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February 26th, 2010 by: Josh
Hi Everyone! This blog is a Part II to my Ms. Pacman pizza blog. After making my Mrs. Pac-Man pizza, I had an entire pizza crust so I decided to make the “ghosts” from the Ms. Pacman game!
Remember, never cook with out an adult present. I am no exception to this rule. Fortunately, my good friend, adult and former iD Tech UCLA director, Jeff was still around to help me out:
1) SHAPE THE CRUST
The difference between this and the Ms. Pac-Man Pie mainly the shape of the crust. Each pizza crust will yield two ghosts, so start by a cutting a line right down the diameter of the crust, thus halving it:
Next, make two vertical cuts on either side of the crust. How deep in to make the cuts will depend on the size of your crust, the distance from the edge should be about 20% the width of the pie. Then, to round out the top a bit, shave a bit off of the edges:
PROTIP – Don’t waste food! Dip the excess dough in the sauce you are making while you wait for the pizza to bake – yum!
Next cut out three triangular shapes from the bottom of the pizza:
(again, an example of “real life” subtractive 3D modeling, a modeling method taught at our 3D animation camps)
And repeat on the other half of the pizza.
2) MAKE THE SAUCE
Next is time for the sauces, unlike Ms. Pac-Man, we actually have some options other than making an Alfredo “White” Pizza depending on which ghost(s) you want to make:
Blinky – the red ghost – Just as I was about to stir up some red food coloring I realized that I could just use the most fundamental of all pizza ingredients – tomato sauce! A pizza that only has tomato sauce as a topping is called a “tomato pie” (my favorite, a Philly tradition), however as we’ll be adding mozzarella slices for the eyes, this will be a “margarita” pizza.
Pinky – the pink (duh) ghost – for this we can use an “blush” sauce which is usually used for pasta, typically gnocchi and ravioli. A blush sauce is a mixture of tomato sauce and Alfredo (more or less). Refer to my Ms. Pacman blog for an Alfredo recipe or just use your favorite off the shelf!
Sue (or Clyde in the orignal Pac-Man) the orange ghost – for orange, you can also use a blush sauce however , you’ll want to vary your ratio of tomato : Alfredo sauce. You’ll want to use more Alfredo sauce and possibly even add some cheddar.
Inky – The blue ghost – No “natural” options here. Time to get our the blue food coloring! To achieve light blue a little bit of color goes a long way. Fill a small bowl with Alfredo and stir, stir, stir:
Once the sauce is made, pour the sauce on slowly and smooth it out with a knife or spoon, remember to leave room around the edges:
I decided to make Blinky and Inky.
3) ADD DETAIL
Next, for the ghosts eyes. You’ll need a tube of mozzarella. Cut down a slice of it into a rectangular shape:
BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN USING KITCHEN KNIVES AND ALWAYS HAVE AN ADULT PRESENT
Next, simply cut a black olive in half and place each half in the corner of each eye:
4) BAKE THE PIE!
Now it is time to bake! Preheat the oven 450 degrees and let Ms. Pacman bake for about 10-15 minutes, checking frequently as cooking time will vary depending on what kind of crust you are using.n While you are waiting, you should get some fresh air and do something outside, like gardening:
DO NOT LEAVE AN OVEN UNATTENDED! MAKE SURE YOUR PARENTS ARE WATCHING THE OVEN WHILE YOU GARDEN!
6) TIME TO EAT!!!
Another master piece! Now let’s eat those ghosts like we were Pac-Man!
February 26th, 2010
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
February 24th, 2010 by: Alisa
The 2010 Winter Olympics are into their second week of competition in Vancouver, British Columbia. Each time the games roll around, I am amazed at how technology has enriched my experience of the Olympics over the years. The modern Winter Olympic Games started back in 1924 in Chamonix, France. The original members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) could have no concept of how far these games would come in a century.
