Punxsutawney Phil Says What?

February 2nd, 2012 by: Donna

Happy Groundhog Day! This is the day that we look to a rodent for weather prognostication. Sounds crazy, right? According to modern custom, this holiday is celebrated in the U.S. and in Canada every February 2^nd. Folklore states that if it’s cloudy when the groundhog emerges from its burrow, it will stay out, signaling that winter-like weather will soon give way. Conversely, if the creature sees its shadow, it will retreat back into its burrow. This is interpreted to mean that the cold winter weather will continue for six more weeks.

Did you know that Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania holds the largest annual Groundhog Day celebration? Their groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, is a celebrity in his own right (helped by the Bill Murray flick, Groundhog Day).

And…drum roll please…this morning, he DID see his shadow! That means six more weeks of winter.

When the weather outside is frightful your first inclination may be to hunker down in front of the TV during downtime. But don’t let Phil’s prediction of more cold weather get you down. Why not learn a new skill and have fun at the same time all from your own toasty home?  Make a cup of hot cocoa, then sit down and check out iD Tech 365 – our latest completely-online offering. With this brand new service, you no longer need to wait for the warm months to roll around to learn and play like at our summer camps! Tutorials, online gaming tournaments, forums, and lots more await you. Once you’re signed up, you have 24/7 access.

And once it starts getting warmer, keep in mind that iD Tech Camps has a springtime camp opportunity too. This spring break camp has limited offerings – at a generously reduced rate. You’ll have the opportunity to take courses from the same awesome instructors that teach with us over the summer, plus you’ll be the first to try out some of our new curriculum! This Bay Area camp fills up quickly though, so make sure to check it out now if you think you might be interested.

Isn’t it nice to know you still have options, regardless of the kind of weather Phil predicts?

February 2nd, 2012 | Tags: groundhog day, groundhog prediction, Online Learning, spring break camps, spring camp, winter camp

Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers, iD Tech Camps

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Holiday Cheer in the New Year

January 19th, 2012 by: Donna

Does anyone else miss the holidays? It seems like there’s all this build up and then, BAM! – It’s a new year and we’re wondering where the time went. So, pull out that fruitcake you haven’t had the heart to throw away yet, pour yourself some eggnog and let’s reminisce, shall we?

Last month, some of us here at the iD Tech Camps corporate office were able to take some time to volunteer with the Family Giving Tree organization. We look forward to this every year! So, we carpooled to the warehouse location, bundled up and got to work. Four hours later, we had sorted and wrapped hundreds of presents for delivery to Bay Area kids in need. And as usual, we had a great time in the process.

Now that we’re three weeks into January, it’s likely that you’ve put away your holiday decorations and bid adieu to visiting relatives. If you find yourself with a little extra time on your hands now that you aren’t busy shopping for presents and stringing up lights, why not put a little of that time toward a good cause? Maybe you even made a New Year’s resolution involving philanthropy or volunteerism.

Just giving an hour of your time can make a difference that you may not even be aware of. Want to help but not sure where to start? Check out Volunteer Match or google “volunteer opportunities in [insert your city here]” – and you’re well on your way to making a difference in 2012.

Don’t have time to volunteer? You can still promote awareness of your favorite causes on social networking sites like facebook or LinkedIn. It appears Justin Timberlake caught the social networking bug and has big plans for revamping Myspace – so if you happen to still have an account, let your cause of choice be known there as well. If you’re lucky, Justin Bieber might even pop up!

January 19th, 2012 | Tags: Family Giving Tree, new year's resolutions, summer camp staff, Summer Camps

Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers, iD Tech Camps

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iD’s Making a List, Checking it Twice…

December 15th, 2011 by: Donna

In my last post I answered the no-longer-elusive question: “What do you guys do when camps aren’t in session?” But have you ever wondered about the individuals behind the big green iD logo? What we’re like and what really makes us tick?

