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 the Fairfield area 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.

Many parents struggle to find new ways to encourage their “digital kids” interest in technology.  One answer may be found at iD Tech Camps (www.internalDrive.com), a weeklong, day and overnight summer camp for ages 7 to 17 located at over 50 prestigious universities in 23 states.  This includes Sacred Heart University, Brown University, Vassar College, Stanford University and more.

During the weeklong camp, students create video games, design websites with Flash^®, build robots, learn programming, edit movies and more.  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®, Clickteam®, Wacom^®, Western Digital^® 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.

The digital age is just beginning.  As technology usage continues to broaden and evolve, new opportunities will arise for these digital kids.  With so many opportunities for growth, we can expect to see some amazing innovations from this generation of digital kids.

For more information about iD Tech Camps, please visit www.internalDrive.com or call 1-888-709-TECH (8324).  Special teen programs are also available.

As appeared in Packet Magazine

June 2007

Technically Speaking

Camps for today’s whiz-kids

By Kristin Boyd

INSTEAD of sleeping past noon or lounging by the pool, 13-year-old James Nitsch has spent his past two summers at iD Tech Camp.

There, he says, trained instructors taught him how to use computer codes like Lego blocks, stacking one on top of another to create cool video games.

His first game featured Knuckles, an animated character that, with just a few button pushes, could punch through walls, jump onto helicopters, dodge meteors and pummel enemies.

“The game wasn’t that great. It had some glitches, but it was still pretty impressive to look at and say I actually made that,” says James, a Princeton resident who dreams of becoming a game designer.

For critics who contend video games and the Internet are a waste of time, iD Tech Camp is proving them wrong. With programs such as 3-D game design and comic creation, the computer camp gives children and teens an opportunity to explore their tech interests, and in some cases, helps them prepare for potential careers.

“We have all types of kids coming to camp – those who are really interested in technology and those who just want to try something new,” says Karen Thurm Safran, iD Tech Camp’s vice president of marketing. “It’s more than sitting in front of the computer. You’re learning while you’re having fun.”

Now in its ninth season, iD Tech Camp is gaining popularity, largely because it fills a niche previously overlooked, Ms. Thurm Safran says. “It’s hands-on learning as opposed to lecturing. Kids learn about video games by creating video games,” she says.

Created as part of a business school thesis by Alexa Ingram- Cauchi, then a student at the University of Washington, iD Tech Camps are now offered nationwide at 50 colleges and universities, including Rider University in Lawrenceville, Seton Hall University in South Orange and Villanova University in Villanova, PA. Princeton University has also previously hosted camps.

Students aged 7 to 17 can enroll in weeklong courses, including digital video production, game modding (slang for modifying hardware or software) and special F/X editing. During their chosen course, students work on projects, such as building robots, creating digital comic books and designing Web sites with Flash animation.

More than 17,500 students will attend iD Tech Camps this summer, Ms. Thurm Safran says. Some students attend only during the day; others stay overnight and sleep in the dormitories.

“It’s really fun. It’s way more than just computer camp,” Ms. Thurm Safran says. “Their self esteem can’t help but blossom because they take these skills and really apply them to their lives. The types of products they use are just phenomenal, and the outcome is outstanding.”

Students, who receive computers to use during the camp, are taught industry-standard programs, including Final Cut Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash. Students also have access to various Microsoft, Apple, Canon, HP, nVIDIA and Western Digital products.

“Kids come in with some interest in computers and video games, but we’re actually teaching them pretty advanced stuff. They receive college-type instruction in web and design,” says Jon Olshefski, a director and instructor at Princeton University’s iD Tech Camp last summer.

Mr. Olshefski, a Philadelphiabased Web and graphic designer, says the camps are an excellent training ground for the gamers of tomorrow. “We try to encourage kids to do what they want to do,” he says. “We try to bring those two worlds, interest and learning, together. It’s an extra bonus if kids are really interested because they can get really inspired.”

