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!

Last week, iD Tech Camps launched it’s second annual Spring Break Beta Camp, held right in the heart of Silicon Valley! We invited students ages 7-17 to attend and take iD Tech Camps courses taught by trained instructors during Spring Break. We are happy to announce that Beta Camp was a huge success! (Scroll down to view more photos from Beta Camp.)

iD Tech Camps Beta Camp is a trial version or “beta version” of our summer computer camps and courses. For a fraction of the cost of a regular week of camp, our Beta Campers attended a week of day camp filled with fun camp activities and professional instruction. Like iD Tech Camps, there was a small student to instructor ratio – we wouldn’t have it any other way. Each student also got the opportunity to work with leading brand name technologies and completed a project by the end of the week.

One of the highlights of Beta Camp is that our students get an exclusive sneak peak at our Summer 2009 courses and curriculum. This includes new courses like: 3D Game Design–Role Playing Games, 3D Game Design–1st Person Shooters, Graphic Arts, Digital Video Design and more.

We are thrilled to announce that the feedback we received about the new curriculum was overwhelmingly positive! But don’t take our word for it – check out what some of the student had to say:

“It was a life changing ( in a good way ) awesome and a rocking experience.”

- James, Student

“I enjoyed this camp very much…everyone here was friendly and I expanded my knowledge of making a website and animation. This was very enjoyable working with my friends and meeting new people.”

- Mayer, Student

“Graphic Arts was really fun and I liked how I got to express myself with art.”

- Jordan, student

“iD Tech Camps has always been an amazing experience for me, and this year is no exception. Excellent instructors and an excellent education program combine to form an amazing camp experience.”
- Matthew, Student

Thanks for the rave reviews; we are glad you had a great time! We would also like to thank you for helping to kick off the 2009 Camp Season and look forward to seeing you again this summer.

You can learn more about Beta Camp or register for our 2009 summer computer camps right online. Courses and locations are selling out fast so check availability at one of our 60 locations by clicking here: view all locations. We invite you to check out photos from Beta Camp below.

Meet our awesome Beta Camp staff!

Just need to tighten this....got it!

And now for the finishing touch....

Nice moves!

Hands on Tech Fun

This wasn't staged at all, we swear.....

Cutting edge technology + great staff + cool activities = Happy Campers!

Thanks again for a great week everyone!! You can view all Beta Camp photos by clicking here. See you this summer!

Team iD

When it comes to applying to college, some people turn to the U.S. News & World Report’s Top 25 List that comes out annually for guidance. Below is the Top 25 for 2009 in the “National Universities” category. According to U.S. News, “Schools in the National Universities category, such as Yale and UCLA, offer a full range of undergraduate majors, masters, and doctoral degrees. These colleges also are committed to producing groundbreaking research.”

Keep in mind that these are not necessarily the “most popular” colleges according to number of applicants. Numerous lists are compiled annually, including a list of the best smaller, liberal arts colleges. *Please note that some rankings came out as “tied” and therefore numbers may be repeated.

Why is any of this important? Well believe it or not, a school’s popularity and prestige plays a huge role in both the minds of the prospective students as well as the parents. With this in mind, iD Tech Camps and iD Teen Academies pride itself on offering students the opportunity to experience life on campus at many of the colleges below (and many more prestigious university locations that are not listed). Click below to learn more about the day camps and overnight camps we offer at the location of your choice.

Get a leg up on the competition and plan early!

1. Harvard University
2. Princeton University
3. Yale University
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
4. Stanford University
6. California Institute of Technology
6. University of Pennsylvania
8. Columbia University
8. Duke University
8. University of Chicago
11. Dartmouth College
12. Northwestern University
12. Washington University in St. Louis
14. Cornell University
15. Johns Hopkins University
16. Brown University
17. Rice University
18. Emory University
18. University of Notre Dame
18. Vanderbilt University
21. University of California-Berkeley
22. Carnegie Mellon University
23. Georgetown University
23. University of Virginia
25. University of California-Los Angeles

You can find more university and college rankings from U.S. News here. You can also register for our camps or contact us with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you this summer at one of our 60 prestigious locations nationwide!