If you visited our offices and saw the festive decorations, the goals posted on our walls, and the many photos of family and friends (and pets), you would see that we probably have quite a bit in common with you. We care about what we do. We care about our families. We all have commitments and schedules to juggle – all of which can seem magnified this time of year.

And, like many of us, perhaps you haven’t had a chance to do any holiday shopping yet. But that’s okay! (The stores are open later during December for that very reason.) Maybe the list below will give you some ideas. Maybe you’ll get a bit nostalgic. Maybe you’ll glean a fun thought or even a chuckle or two. Here’s a look at what some of us are hoping for this year.

Jen, regional manager: “I would really like a snow tube and snow shoes. I know it sounds silly but the thrill of sliding down a snow hill is just as exhilarating now as it was when I was a kid.” Alisa, director, strategic programs: “I’d like to hear that the U.S. economy has gained some more strength. Good news going into the new year.” Sarah, payroll assistant: “All I want for Christmas is a Kindle Fire!” Alexa, co-founder & COO: “A day that is completely stress-free…full of laughter, giggles, beautiful memories to look back on and cherish for a lifetime.” Charlie, regional manager: “I want a legendary Daedric Sword in Skyrim ” Allison, office coordinator: “I would love a Le Creuset French Oven so I can make some delicious soups and stews.” Pete, president & CEO: “I want to plant 25,000 trees.” [See One Camper One Tree] Robby, regional manager: “#1: New Golf Clubs” Marta, creative lead: “Garden Planters. Our apartment has this nice, large balcony and I think it would be so cool to plant some herbs, veggies and flowers and go back to my MN farming roots. (Whether I’ll be able to keep the plants alive is another thing though.)” Crystal, app dev lead: “A trip to Spain!” Nina, strategic programs coordinator: “I gotta dream big here…A good camera.” Julie, senior camp operations manager: “With all of this travelling I’ve been doing lately, I’m dying for the new Kindle Fire!” Jamon, program advisor: “Entourage Season 3!” Nova, administrative services representative: “The top of my wish list? SLEEP! All I want is some rest & relaxation.”

Hungry for more holiday tidbits? Check out some photos from our Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest. From decorator crab to pajama-fab – our outfits encompassed a very wide range (off the charts, really) of “holiday-chic” style.

Happy holidays! Thank you for an amazing year. We have some great things in store for 2012…

December 15th, 2011 | Tags: Bay Area summer camps, christmas presents, corporate employment at iD tech, holiday camp, holiday wish lists

Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers, iD Tech Camps

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Falling into Autumn with iD

December 1st, 2011 by: Donna

Welcome to December! The weather is cooling off. The leaves are changing colors. Some of you may have already experienced storms and snowfall. Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in camp season anymore!

“So…what do you guys do when camps aren’t in session?”

This is a common question corporate iD employees receive. Allow me to demystify and give you an insider’s look; you’re officially invited to be a fly on our wall.

Put simply: We always have camp on the brain. When our summer camps aren’t in session, we’re prepping for the following season by putting together our catalog, solidifying new summer camp locations, attending camp fairs, hiring amazing summer staff, and combing through parent, student and staff feedback (to name a few things) – all to make next season even better than the last. Click here for a more detailed account of what’s new for 2012. Have a question about camp? Give us a call and one of our program advisors would be happy to help you out – any time of year!

We also devote hundreds of hours to website and systems improvements. These changes can be seen in our website and online registration process – which we’ve built from the ground up to ensure navigation and registration is a straightforward process.

But all work and no play makes iD a dull place. That’s why we take some time to have a little extra fun. Our Fall Festivities kick off each year when we dress up in our Halloween best for a costume extravaganza, along with some fun and games. Check out some of this year’s costume highlights:

December 1st, 2011 | Tags: Bay Area summer camps 2011, best summer camp, camp catalog, Family Giving Tree, holiday camp, new summer camps, summer camp company, summer camp off season

Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers, iD Tech Camps

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Applicable Creativity: Exploring STEM Subjects Early Unlocks More Doors of Opportunity

October 27th, 2011 by: Donna

When you think of the word “app” or “application” – what does it mean to you? If you’re in high school, it’s likely this brings college applications to mind with looming fall deadlines. If you’re thinking technologically, maybe you just realized you haven’t played Angry Birds in about an hour and you’re having withdrawals. It wasn’t until recently that this word took on so many different meanings. For our students at iD Tech Camps and iD Teen Academies, the definition goes further and the question subsequently becomes: “What app am I going to create today?”