While the courses are structured, instructors, mostly college students and professionals, are flexible. They accommodate students who “just want to play video games all day, and those kids who are really serious and want to pursue this in college,” Mr. Olshefski says.

Each day, the courses are split into three sections: morning, which includes four hours of hands-on instruction and project work; a lunch break; and afternoon, which includes free time.

During free time, students can socialize, continue working on their projects or participate in instructor- led activities, such as karaoke, ultimate Frisbee or gaming competitions.

“Although camp is fun, and you don’t want it to end, after staring at the computer screen for four straight hours, you want to go outside and breathe some fresh air,” says James.

Like many iD Tech Camp students, James became interested in gaming as a child after receiving a Nintendo 64 system for Christmas. “I’ve tried every game since,” he says. “They were kind of an escape from reality. It was kind of like watching a movie, but you’re actually playing.”

Austin Chalk of Pennington has played video games since he was 3. Now 15, he says attending Princeton’s iD Tech Camp last summer has cemented his desire to become a lead designer for Square Enix or Bethesda Softworks, both major gaming companies.

“I thought it was really neat to learn how to make video games,” he says. “iD Tech Camp gave me an insight into what kind of knowledge I need to really make it in this industry.”

This year, Austin will “up” his game. He enrolled in the iD Gaming Academy at Villanova University, a three-week course that immerses teens in video game design and development. “I thought I’d take it one more step so I can learn more,” he says.

Paul Richardson, 18, of Lawrenceville, attended the iD Gaming Academy offered at University of California, Berkeley, last summer. There, he completed creation of a three-part video game, in which a player must stop zombies from overtaking Mercer County.

“It’s definitely worth the money,” he says. “It was great because I definitely didn’t have the tools or the knowledge to create a video game at home, and they taught me all of that.

The academy, Paul adds, also gave him confidence to treat his longtime interest as a lucrative career option rather than a silly pipe dream.

A graduating senior at Lawrence High School, he has since taken computer science courses at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor. In the fall, he’ll attend the school full time, majoring in computer science and minoring in video game creation. After two years, he’d like to transfer to U.C. Berkeley.

As for young James, he’s excited about returning to iD Tech Camp for a third summer because as his skills improve, he says, so will Knuckles.

“iD Tech is really great, and it’s so much fun,” he says. “It’s helping me learn about video games, and that’s what I want to do. I want to be a game designer. That’s definitely my passion.”

Courses are still available for the 2007 iD Tech camps at Rider University and Seton Hall University. Week-long camps cost $729 for day students and $1,129 for overnight students. For more information, call (888) 709-8324 or visit internaldrive.com .

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April 19, 2007

Today’s youth is inundated with technology.  From Xboxes, TiVos, iPods and cell phones, Generation Z will be the most “connected” generation of Digital Kids to ever to walk the planet.

After watching his twelve-year old son surf the net, text message friends, and immerse himself in technology, sales consultant and business owner Peter Hanson had an idea.  Why not harness his twelve year old’s thirst for technology and redirect it towards a skill that would help him compete in the 21st century?

Although his company was doing well, his website didn’t adequately portray his firm.  If his son Kyle learned how to build websites, he could then hire him to redesign and update his company’s site.  Luckily, while surfing the web, his wife had come across a technology camp where they could send their son Kyle to learn these new skills.

So while most young boys are busy playing sports during the summer, Kyle attended iD Tech Camps and learned how to make websites pivot, jump and bounce with Flash Animation.

iD Tech Camps provides weeklong, beginner to advanced, hands-on summer technology courses for ages 7-17 at 50 prestigious universities in 22 states, including UC San Diego.  During the week, students produce 2D video games with Torque Game Builder, design 3D video games with Beyond Virtual^TM, create zany digital comic books using Comic Book Creator^TM, Wacom® Pen Tablets and Adobe® Photoshop®, and much more.  With small class sizes averaging only five students per instructor, students are given the attention they need to excel.