When you choose your child’s summer camp, you want staff and instructors who are knowledgeable, caring, professionally-trained and FUN! As a family company, we place huge importance on hiring, training and retaining only the best staff. Other summer camps may boast these features in their summer staff, but few can say they have a staff return rate of 65 percent. iD Tech Camps can. This is the iD Difference.

iD Tech Camps recruits tech savvy, passionate staff from the nation’s top institutions including UCLA, MIT, Stanford, UT Austin, NYU & more!

Our goal is to ensure that every location is comprised of experienced, returning summer camp staff along with new individuals who bring a fresh perspective and energy to camp. Our staff knows that when they get to camp, they will be working alongside the best in the industry. We interview thousands of candidates each year – but only those applicants who meet our strict criteria are chosen. Next, staff are required to pass strict guidelines and attend in-person trainings. Much of the success of iD Tech Camps we attribute directly to our careful staff selection process and comprehensive training.

“Our hiring process is one of the most strict I’ve seen in the entire summer camp industry,” said Kate DeHart, Human Resources Manager at iD Tech Camps. “We hire adult-only staff and we conduct criminal background checks, multiple reference checks and require valid CPR & First Aid certification and in-person training of our staff members. We work hard with risk management specialists to anticipate problems before they even arise. That’s no small feat!”

A 65 percent summer camp staff return rate means our staff is committed to providing an amazing experience for your kids. Staff retention-like camper retention-means we’re doing something right. How we teach is a big factor.

iD Tech Camps provides some of the best camper-to-instructor ratios, with an average of 6:1. The small class size allows campers the individual attention necessary to thrive in their chosen course(s) and the opportunity to complete an impressive project by the end of the week. Instructors then get the opportunity to bond with their campers and create lasting memories that encourage, inspire and drive campers to do something big with what they learn at camp. We have built our reputation on small ratios. Parents notice. Instructors are inspired. Students are engaged. The quality speaks for itself.

“Everything is really organized and it is obvious iD designs everything around fun and safety,” said Bryan Campbell, an iD Tech Camps Director. “iD is incredibly supportive so it’s reassuring knowing that the staff can reach someone at the iD office anytime 24/7.”

We expect a lot out of our summer staff, therefore we pay them considerably more than other camps. Our staff appreciates the excellent work environment that we provide – high expectations, high pay, periodic evaluations, in-depth curriculum, teaching tools, clear processes and endless summer fun. We train our staff both in person and via the web, and evaluate them consistently. There are even surprise camp visits by the iD staff throughout the summer to ensure that our high standards are being met. By the time camp rolls around, the iD staff is motivated by excellent compensation, thorough training, small class sizes and the knowledge that they are inspiring students to do big things.

Our staff is pleased to work for a professional organization. They want to work for the best. If you choose one summer camp this season, make sure it’s iD. Then sit back, relax and get ready for a summer with stellar instructors who make tech learning fun while enjoying their job. See you this summer!

Keeping with our “Do Something Big” theme, Genevieve Anderson came to camp as a 17 year old hoping to learn more about Web Design & Flash® Animation but came away with a lot more. She now is thinking about majoring in Web Design in college! Not only that, she used what she learned at iD Tech Camps to improve her online vintage clothing website.

Read below to learn more about Genevieve and how she’s doing something BIG after having attended our iD Tech Camps.
iD: How many seasons have you attended iD Tech Camps?
Genevieve: This year was my first year!

iD: Where are you from?
G: Roanoke, Virginia

iD: Which iD location did you attend?
G: University of Virginia

iD: What course(s) have you enrolled in?
G: Web Design & Flash Animation

iD: What do you do for fun when you aren’t at our computer camp?
G: Besides high school, I play steel drums, travel abroad and manage my online vintage clothing business with my sisters.

iD: Does coming to iD help you improve in other aspects of your life besides technology?
G: Yes! I learned to be a better leader and to be more independent.

iD: Is iD a good place to make friends? Why?
G: Yes, everyone is very friendly and nice.

iD: What are your future goals? Will you be attending college?
G: I am applying to the University of Virginia, Emerson College, Boston College, Suffolk University in Boston, Columbia College and Roosevelt University in Chicago.

iD: How has iD impacted these goals?
G: I am considering majoring in Web Design.

iD: What’s your favorite tech gadget?
G: My cell phone — I am a teenager!

iD: What’s the #1 way you communicate with your friends?
G: Texting

iD: Why would you keep coming back to iD?
G: Because it’s a fun way to learn and get great website and graphic design advice!

iD: Any advice for future iD Tech campers?
G: Be sure you come prepared to meet new people and have lots of fun while learning some new stuff!

iD: Anything else you’d like to add?
G: Coming to iD Tech Camps helped me so much with the look and function of my online vintage clothing business! Before I came to camp, my website was pretty good. But the counselors really helped me add some great interactive features. I learned how to link pages and added Flash animation to my website. Thanks for everything!

