Camps’ innovative teaching approach includes using college-age students, recent college graduates and technology professionals as instructors who teach cutting edge technology. The subject matter ranges from digital movie production and video game creation to college preparatory programming. Each student completes a finished project by the end of the week. No matter what course students take, the focus is always on fun and experimentation with new technology while articulating oneself in new and creative ways.
iD Tech Camps and other programs like it expose students to technology in a hands-on environment, encouraging them to develop the technology skills that most interest them. The students study in a university setting, giving them a change to experience college life. iD Tech Camps has also partnered with technology companies including Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Microsoft, Canon, Symantec, Wacom, Planetwide Media and others, allowing the camp to offer the latest in technology. As a result of this exposure, the students are motivated to use their new skills in the real world – with amazing results. There’s even a Surf & Tech program at UC San Diego where half the day students learn to surf and the other half they create a website or videogame.
With so many opportunities for growth, we can expect to see some amazing innovations from this generation of digital kids. For more information, please visit www.internalDrive.com or call 1-888-709-TECH (8324).
March 14th, 2008
Posted in: iD In The News, UC Irvine, UCLA
Summer Camp Staff: The Gold Standard of Computer Camps
We give our summer camp staff a lot of recognition. We absolutely believe they are the best in the business. We pay them more, train them more, recruit from top institutions like Stanford, UCLA, Vassar College, Northwestern and Emory University. We have an unprecedented return rate this upcoming season–so the word is out! iD is the place to work.
But beyond our summer camp staff, and beyond the computer jobs and counselor jobs we offer at each camp, we’ve got an amazing crew of talented, energetic, dedicated and FUN people who work for our company full time, year round. It’s not possible for you to be here in the office with us to see us in action, but we have tons of pictures hanging on our walls–and the photos center around our campers and our employees.
Our company is nothing, and will be nothing, without our people. I want you to meet a few of our people who make iD happen. In this photo set, we asked a few of our employees to pose with a prop that would help paint the picture of who they are and what they do…the pictures then get hung in the office so we can celebrate what they do–and be reminded that, at the end of the day, this is a people company.
Regional Manager for our Summer Computer Camps in New York and New Jersey. She works from her beach office in the Dominican Republic. Yeah right! Like we’d ever allow that!
Heads up Strategic Programs in the main office. Oh, and her name really has “Schreck” in it.
Operations Manager for our summer computer camps in Southern California. Can you say spirit?
Client Service Rep. here in the main office. Talks to thousands of parents a year and answers questions about our summer technology programs.
Web Design and Creative Manager. Loves birds too. Who would have thought?
VP of Camp Operations. Been working for iD since 2000. That is our first brochure ever.
Operations Manager. Tons of energy. Spearheads trainings across the country for summer staff.
Director of Payroll. She can count, but BOY can she sing. Whoa!
VP of Marketing. Can you juggle more than one thing at a time. How about 20?
Manager of our Application Development team. The Kermit reference? A long story…
Strategic Programs. Do a little bit of everything–but do it ALL well!
Program Manager, iD Gaming Academy. Got game?
I want to thank the team, both in our main office, our SoCal office and Seattle office–and our people spread out across the country. This one is for you! Thanks for making iD different. I hope to post more pictures down the road, as they come in.
-Pete
March 12th, 2008
Posted in: Summer Camps