1924 Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix, France
2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Cutting-edge technologies play a part in every aspect of these games, from the first torch relay hand-off to the closing ceremonies. There are so many behind the scenes stories of how creative thinkers adapt existing computer technologies to gain a competitive advantage. Athletes and trainers use technology in preparing for the games to optimize their training. Sports equipment manufacturers use design technology to build improved apparatus, gear and more that will enable their clients to deliver a high level performance. Broadcasters use technology to better inform viewers of all aspects of the events. Everyone involved is looking for technologic tools they can use to give them the competitive advantage to get on the podium.
Technology allows us to more fully appreciate everything about the competition and the athletes who commit their lives to fulfill their dreams. At internalDrive, we are proud to be laying a foundation for young people at our summer camps to explore computer technology and find ways they can express their dreams. We have kids and teens learning about and creating computer-generated projects that amaze us. We’ve been doing this for eleven seasons now and we continue to be impressed by what our campers accomplish in just a week or two of summer learning.
Whether a student chooses to learn filmmaking, digital photography, programming, modeling or 3D animation, they could be taking that first step towards their own professional goals – perhaps even in a future Olympic Games event. Here is a sample of the courses offered at our computer camps and teen academies across North America. Perhaps your son or daughter can jumpstart their dreams with us!
It is inspiring to see athletes who break through previously attained heights in speed, technique, style and spirit. There is no doubt that the Winter and Summer Olympic Games will continue to be influenced and enhanced by the use of computer technology in preparation for and during the events. It’s the way of the world. And as they say, “The World comes to these games.”
Interested in visiting Canada this summer? Check out our new summer computer camp held at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and our two-week summer program iD Visual Arts Academy for teens offered at McGill University in Montreal.
iD Visual Arts Academy students hitching a ride at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec
If you would like to know what iD Tech Camps is up to, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Become a fan on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter!
February 24th, 2010
Posted in: iD Tech Camps, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Summer Camps
February 19th, 2010 by: Pete
Hello iD Nation,
This email was just sent to one of our client services reps. Roque received this email yesterday and sent it to me. I love, love, love hearing stories like this. We often hear that students at our summer camps learn more in a week with us than they do at a year in school. The below email pretty much sums it up:
_______________________________________________________
From: Susan (Last Name Withheld)
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010 3:29 AM
To: roque@internaldrive.com
Subject: ID Tech Camp experience 2009
My son, Andrew, attended ID Tech Camp C++/Java class at the University of Michigan in the summer of 2009. This year, Andrew is in the 10th grade and attends our high school’s math/science program. One of his classes this year is Java 1 and he is scheduled to take Java 2 next year. I would like to share with you the progress Andrew has made this year because of the education he received at your camp.
The instruction he received at your camp in one week was the equivalent to about half a year of his Java 1 class. His computer teacher would like him to work aggressively through the remaining modules so he can complete Java 1 and 2 this year. I would like to commend you on your dedicated and talented instructors that provide such an excellent education.
Sue (Last Name Withheld)
_______________________________________________________
Sue, thanks for writing to us! It is great to see that Andrew had such a positive experience at our summer camp for teenagers. He is now on the fast track.
Best,
Pete
February 19th, 2010 | Tags: computer camps, programming camps, programming classes, programming courses, Summer Camps, Summer camps in Michigan
Posted in: CEO's Blog, University of Michigan
February 12th, 2010 by: Marta
That big red, white and pink holiday is just around the corner and there’s still time to send out a pop-up valentine card to someone you know. I learned how to make these pop-up cards way back in elementary school and they’re easy and fun to make. All kids and teens out there, think of how much Mom or Grandma would appreciate it if she received one of these cards? Who knows, she may even sign you up for that iD overnight summer camp right after she opens it. I might give one to my manager at the office and see if it gives me clearance to attend a site visit at one of our Visual Arts Academies so I can brush up on my filmmaking skills. It’s always worth a try.
STEP 01: GRAB THE CARD TEMPLATES
Below are two templates that I’ve created that you can choose from. The first one allows you to have one pop-up image; the second template gives you spots for two pop-up characters.