Besides a week of fun, these Digital Kids leave with a completed project using products which professionals use, increased tech-confidence, and a competitive edge.

“I was really proud that I created a really cool website within one week that made my instructor’s jaw drop when he watched my Flash Animation morph from different shapes into a logo,” said Kyle.

With the Flash Animation Shape Tween tool, Kyle made his animation come alive.  He used different colored shapes that finally morphed into his “Kyle Henson Productions” logo.

“At first it was hard, but my instructor showed me how to morph objects.  I think making animations for my site was not only super fun, but really rewarding knowing that I was using the same software that professional web designers use.”

The end result is a sense of empowerment, independence and self-confidence as students learn to articulate their creativity through new ways by using technology.  Often times they incorporate what they’ve learned in their school projects or even start side businesses.

With these Digital Kids, the sky is the limit.

For more information about iD Tech Camps, please visit www.internalDrive .com or call 1-888-709-TECH (8324).

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April 12-18, 2007

“Of all the many camps my son has attended, iD Tech Camps is by far the best,” says Connie Ryan.  “As an educator, I’m extremely impressed with the quality of this program.”   This summer, join parents like Connie and send your child to iD Tech Camps where they learn the latest technology with instructors who make learning fun.  iD Tech Camps offers weeklong day and overnight summer technology programs for ages 7-17 at 50 prestigious universities nationwide in 23 states and Spain. Locations include the University of Central Florida, the University of Miami, and Emory University.

Create 2D and 3D video games, experience game modding with Battlefield 2142^TM from Electronic Arts, improve your gaming skills with the Gaming Athletes course, build VEX^TM robots to compete, design websites with Flash® animations, film and edit digital movies, create your own comic book with digital photos, learn programming and more.

With one computer per student and an average of 5 students per staff, students are given the attention they need to excel and complete a project by the end of the week.  Activision, Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Clickteam, DigiEffects, GarageGames, Beyond Virtual, HP, Intego, Logitech, THQ, Microsoft, Red Giant Software, RedOctane, Roxio, SmartSound, Symantec, Wacom, Western Digital, and others have partnered with iD Tech Camps to raise the bar in technology education.

But that’s not all.  At UC Santa Cruz there is a Surf & Tech program where students spend half the day creating a video game or designing a website while the other half surfing.  At Stanford, students engage in Sports & Tech where half the day is spent playing tennis, golf, fencing, or TaeKwonDo.  Additionally, teens can travel to Spain for our Documentary Filmmaking program or participate in iD Gaming Academy for an intensive 3 weeks of game development.

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By Dana Guzzetti

Prepared parents have peaceful summers. This is the time to have a family talk about summer plans. Whether kids want some free play time or even high adventure, the very best summer camps book up early and now is the time to start checking them out.

Day camps and local recreation programs are a wonderful way to give kids enrichment and a change of pace, without having them far from home. These programs are fun filled and allow youngsters to become comfortable being on their own.

Investigate the camp and ask questions, so you will be comfortable too. Be sure camp management does background checks on counselors, and that counselors are well trained in camp safety, experienced in the camp’s specialty and trained to supervise children at your child’s age level.

Another source to check is the American Camp Association. This organization maintains standard minimum requirements for member camps. Ideally parents can visit a resident camp. If that is not possible, ask for references. Some camps provide CDs or videos as well as brochures.

This area is recognized for its variety of high quality summer activities and camp opportunities. Matching a child’s interests and personality to one need not be a challenge. Many camps have camperships available. If one is needed, do not fail to ask.

Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek is sponsoring a Summer Camp Fair in cooperation with the American Camp Association March 3. There will be representatives and information from accredited camps and advice on preparations for summer camp. Seven Hills also has a summer program of its own.

The Athenian School i n Danville offers Devil Mountain Summer Camp, Athenian Sport Camp and a Summer English Language Program at it 75-acre campus at the foot of Mount Diablo. April 18 is Information Night; check www.athenian.org for more information.