Apps are multiplying – with college applications leading the way. Both public and private university campuses across the U.S. had record-breaking application numbers for the Fall 2011 term. One report shows that UCLA received the largest number of applications among all UC campuses with a record 81,235 total applicants – a 6.4 percent increase from last year. Although always a popular choice, Harvard also broke records and saw their Class of 2015 applicant numbers hit nearly 35,000; approximately 15 percent more than last year.

While admission competition remains fierce for many of the most notable universities, state schools like those in the California State University system saw overall admissions increase significantly, despite state budget cuts bringing schools down to funding levels circa 1999-2000. The CSU system is now serving 70,000 more students than were attending in the year 2000, according to one press release. While it’s admirable that state schools pride themselves on being accessible to the masses, are these soaring admission rates doing more harm than good? Upon entry, students face limited course offerings, mandatory furlough days and fee hikes. Students often have to make up for this by taking unavailable courses during a later term in order to fulfill degree requirements. It’s no wonder competition for a spot at the top-tier and ivy-league universities is so stiff!

So what does all of this mean? The college degree has become the new high school diploma in terms of being competitive in the job market – and even that isn’t a sure bet without marketable skills. With more awareness comes more competition and if current trends continue, the college application numbers definitely aren’t tapering off anytime soon. This inevitably places more emphasis on student skills, extracurricular activities and academic promise. Popular and prestigious universities can afford to be even more picky; they want applicants who are driven to succeed and can prove that they’re ready to do something big if granted entrance.

This is no small feat and there’s more and more pressure on young people to tangibly show how they are stronger candidates for admission. It now goes beyond passing AP Exams and earning high SAT scores (although there’s no denying that these factors help). Students need to tap their creative potential early. Being great at science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is a giant step in the right direction – but it’s what a person is capable of doing with these skills that will charm a university or a potential employer. What problem is being solved? What level of creativity is shining through?

How do you stand out in your school?

Maybe your daughter is developing major digital photography skills and honed her craft at the iD Visual Arts Academy over the summer. Now she has a portfolio to accompany her college applications that she developed with professional equipment and direction from industry professionals at camp. Or perhaps your son has taken several iD Tech Camps programming courses, then went on to attend the iD Programming Academy where he utilized his advanced computer science and application development skills. Now he’s publishing his own iPhone® and iPad® apps. College admission boards are likely to take notice when he expands on this in his admissions essay. It also doesn’t hurt to have a few Accredited Continuing Education Units from Stanford Continuing Studies or Villanova University to add that extra little sparkle to a college app (both of which can be attained at iD Tech Camps and iD Teen Academies).

There’s no denying it: Apps are here to stay – in every applicable sense of the word. Apprehension can be avoided if the right steps are taken to prepare for what’s next. Students at iD Tech Camps stay ahead of the curve by exploring their STEM-based creative potential at an early age in a fun, engaging environment. What sets your student apart from the crowd? Let’s discover it together. Mark your calendar: Registration for the 2012 season goes live on November 1, 2011.

October 27th, 2011 | Tags: application development camp, college applications, create iphone apps, creative summer camps, make apps, STEM education, STEM summer camps, summer camps for creative kids

Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers, iD Tech Camps

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Art in the 21st Century

August 18th, 2011 by: Donna

Growing up in a culture of Wikipedia versus hardbound encyclopedias and Wii Fit versus the gym, some argue that technology and video games are becoming too popular with kids and teens these days. On the flipside, in our digital age, technology will continue to advance and the fact that kids and teens recognize this is not only positive – it sets them up for success in college and can even shape their future careers. Need proof? Just take a look at a few of our Do Something BIG success stories and see how technology is changing the world – and changing the lives of kids and teens – fostering an outlet for creativity and art in a way we never could have imagined.