Download: PDF Template 01: One Pop-Up Card
Download: PDF Template 02: Two Pop-Up Card
Once you download them, don’t print them out just yet, since you’ll want to first decide what and how you’re going to write a phrase on the inside of the card (the template you just downloaded.) You have two options here. The first is that you can grab art supplies you have at home and hand-write a phrase. If you decide to do this then go ahead and print the template.
If you have Photoshop at home, you can also open the PDF template into Photoshop and create your text there. After you’ve created your text phrase and any other design elements in Photoshop, then you can print the template on your home computer. Being that I love to use Photoshop, I decided to open my card up in Photoshop and add some of my own flair using the skills I’ve learned as a graphic designer.
STEP 02: GRAB THE POP-UP CHARACTERS
Download the page of gaming characters to add as the pop-up elements to your card. You’ll be doing the same thing here as before; you can either color them with art supplies or you can color them in Photoshop.
Download: PDF Template 03: Character Cutouts
If you thought all valentines were adorned with mushy hearts and flowers, think again. I’ve picked out some cool characters that could be in your projects this summer if you attend one of our game camps.
STEP 03: ASSEMBLE YOUR CARD
Now that you have all of your artwork prepped, let’s recap what you should have in order to assemble your card.
- The inside part of your card taken from the downloadable template.
- An outer part or cover for your card. You can use a nice piece of construction paper or just another piece of printer paper.
- Your cutout characters, colored and ready to go.
- Glue or another adhesive like double-sided tape.
- Scissors
Assembling your card is really easy. Let’s go through the steps:
- First take your inside template, cut out the card to be 8.25”tall x 5.5” wide. Fold it in half and cut on the dotted lines.
- Next, open your card up and fold it the opposite way so that your text is on the inside of the fold. Open the card slightly, and use your finger to push forward the flap(s) that you just created by cutting on the dotted lines in Step 2. Slide a pencil into the flaps, so it’s easier to do the next step. With the pencil still in place, fold your card so that you crease the flap you just pushed in.
Your card should now look like this.
- Cut out the characters you want inside your card. Then on the front area of your pop-up flap, place an adhesive like glue or double sided tape.Take your character and stick him on the front of the pop-up flap. Open and close your card and see how cool it looks!
- Now we just have to put the last finishing touch on it. We need the cover so that the person who receives the card doesn’t see the big pop-up hole(s). Cut out a piece of construction paper to the dimensions of 8.25” tall x 5.5”wide (if you want your card to have a border on the inside, cut it a bit bigger). If you don’t have construction paper handy, white printer paper will do just fine.Fold your outer cover in half, then using an adhesive, stick the cover to the outside of the card.
Once your card is dry, you can decorate the outside. I created my outside design in Photoshop.
That’s it! You’ve now created a 3D card adorned with your favorite gaming characters. The cards you make don’t even need to be used for valentine’s day…they can used for birthday’s or other holidays too, so feel free to modify the graphics by using your own designs. It would be great to see some photos of your pop-up card creations, so if you make some and want to share, send them to info@internalDrive.com. We here at the main office always love to see the creative side of our campers (and parents too!)
(PS: If you want to mail your artwork to someone, your card will fit perfectly in an A2 envelope. A2 envelopes are sized to about 4.375”x5.75” and can be found at most craft stores since it’s a common envelope size for cards. )
February 12th, 2010
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
February 11th, 2010 by: Pete
For Immediate Release
San Francisco, February 9, 2010
As a featured guest at the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s Pre-G-20 Forum this past fall, Google Inc. CEO Eric Schmidt was asked what type of training young people should pursue to gain the skills necessary to work in the tech sector of the future. Not surprisingly, he wants kids and teens to learn programming. But the idea that surprised many in the room? He thought playing video games had value too.
“The game world is good training for a career in tech,” said Schmidt. “It teaches players to build a network, to use interactive skills and thinking.”
Schmidt’s words may come as a shock to those of us who weren’t born with a laptop or a smart phone in our hands. His comments directly contradict what popular culture has been telling us for years; that video game playing is only for entertainment value and doesn’t lead to any long term benefits. We think of gamers as chip-eating, soda-drinking couch potatoes destined to work minimum wage temp jobs for the rest of their lives. We haven’t connected the dots…that gaming can actually be a valuable stepping stone leading to better results for surgeons, athletes, computer scientists and engineers. An AP Article covered a study from Beth Israel Medical Center with the title “Surgeons may err less by playing video games: Three hours a week decreased mistakes by 37 percent, study finds.”