Dorris Eaton School in Walnut Creek offers academic enrichment 9 a.m. to noon. “After that it is just fun,” Trina Spencer, director of admissions said. “We have animals, swimming, music, special guests, trips and programs.”

The City of Walnut Creek offers recreational and competitive aquatic summer programs, mini sport camps, teen dances, classes, trips, and summer day camp programs for younger children at Heather Farm.

The City of San Ramon’s Crow Canyon Day Camp is a good local choice for younger children. Many activities take place in the canyon behind the gardens, bisected by the San Ramon Creek. Call 973-3200 or look for new information at www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us/parks/activities.pdf.

Check your city’s park and recreation district office for summer programs.

Traditional Outdoor Fun

Established in 1972, Roughing It Day Camp in Lafayette has four and eight-week sessions loaded with outdoor fun. Kids who are ready to ride might like to try horseback riding as part of the day camp, and then sign up for one of the horse riding camps.

Horizons East Equestrian Center in Livermore has a lighted sand indoor arena and a 200 x 250 foot outdoor sand arena where they have English riding lessons, shows and more (www.showstables.com).

In Walnut Creek North Gait Equestrian Center has summer camps running Mon. through Fri. 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. where small groups of youngsters learn horse safety, anatomy, tacking, riding, mucking and bathing the horses as well as old-fashioned fun experiences like line-dancing and bobbing for apples (www.northgait.com or 925/932-2282).

East Bay Regional Park District has a complete schedule of summer camps. Visit www.ebparks.org or call 510/636-1684 to receive a camp directory and information on camperships.

At John Muir Mountain Day Camp, held at the National John Muir Historic Site in Martinez near the intersection of HWY 4 and Alhambra Avenue, campers learn the John Muir heritage with focus on creativity, music arts and crafts.

Girl Scout and Boy Scout Camps and the YMCA immediately come to mind for traditional day-camp experiences that might include nature and environmental science, art, sports and just plain play.

Non-Girl Scouts can go to one or more of the 10 Diablo Day Camp sessions at Little Hills Ranch or Twin Canyon. Camp sign-up includes Girl Scout membership. It is a fun outdoor program which includes swims, crafts, songs and much more at a reasonable price. The camp program, which has a different theme for each session, is run by screened and trained volunteers.

The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA has all-day, week-long Team Adventure summer programs at schools and YMCA locations throughout the area. Visit www.mdymca.org/class for more information.

Camp Galileo in Lafayette, developed with the Tech Museum of Innovation, de Young offers kids kindergarten through fifth grade a change of pace. Medieval Arts and Ocean Explorers, Modern Master and Invent It, African Art and Building Big are some of the camp session names of a program run by Galileo Educational Services. For information visit www.thetech.org/summercamps.

Diablo Mountain Sports and Recreation (DMSR) offers weekly traditional (hike, crafts, swim, etc.) day-camper sessions mostly in Briones and Castle Rock Park throughout the summer beginning in June.

DMSR runs the same kind of day camp with a youth ministry focus, which is called Resurrection Day Camp. For information on either camp visit www.diablosports.org or call 925/952- 4450.

Science, Computer, Language

ID Tech Computer camps in game design, video creation and game “modding” are offered at St. Mary’s College in Moraga and U.C. Berkeley on a day-basis. These award-winning camps historically fill up fast. Save $50 per family if you sign up before March 31.

Vision Tech is a not-for-profit San Ramon company that operates computer camps for children throughout the Bay Area. The program includes such subjects as Game Design, Film Making, Build a PC, and Robotics. Each course in camp is for 5 days and each one is for different age groups. The Robotics program in one that is for the younger children, aged 6-10. The programs go on up to age 17, so there is a program for any child.