In the Fortune article entitled “Computer games as liberal arts?” David Kirkpatrick explains that “though many adults imagine the frightening Grand Theft Auto when they think of video games, kids appear to be subtler thinkers on the subject. Not only do many of them intuitively realize that games can embody any values and be on any subject, many want to make games themselves.”

It’s not uncommon for kids take apart and re-build their computers, assemble their own robots, or try their hand at creating video games and mobile apps. Soon, they’re looking for an outlet to gain more technological knowledge in their field of choice.

That’s where iD Tech Camps, iD Gaming Academy, iD Programming Academy and iD Visual Arts Academy come in, allowing kids and teens – of various levels of interest and expertise – to gain real-world experience taught by inspiring industry professionals. Kirkpatrick explains how this works:

Some educators [like iD Tech Camps] are going a step further, teaching kids to make the games themselves. It turns out to be perhaps the ultimate form of liberal arts. In order to create a computer game you have to think about the content. You have to write a script. The programming involves logic, math and science. And to understand how you distribute a game you have to get into issues of marketing, sociology, and Internet culture.

Recognizing a need for this type of creative, technology-based educational opportunity, iD Tech Camps offers young people a wide array of course options ranging from video game design to programming and robotics to video editing and photography.

It’s opportunities like this that allow students to thrive. After attending camp, kids gain valuable skills while new ideas take shape and passions are developed. Students even have the option to stay overnight on-campus at more than sixty prestigious university locations, introducing them not only to their potential college major through courses at camp, but allowing them to explore – and live on – a real university campus like Stanford, NYU or UCLA. This well-rounded experience culminates in a project that students take home on a USB drive at the conclusion of camp, giving them the opportunity to take their learning even further.

So the answer to Kirkpatrick’s question is a resounding YES! Computer games (and technology in general) have indeed become our recent generation’s creative, liberal arts movement. We’ve seen this pattern develop first-hand for years with our students. Just as writers pen novels and artists paint on canvas, video game designers, programmers, and web developers write, plan and draw out their own masterpieces. They create works of art for our digital world – and kids and teens are at the helm.

Want to cultivate crazy talent and develop serious tech skillz while having an amazing summer camp experience? You’re in the right place. We’re proud to be the world’s #1 technology camp.

August 18th, 2011 | Tags: academic summer camp, art camps, computer tech camps, kids summer camps

Posted in: iD Tech Camps, Summer Camps

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Attending Summer Camp Enhances Youth Development

July 1st, 2011 by: Donna

June 21st marked the official start of summer! If you’re like some parents, then this may be the time of year when you start weighing summer entertainment and educational options available to your kids. One of those options is summer camp. Summer camps not only provide an outlet for excess energy, the truly special camps inspire, teach and provide an opportunity for personal and professional exploration.

Between 2001 and 2004 the American Camp Association conducted research with over 5000 families from 80 ACA-Accredited camps to determine the outcomes of the camp experience as expressed by parents and children.

Powerful evidence noted that children, teens and even camp staff reported significant growth in the following areas:

• Self-Esteem & Independence
• Peer Relationships
• Adventure & Exploration
• Leadership Skills
• Friendship Skills
• Environmental Awareness
• Values & Decision-Making Skills
• Social Comfort & Communication Skills

While not all campers and parents expressed growth in all of the above areas, there was enough evidence put forth to suggest that attending summer camp helps kids and teens become more confident and self-aware. iD Tech Camps even conducted their own survey of past campers and the results were outstanding, confirming the statements above! You can also read parent and student testimonials about their experiences at iD Tech Camps here.

When deciding which camp to enroll your student in this summer, it’s clear we’re biased – we run amazing camps! But here’s some objective advice: Make sure to consider ACA-Accredited camps, like iD Tech Camps, which meet thorough health and safety standards each year. Here at iD, our aim is – and always has been – to help children and teens gain knowledge and skills that they can use throughout life, while also having a safe and fun summer camp experience!