“It’s refreshing to hear somebody like Eric Schmidt address the topic,” said Pete Ingram-Cauchi, President and CEO of iD Tech Camps, the nation’s largest youth summer technology program. “We’ve been preaching that same sentiment for years and have actually seen the positive effects that programming and video game design can have on students.”
The summer camp uses gaming as a vehicle to build critical thinking skills. Students work with gaming titles like Unreal Tournament® 3 and Half-Life® 2, along with the 3D modeling package Maya®, and game development software from Multimedia Fusion 2 Developer ®.
“Our students want to learn how to create video games—to learn game development skills. But that’s the head fake. Along the way, they gain problem-solving skills and teambuilding skills which are absolutely vital in the tech field.” said Ingram-Cauchi.
Are the days behind us where kids and teens are treated as outcasts for having a keen interest in video games? Probably not. But Mom and Dad can now rest a little easier after spending $50 on a video game. It just might be an investment. And who knows, it might lead to fulfilling the dream of attending Stanford, UCLA or MIT. Or even getting that lucrative dream job. Eric, you still hiring?
###
Written by Ryan Barone
February 11th, 2010 | Tags: learn programming, make video games, Summer Camps, video game design camps
Posted in: CEO's Blog, iD In The News
February 5th, 2010 by: Pete-V
Hey All – it is I, (the other) Pete once more with a glorious food craft!
Now, I know that I normally blog about activities that are happening at iD, but I wanted to share these cool iDeas for the BIG GAME!
Football is not a sport that we normally play at iD during the summer, but aspiring game designers can learn a great deal from observing this popular sport. Because we are, in part, a game creation camp, I love to have discussions with the teens about how they can learn to design a fully functioning, high quality experience. Also, I believe that any opportunity can be turned into a learning opportunity!
Football has risk and reward, a fundamental concept for all gaming. Should they kick or go for it on the fourth down? Strategy plays a huge role as well – in fact, matching the opponent’s play is almost equivalent to picking Rock, Paper or Scissors. Another major component is the clock – 2 minute drills reinforce the importance of resource management, as well as the challenge flag.
We constantly find teachable moments at our overnight summer camps – and here’s a delicious moment that you can make this weekend, courtesy of Bryan and I!
NOTE: These crafts require some cooking, sharp objects and marshmallows. Please get a parent / guardian to observe / give permission FIRST. Thank you.
NACHO STADIUM
KRISPY FOOTBALLS
Full instructions after the break(!)
(more…)
February 5th, 2010
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers, iD Tech Camps, Summer Camps
February 5th, 2010 by: Pete
iD Nation,
Last week I received in the mail a box of candy from a student. I was moved by the hand-written card, the thoughtfulness of the gift, but also the reminder that what we do (run summer computer camps for kids) changes lives, one student at a time.
Braden attended our Villanova University location and took a course that is now titled Adventures in Programming – a course that is fun and great for summer learning. He really excelled and he has a very, very bright future.
Braden – I personally want to thank you for the card and the candy. I really love the card. Your grammar and spelling and penmanship are really, really top notch. And the picture of the computer that you drew is really cool too. Thanks for taking the time to write me. You made my day. And my week. And I am so glad you enjoyed our summer camp!
Thank you!
Pete
PS, the i in “iD” and T in “Tech” fell off the bottom part of the card, but that makes it even cooler!
February 5th, 2010 | Tags: computer camps, PA summer camps, Summer Camps, villanova computer camp
Posted in: CEO's Blog
February 2nd, 2010 by: Alisa
We’ve all heard the statement, “Actions Speak Louder Than Words.” Has it become cliché? I looked up its origins and found it’s referenced as an American Proverb. Yet, the sentiment is not unique to America. People the world over understand and believe this statement to be true.