Consider the Endeavour Camp for youth space education just north of Santa Barbara for an out-of-the-ordinary experience. Campers have a week-long camp experience learning about earth, astronomy, satellites, and space travel (www.endeavours.org).

For similar topics closer to home contact the Chabot Space & Science Center where they have week-long half and full-day session summer science camps for grades 1-8 from July 9 to Aug. 17.

Older teens may be intrigued by one of the adventure learning experiences listed at www.academictreks.com.These are distant destinations and not what one might call economical, but they are said to be the best in experiential learning. Camp titles include accredited Marine Biology sessions in San Salvador or the Bahamas, Immersion French language study in France and a community service Amazon Expedition in Brazil.

The Berlitz School in Walnut Creek has special class for kids or adults in the summer. The three week children’s (small classes grouped by age) intensive language classes generally run for one-half day, four days a week.

There is also a weekly total immersion class that runs all-day, five days a week. “There are high school students who are starting a program or want to maintain their language proficiency over the summer. We tailor to match their needs,” said Berlitz language Center Director Celeste Lindahl. She says Spanish, French, Italian and Mandarin are in demand now, but they teach any language requested (925/935-6428).

Tall Ships Academy offers experience-based learning for high school age girls. It includes oceanographic research and schooner sailing. San Francisco State University gives three units of college credit for program participation. The program is from June 25 to Aug. 3 and March 16 is the deadline for registration (some camperships available).

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By Irene Manahan

Summer camps were once synonymous with campfires, smores and cumbaya.  But kids today might be left to ponder the purpose of all those sleeping bags and tents.

Traditional summer camping, complete with all its familiar outdoors trappings, remains a summer standby, though some Santa Monica parents have found it to be, well, old school!  The camping experience is new and improved.  Nowadays, whether it’s theatre, surfing or intense gaming that piques their interests, there seems to be a summer camp for every kid.

This year, let them leave the bug spray and propane lanterns at home.

Modern camps often introduce their youth to creative and professional jobs.  Internal Drive, or iD Tech Camps, is the nation’s largest, most recommended summer computer camp.  The family-owned Silicon Valley-based company is in its ninth season.

“Like sports or religious camps, iD Tech is a summer technology camp,” said Karen Thurm Safran, VP of Marketing for iD Tech Camps.  “Students sign up for different courses to learn how to build robots, make 2D and 3D video games, or make Web sites or movies in just a week.”

Beat that, popsicle stick birdhouses!

Beginning in June, iD Tech Camps will offer week-long, day and overnight summer computer camps for more than 17,000 students, ages 7-17.  This summer, camps will bring life to 22 U.S. states in 50 prestigious universities throughout the country, including Brown, Stanford, Columbia and Georgetown.

Santa Monica residents can send their campers to UCLA, Pepperdine University and Cal Lutheran University.  Not too far from the bay, at UC San Diego and UC Santa Cruz, iD Tech’s ‘Surf and Tech’ program allows campers to spend half their day surfing and the rest creating a video game or Web site.

“It’s a different way for them to articulate their creativity,” said Thurm Safran.

With only five students per staff member, students have the chance to use their own computers and other industry standard products.  The hands-on, project-based curriculum allows campers to complete a project by the end of their session.

“We’re different because students really take something away with them,” Safran said.  “It’s a lifelong learning experience.  After their session they may get hired by their parents or use their skills for the school.  In the future, our campers may have a side business or become successful entrepreneurs.”

iD Tech only uses the leading, cutting edge products in their courses.

Adventures in Comic Creation, a course for 7- to 10-year-olds teaches students about taking pictures, creating images, distorting faces and making comic books using Adobe Photoshop and Wacom templates.

RoboContenders is a popular program that teaches kids about robotics.  Using VEX, thousands of kids throughout the country create their own robots.  Thurm Safran said it takes just a couple of days to create it and throughout the week students compete to do different things with them.

“Every year we listen to the kids and parents to see what they want,” Safran said.  “Last year, we learned that there are some very serious gamers out there who want to learn more about actually making a game and who may even want to make it their profession.