Learn more about other iD Alumni who have gone on to Do Something Big! You can also learn more about our courses and locations.

As a company, iD Tech Camps is fortunate enough to have a TON of talented employees and staff. In fact, without our Lead Designer Marta, our catalogs, website, and much more wouldn’t be nearly as professional and fun as they are today!

Marta turned her dream of becoming a graphic artist into a reality–and since she loved working for iD Tech Camps so much, she decided to go from summer camp employee to full-time employee at our headquarters in Campbell, CA.

I sat down with Marta and she had some great experiences and advice to bring to the table. Read on to see how Marta has gone on to Do Something Big! Here’s an excerpt from my interview with Marta:

iD: Which iD locations did you teach at?
Marta: I’ve worked as a Lead Instructor, Assistant Director and Director at the Stanford location, and I recently directed at one of our iD Film Academy locations.

iD: When you instructed, what courses did you teach?
M: Web Design & Flash® Animation and the Junior Courses (Adventures in Game Design and Create Your Own Adventure).

iD: What is your current position?
M: I’m the Lead Designer at iD Tech Camps. Every day I get to turn on my computer, open up design programs like Photoshop or grab a pencil and paper to sketch and get paid to be creative. It’s pretty awesome!

iD: What are your favorite things about our summer camps?
M: The friendships and bonds that you form with your summer co-workers. You become so close through working and spending time with them during your off hours that they become lifelong friends.

iD: What do you do for fun when you aren’t at our computer camp?
M: I like to play sports, especially basketball and running, and enjoy traveling, reading, fishing, talking with people who have a different perspective on things and learning from them, and spending time with my family in MN.

iD: Why do you like iD?
M: Within the company, there is an enormous amount of hard work, dedication and willingness to have fun that starts all the way from the top (the CEO, CFO and the managers) and flows through to the rest of the summer staff. Because of this, the atmosphere at each location is bursting with kids that are having so much fun, creating projects that they love and getting the chance to be themselves. I’ve seen so many kids go through camp and start the week off apprehensive about so many things, and then find them at the end of the week with life-long friends, higher self esteem, and a vast amount of new knowledge. In fact I still have some of the thank you notes that I’ve received from campers in the past, and each time I read them it really hits home at what an amazing experience iD and its people provide for their clients.

I’m also really happy that iD Tech Camps will now be offering a Graphic Arts camp in 2009! This is exactly the kind of exposure kids and teens need if they’re interested in the graphic arts and graphic design field.

iD: How has iD inspired you to “Do Something Big”?
M: The company, without a doubt, believes in their employees and stands behind them. Even during my first year as a summer staff, I always knew I had a support system coming from my Director, Regional Manager and the people working at the main office, whether I had met them or not, which is something that you don’t see in every company you work for these days. Fast forward three years and it was no surprise that I wanted to work for a company that motivated me from the beginning and allowed me to see how important it is to do the same for youth.

We have some more BIG news from Marta since we last checked in with her. We are happy to let you know that Marta is now engaged to be married to a former iD Tech Camps staff member, Sebastian “Seabass” Carden. Congratulations Marta and Sebastian, we wish you both the best!

Check out the full interview with Marta by clicking here.

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

Here’s the scenario: It’s almost summer, your child or teen wants to go to a summer camp (or you need to figure out what to do with them when school is out), and with all the options available you don’t know where to start. Sound familiar? Choosing a summer camp can be difficult and with today’s economy, choosing the right summer camp has gotten even harder. Read on to learn more about your summer camp options and to see what type of camp would be best for your child.

Day Camps vs. Overnight Camps
There is one simple difference when it comes to summer camps. Depending on your child’s age and comfort-level with being away from home, day camps can provide the opportunity for kids and teens to socialize, learn new skills or play sports during the day, while getting picked up at the end of the day each day to return home.