In fact, some students have proven that attending our camps and teen academies can really change lives; They’ve used the tech skills they’ve learned at iD Tech Camps to go on to Do Something Big! 

So if you’re on the lookout for a technologically-advanced camp with firmly planted family-run roots, then you’re in luck! We still have space at many prestigious university locations across the United States. And with awesome course options like iPhone® & iPad® App Development or Web Design & Flash® Animation, the question really is: What is your kid doing this summer?

July 1st, 2011 | Tags: accredited summer camps, youth camps, youth development

Posted in: iD Tech Camps, Summer Camps

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Spring Break with iD Tech Camps: Where Good Times & Learning Meet!

April 28th, 2011 by: Donna

What does iD Tech Camps, the World’s #1 Technology Camp, do over Spring Break? Why, we run our Spring Break Camp, of course! 2011 marked our 4th season holding this program at Don Callejon School – right in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Why do we run our Bay Area Spring Break Camp? It’s a sneak peek into our summer computer camp and courses. Don’t be fooled though; just because this is a limited offering doesn’t mean we skimp on the planning! In fact, months of work go into this fun-filled and exciting week, allowing iD instructors, regional managers, curriculum developers and best of all, campers, to experience new courses and technology prior to Summer in a unique, small group setting.

Why should kids and teens spend their precious Spring Break time at iD Tech Camps? Veteran iD Regional Manager, Keri Callison, puts it best:

iD Tech Camps is a great place to send kids over Spring Break! For local families, it offers an amazing opportunity for some fun matched with tons of learning. It is an affordable program, with extremely low camper to instructor ratios (usually 4:1), and campers are exposed to the hottest new technology courses months before the “official” courses actually start!

This year, campers had an exciting array of courses to choose from including Video Editing & Special Effects, Web Design & Flash® Animation, Programming in C++ or Java, and many more!

In our NEW Adventures in Robotics course, younger campers were enthralled in designing and building their very own robots using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education NXT Base Set and Software. Check out these two happy campers and their cool creations:

With this much lively learning going on, it’s not surprising that just as in previous years, Beta Camp sold out fast! It looks like the word is spreading that this is the place to be over Spring Break for kids and teens ages 7-17. In fact, Keri Callison mentioned that “the opportunity is so great, we actually had a family come from Florida for the week!”

Don’t worry if you missed out this year, we still have many exciting courses available this summer and would love to see you at one of our over 60 prestigious university locations. Or, if you want to hop on the iD Spring Break Camp train in 2012, check back this Fall for new details and information. In the meantime, check out these fun-filled photos of some of this year’s campers (you can find the entire set here):

iD Spring Break Camp Director, Brandon (pondering what the week will bring...)

Clearly, the week brought many laughs…

Awesome projects! But just one thumb up?...…

That’s better…two!

Teamwork ruled the day…

And while it isn’t one of our overnight camps, that didn’t stop us from having a pajama party!

April 28th, 2011 | Tags: CA camps, spring break camp, spring break camps

Posted in: iD Tech Camps

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The HoliDays: iD Style

December 3rd, 2010 by: Donna

It’s that time of year again – can you believe it? Registration for our 2011 Season is now LIVE and we’re looking forward to another exciting year. While it’s always important to stay on top of new trends and technologies, the things that stay constant season after season are just as important, if not more so. Keeping traditions alive, remembering our roots and never being afraid to laugh at ourselves is a big part of running The World’s #1 Tech Camps. We love what we do and we rarely need a reason to have fun. So when the holidays roll around, we like to pull out all the stops at the Main Office and Do Something BIG!

Halloween was a great start to our corporate holiday happenings, and we’re not ashamed to admit that we like dressing up just as much as our campers do! Check out some photos, below, of our Main Office Halloween shenanigans.