“Kids are having fun and their self-esteem blossoms,” she continued.  “Parents are happy.  The staff is happy.  You can’t surpass kids learning in a fun, stimulating environment.”

Striking Close To Home

CREST (Child care – Recreation – Enrichment – Sports – Together) Camps at Virginia Avenue Park offer more interaction for summer campers through physical and creative activities.

At CRET, up to 120 campers participate in each specialty class or activity.  Parents and kids can choose from different themes that will challenge the campers’ minds and bodies.

With classes in both the morning and afternoon, counselors create the curriculum for their 8- to 14-year-old campers.  Participants don’t spend the night at this camp, but rather, they come from day to day during their session to enjoy activities during spring or summer.

CREST’s theater program ranges from musical to improve to comedy, according to Adrianna Torres, community services specialist.  The visual program offers themes like nature or recycled art that encourage campers to learn new skills and new ways to express themselves, while their sports experience, which is typically held at John Adams School, gives campers new fitness ideas with a variety of outdoor activities.

Campers also go on weekly local trips to hike or swim, or visit such sites as theme parks, museums, parks and sporting events.

“The kids love it,” Torres said.  “They especially love going on the trips and meeting kids from different schools.  Everyone comes from a different background.  It’s just really diverse.”

Rosie’s Girls is an impacted class designed specifically for girls in middle school.  Unlike CREST’s other programs, space is limited to just 40 girls each session.  Rosie’s Girls hopes to build self-esteem, leadership and physical confidence through non-traditional activities like carpentry, welding, mask-making, furniture design, kayaking and ropes courses.

CREST also offers “generous financial assistance for low to moderate income families,” said Rebecca Spring, program analyst for CREST.

Where kids were once just sent off into the woods, the words “summer camp” now beat a fun and constructive connotation.  The option are as varied as the imagination this time of year; the time to send the little rascals off.

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By Dawn Witlin

Alex O’Reilly, like most big brothers, watches over his younger sibling, Cameron, with a sharp eye.

And, like most big brothers, he’s willing to be critical.

“I think he’s done a pretty good job, but I also see the element where he has two other people to help him,” said 13-year-old Alex as he sizes up “Whiskers,” a robot made by 12-year-old Cameron. The robot was nearing completion after less than a week of assembly.

Alex, 13, Cameron, 12, and Adam Yedidia, 14, are taking a few weeks out of their summer to attend iD Tech Camps at MIT.

A nationwide program for ages 7-17, the camp offers hands-on technology programs ranging from robotics to computer gaming design. There are also movie-editing courses under the supervision of a paid adult staff who bring a range of skills to the table.

Staffer Katy Levinson, 19, coaches five teams of students. Her charges have taught her a thing or two.

“It’s a nice dynamic because to be able to teach something, you have to really, really know it,” said Levinson. “The kids will hold each other in a non throwing things state. They will make progress together, they will fix each other’s problems.”

The technology campers may choose to enroll in a weeklong or several weeks-long courses and are grouped based on skill level.

Alex and Adam have chosen to design computer games, while Cameron is building a robot.

“I’m better with robotics than I am at programming, so I thought I’d stick to programming,” Alex explained, touting his final project: a virtual reality computer game he mapped from scratch.

The player is put to the test of finding keys in each room of Alex’s design, by typing in certain commands to move about.

“It gives a description of the room, and then it gives information such as where doors are and where items are,” said Alex, who attends Graham and Parks School along with his younger brother.

Meanwhile, Adam, who will go to Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in the fall, is putting the finishing touches on a virtual “Connect Four” computer game.

“I was short on ideas, and I thought I’ve always liked Connect Four,” said Adam. “It’s just going to be a neat thing I can tell my friends.”

Since Adam has signed up for another week, he plans to work on giving the game artificial intelligence, so that a player can pit their skills against the computer.