It’s said that the United States is the most generous nation in the world. I don’t have the data to confirm. What I can say with certainty is there are places where, and times when, our neighbors across the globe need help. There’s no more graphic example than the tragedy being experienced in Haiti now. The earthquake’s devastation and the resulting toll it has brought to this small nation are unimaginable to those of us safe in our homes. We see pictures and our hearts ache. We hear cries of grief and tears come to our eyes.
When the tragedy struck, our work family couldn’t help but ask what our responsibility was to our Haitian neighbors. We didn’t talk about it, we just did it. The “loud-speaking” action that iD Tech Camps took was matching, 1-for-1, donations from our employees. It was already happening within the team; we just upped the ante. You can help too. Please take a minute to contribute to the American Red Cross or any organization you choose to support Haitian relief efforts. The giving is the action, not the amount given.
iD Tech Camps is more than a corporation that runs summer camps. We consider ourselves a family. We are family-owned and many of our year-round staffers are related. Also, we are very lucky that many summer staffers return year after year to help us create an environment that is special and uplifting for all our kids. We care about each other and those communities we serve.
iD Tech Camps offers our programs in 60 locations nationwide and we recently expanded into Canada with a Montreal summer camp and a Vancouver summer camp. In many of our locations, we provide scholarships to children who otherwise could not afford to attend a technology summer camp. Additionally, we receive several hundred applications as part of our Tuition Assistance Program. A group of us reads every submission. It is not an easy decision to select those kids who will take the limited number of spots available each year.
Last fall our President, Pete Ingram-Cauchi, and his wife became aware of a boy’s orphanage in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, that is doing good work in this region and needs support. Michael Pearce is the President of Casa Hogar de Caba San Lucas. Michael says on their website, “Our boys come from many different backgrounds and circumstances but their needs for security, shelter, food, education, a value system and a loving home environment are the same as any child growing up in the 21st century.”
Pete put out a call to action around the office that this home needed clothing and financial support. I remember seeing bags of boys clothing stacked around Pete’s desk! And, many contributed financial support. We are all about kids so this call went straight to our hearts.
We differentiate our summer program with the inclusion of life skills objectives in our technology curriculum. Technology improves the day-to-day lives of people across the world. We hope our campers take these new skills and adapt them to fit in their lives and act in ways that serve.
It has always been part of our culture to give back. Each year, we participate in the Family Giving Tree program. We collect Christmas gifts and volunteer at their collection warehouse to sort through mountains of donated gifts going to children who would otherwise not receive a gift. It’s a great team-building activity and a way to give back to our own local community.
Most of our team from our corporate office we’re able to help at the Family Giving Tree while a few stayed back to man the office.
Jason, in our Client Services group, knew a lucky boy was going to VERY HAPPY this holiday.
The iD Tech Camps family is driven to serve and we will continue to follow that old American Proverb by ACTING in ways that speak for themselves.
If you would like to know what iD Tech Camps is up to, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Become a fan on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter!
We at iD Tech Camps wish you and yours good health and prosperity in 2010.
-Alisa
February 2nd, 2010
Posted in: iD Tech Camps, Summer Camps
February 1st, 2010 by: Patrick
Today we congratulate Nancy Doyle! Nancy is the raffle winner for a free week of Day Camp for iD Tech Camps! Congratulations and we are excited to have you join the iD Family! Nancy is the first Camp Fair Raffle winner of the season. Stay tuned! We’ll be holding 3 more raffles, one per month and announcing future winners here!
Come see us at a camp fair event near you and enter for your chance to win! To find a camp fair in your area, simply call our client service department at 1-888-709-TECH (8324), option 1.
- Team iD
February 1st, 2010
Posted in: iD Tech Camps
(again, an example of “real life” subtractive 3D modeling, a modeling method taught at our 3D animation camps)
BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN USING KITCHEN KNIVES AND ALWAYS HAVE AN ADULT PRESENT
DO NOT LEAVE AN OVEN UNATTENDED! MAKE SURE YOUR PARENTS ARE WATCHING THE OVEN WHILE YOU GARDEN!