Bovina from Administrative Services as a Pink Lady & Sarah from Payroll as Thing 1

Crystal from Applications Development, reppin’ Bedrock

Our Marketing Team - Racing toward the finish line

Red Riding Hood & Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas

Spiderman even stopped by for a visit!

Our campers also got into the Halloween spirit this year, albeit a tad bit early. The kids and teens at our summer technology camps and summer programs for teens definitely gave us a run for our money with some awesome costumes of their own this past August! Check out some early Halloween photos at our Stanford summer camps and Stanford teen summer programs.

As much as we love dressing up and having a good time during the Holiday Season, giving back to the community is a priority and an iD tradition that we hold close to our hearts.  Striving to enrich our community through volunteerism is part of our mission.

So once the excitement of Halloween has passed and we’ve thoroughly stuffed ourselves at our annual Thanksgiving potluck, each December, we give back to kids who are less fortunate by volunteering with the Family Giving Tree organization. The iD Tech Camps Main Office holds a Holiday Wish Drive to gather presents for needy children, and then we go one step further by dedicating time as “Holiday Warehouse Elves” – sorting gifts and organizing them for delivery throughout the Bay Area.

A sampling of sorted and organized gifts at the Family Giving Tree Warehouse

Participating in philanthropic events like the Family Giving Tree – as well as enriching our community through iD Greening – is a big deal to us. In fact, this year we’ve started a new “green” initiative: ONE CAMPER. ONE TREE, with the Arbor Day Foundation.

What are you doing to give back – while having fun – this season? If you want to help and don’t know where to start, check out volunteermatch.org for a list of opportunities to lend a helping hand in your area. We’d love to hear about how you’re making your community a better place! Feel free to leave a comment below to let us know how you’re spreading some holiday cheer.

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!

December 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Summer Camps

Posted in: iD Tech Camps, Summer Camps

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Learn more about yourself and your interests at iD!

May 1st, 2009 by: Donna

Meet another one of our Do Something Big success stories: Mike!

By first attending, then teaching at iD Tech Camps, Mike was able to find his passion for technology while combining it with his love of music. Mike is now pursuing both of these interests at college and on his own time.

Read an excerpt from our interview with Mike, below:

iD: What’s your hometown and state?

Mike: West Chester, PA

iD: How many years at iD (attending and working)?

M: Attended for 3 years at Villanova in 2001, 2002, and 2003 and instructed at Villanova and Sacred Heart University in 2008.

iD: What are your favorite things about our summer camp?

M: The people are a ton of fun and are all interested in learning, whether in the classroom, outside or just through conversation.

iD: How has iD inspired you?

M: iD has taught me to think bigger. After attending and working for iD Tech I was convinced I wanted to work with computers when I was older. It also taught me that I don’t have to restrict myself to one thing. I love technology, but I also love music. I’ve decided to combine those skills in my continuing studies.

iD: Is iD a good place to make friends?

M: iD is absolutely a great place to make friends. I still talk to a few of the kids I went to camp with years ago, not to mention the staff I worked with this summer.

iD: What’s your favorite tech gadget?

M: My MacBook Pro or iPod Touch; they get me through the day and keep me organized.

iD: How has iD helped you improve in other aspects of your life besides technology?

M: iD taught me a lot about being myself. When I was younger, I was a traditional geek, but iD broke the stereotypes and made me realize that you should be who you are – regardless of stereotypes. Aspire to better yourself at all times.

iD: How did iD Tech Camps prepare you for your current position?

M: Attending iD Tech gave me the idea to major in Music Industry, combining music with technology and business. Working for iD gave me experience to talk to kids and teach. This teaching is something I now do quite often to help underclassmen register for classes, etc.

Mike, we’re so proud of what you’ve accomplished and look forward to welcoming you back to instruct this summer!

Check out the full interview with Mike by clicking here.

Find out more about the courses Mike taught and the locations he worked at – this could be your chance to do something big with your summer!

May 1st, 2009 | Tags: computer camp

Posted in: Do Something Big

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