Overnight camps provide a student the chance to learn independence in a supervised setting. Overnight camps are a great option for students who are comfortable with being away from home for one week or more.

Summer Camps on a University Campus
Some Academic, Sports, Arts and Technology camps team up with universities to provide camps in a collegiate environment. Students meet in university labs, eat in university dining halls, tour the campus and enjoy recreational time in university facilities. Plus, overnight campers stay right in the college dorms on campus.

iD Tech Camps chooses to hold its camps exclusively at prestigious university locations. By doing so, younger students are exposed to a college setting and begin thinking about their future at a young age. Teen students get the chance to explore a college campus that they may aspire to attend before applying or committing. Parents also find this choice enticing as college tours and activities on or near campus give students the chance to explore while learning!

Technology Summer Camps and Science Camps
These camps give students the chance to focus on a specific interest, such as video game design, programming, graphic arts, digital video production and photography, robotics and more. Sometimes tech camps focus on one specific class or element, while others offer a broader range of courses to meet the desires of the student. Oftentimes these summer computer camps have teamed up with industry-leading companies to provide students the chance to work with real-world products used by industry professionals.

Academic Summer Camps
These types of camps give students the chance to focus on one particular academic activity or skill and develop it over the length of the camp session. Many camps provide math, language arts, theater, photography or computer-focused areas of study. Cost can vary widely depending on materials used and length of camp. Some academic camps offer special Teen-Only options for older, more mature campers.

Art Summer Camps
Art camps offer students the chance to explore their artistic interests in a group setting outside of school. Kids sometimes focus on painting, drawing or the visual arts, while other camps provide the opportunity to learn more about computer-based design and graphic arts.

Sports Summer Camps
Great for kids and teens who want an outdoor camp experience! If your child wants to learn a new sport or improve their current skill level in soccer, swimming, football, hockey, basketball, or even bowling, there are sports camps available. Some camps even provide a sports element with an academic element to create a balanced atmosphere. iD Tech Camps offers hybrid courses like Sports & Tech or Surf & Tech. Students spend half the day learning a new sport or learning how to surf, and the other half creating their own video game or personalized website.

Religious-Specific Summer Camps
These camps often combine one or more of the elements above with instruction and time set aside for religious study. These are often run by local churches and sometimes have a community service element involved.

Special Needs Summer Camps
These camps create a summer camp environment for students who, due to physical, mental or emotional challenges, might not have the option to attend typical summer camps or activities. Staff are chosen with this in mind and activities can vary widely. Camper-to-staff ratios are lower to provide individualized attention and create an environment that is comfortable and appropriate for the campers needs.

Making the Final Decision
Whatever type of camp you choose, make sure it is one that puts your child’s safety first and also one that has a track record for providing a quality summer camp experience year after year. Also explore student and parent testimonials from each camp and contact their client services team with any questions.

Whether you decide to attend iD Tech Camps this summer or another camp, make sure you are investing wisely in your child’s future. Good luck, we hope to see you this summer!

In addition to our other Do Something Big stories, Jake Petroules stands out because after only a year of attending iD Tech Camps, he’s developed some mighty big plans for himself including attending college and starting his own software company!

Read on to discover how iD Tech Camps helped to inspire this talented 17-year-old to develop a solid plan to reach his goals by providing outstanding technology training as well as a place to improve social skills!

Excerpt from interview with Jake:

iD: Which iD location did you attend?

Jake: Merrimack College in North Andover, MA

iD: What course did you enroll in?

J: 3D Game Design II

iD: What do you do for fun when you aren’t at camp?

J: I love to create software, play computer games, hike, bike, etc.!

iD: What’s your favorite computer game?

J: My favorite computer game is RuneScape, an MMO (like World of Warcraft) which I play often and have gotten to the top ranks of!

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

J: I loved how everyone was friendly and fun to be around. I also got a great introduction to what college life might be like by being an Overnight camper and living in the dorms then going to my class!

iD: Is iD a good place to make friends?

J: As I mentioned, everyone at iD was friendly and open, so it’s certainly a great place to make friends. I made a few new friends myself!

iD: What are your goals for the future?

J: After attending college, my future goal is to start a software company focused on game design from the start, then possibly branching off into general applications in the future.

iD: How has iD impacted these goals?

J: iD Tech Camps helped me further my skills in the field of game design and introduced me to some of the tools used in the game design industry, which will help me be better prepared for a possible future career in this field.

iD: Does coming to iD help you improve in other aspects of your life besides technology?

J: I think it certainly improves social skills. Everyone is encouraged to interact and everyone at iD is very friendly. Also, in my case, I was introduced to some new outdoor activities which were a lot of fun! I played my first games of Capture the Flag and Ultimate Frisbee at iD Tech Camps.

iD: Anything else you’d like to add?

J: I had a lot of fun at iD. My roommate was very friendly and easy to get along with, as were the other campers I interacted with at camp. Also, my teacher was one of the funniest people I’ve ever met! He was full of knowledge and was always adding some comedy to the iD experience–which made it all the better!

iD Tech Camps inspires kids and teens to take what they learn and experience at summer camp and apply it to their future. We spoke with Jake today to follow up regarding his college choices. We were excited to hear that he has already been accepted to Drexel University, Hofstra, Neumont and Wentworth. Good luck choosing your school Jake, we wish you all the best. Please keep us posted on how things go, we can’t wait to hear about your future success!

Learn more about our campers who have gone on to Do Something Big. Also, check out our courses and locations to find the best fit for you!

You may have already heard the news, but just in case you haven’t, iD Tech Camps has expanded to several new locations for our 2009 season! Recognizing the importance of exposing students to the wonderful world of technology, the arts, science, and beyond, we’ve also introduced the iD Programming Academy for teens ages 13-18. Students in this program will stay at Stanford University, learn from and personally work with industry professionals and real NASA researchers.

Be sure to check out our new and exciting locations, listed below. Our goal was to both respond to parent and student feedback about where they’d like to see our camps and simultaneously spread out to new and awesome areas.

• Stanford University -New Programming Academy
• Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO
• Wesleyan University in Middleton, CT
• Rollins College in Orlando, FL
• Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN
• University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS
• Long Island Summer Camp in Long Island, NY
• New York University (NYU) in New York, NY
• Ohio State University in Columbus, OH
• American University in Washington D.C.
• McGill University-New iD Film Academy Location in Montreal, Quebec

We also offer Continuing Education Units for our teen students! Get a jump start on your college units at iD Tech Camps and our Teen Academies!

Following up on our previous “Do Something Big” post about our camper-turned-programming-prodigy, Ian Cinnamon, let’s take a closer look at another iD Alumni that has gone on to do big things after camp – Annie Evans!

Proving that girls can rock in the field of science and technology, Annie started at iD Tech Camps as a student, then became an instructor and is now a technology teacher in her home state of Colorado! She is starting her own technology cycle with her students now. There’s no telling what her students (both at camp and at her school) will accomplish with an inspirational mentor like Annie and their new knowledge of technology.

We sat down with Annie to talk about her passion for technology and experiences at iD. Here’s an excerpt from our interview with Annie:

iD: What made you want to attend iD – and then work for iD?

Annie: When I was in middle school, I loved acting and was very creative. As a camper, I attended the digital video course at iD Tech Camps and loved it so much that I signed up for web design too! It was a great fit for me when I was younger, because I could be so creative while learning practical skills! Now, I love computers and I love teaching, so iD is a perfect fit!

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

Annie: I love everything about camp! I love teaching in such a fun and goofy environment. There is a perfect balance between having fun and being safe. iD Tech does such a great job training, so I always know how to handle various situations.

iD: Is iD Tech Camps a good place for girls to attend? Why?

Annie: iD Tech is a great place for girls (and boys, of course)! There are so many opportunities to be creative with computers. It’s also a great way to meet friends and learn about computer-related careers.

iD: How has iD inspired you?

Annie: When I first started instructing at iD Tech, I was studying computer science and planning to go into software development. I knew I enjoyed teaching, but I didn’t realize that I LOVE teaching until camp! It completely changed my career path. Camp has also inspired me to be the very best teacher and person possible. iD Tech creates an atmosphere of high expectations. I feel motivated, but never pushed and it brings out the best in me.

Check out the full interview with Annie by clicking here.

iD Tech Camps inspires kids and teens to take what they learn and experience at summer camp and apply it to their future, just like Annie. She’s spreading her love of technology to her students-something we’re very proud of! Keep up the great work Annie; we can’t wait to have you back at camp this summer!

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