Cameron’s group is busy running between their robot – a silver box-shaped mechanism on wheels equipped with sensors that keep it from running into walls – to the computer program that controls it.

“It’s made to navigate out of a box or something, it uses sonar, like when it’s going along and runs into something, it will turn around,” said Cameron. “It’s just really to move around and basically not get itself destroyed.”

The group is excitedly attaching a catapult to the robot. Its name, “Whiskers,” is in honor of its cat-like sensors.

“What we need to do is, it’s going to have a limit switch so that when the limit switch is pressed, it will wait 10 seconds then the motor module will turn, causing it to fire,” said Cameron matter-of-factly. “It will fling a ball.”

Levinson navigates the frenzied room with flair, reciting program codes to some, directing others how to jump programming hurdles, all the while making the kids laugh through their often frustrating efforts.

“It’s pretty impressive; this group of kids is really good, ” said Levinson. “I love all my weeks, but some of them go faster than others.”

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By Erikah Haavie

Ian Slakas was looking for something special to give his friends during his birthday party next week.

He decided on video games he would create.

”It wouldn’t be the average thing to give out,” said Slakas, an 11-year-old from Croton, Westchester, County.

Slakas is among 90 students from across New York attending iD Tech Camp at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie this week.

The weeklong computer camps are teaching students from elementary school to high school how to create video games, produce digital movies and music videos, program computers and design Web sites.

Vassar is one of 40 colleges and universities across the country hosting the camps, offered by the Campbell, Calif.-based company iD Tech Camps.

Tuition for a week of instruction ranges from $699 for a day program to $1,099 for an overnight program.

The youngest students are learning how to create digital artwork using Adobe Photoshop, while more advanced students are customizing existing video games.

2-time attendee

Jessica Jackson, a 15-year-old from the Town of Poughkeepsie, is attending the camp for the second year.

Her dad piqued her interest in computers, since he works with them every day as an accountant.

She has been designing her own artwork and Web site this week.

”You don’t feel like you’re just sitting around,” Jackson said. ”You get to meet new people.”

While most students come to camp to pursue their technology interests, Pete Vigeant, director of Vassar’s camp, said he hopes students will get a taste of college life and make new friends with similar interests.

”They’re not shy here because everyone here is like them,” Vigeant said.

Doug Mansell, an 18-year-old Salt Point resident, is teaching video-game creation to six students this summer.

He said he has been impressed with their creativity. Students have created games with hedgehog-shooting elephants and mummies that shoot fruit in outer space.

Slakas is working on two video games he’ll share with his friends, a series of challenges named Helicopter and Helicopter 2.0.

He is attending three weeks of computer camp.

”Here it’s always new things,” Slakas said. ”It’s always an adventure.”

Erikah Haavie can be reached at ehaavie@pough keepsiejournal.com

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April 2006

Today’s youth is inundated with technology.  From Xboxes, TiVos, iPods and cell phones, Generation Z will be the most “connected” generation of Digital Kids to ever to walk the planet.

After watching his twelve-year old son surf the net, text message friends, and immerse himself in technology, sales consultant and business owner Peter Hanson from the Philadelphia area had an idea.  Why not harness his twelve year old’s thirst for technology and redirect it towards a skill that would help him compete in the 21^st century?

Although his company was doing well, his website didn’t adequately portray his firm.  If his son Kyle learned how to build websites, he could then hire him to redesign and update his company’s site.  Luckily, while surfing the web, his wife had come across a technology camp where they could send their son Kyle to learn these new skills.

So while most young boys are busy playing sports during the summer, Kyle attended iD Tech Camps and learned how to make websites pivot, jump and bounce with Flash Animation.

iD Tech Camps provides weeklong, beginner to advanced, hands-on summer technology courses for ages 7-17 at  prestigious universities in 19 states.  These 40 locations include UC Irvine, the Tiger Woods Learning Center, UCLA, Pepperdine University, Cal Lutheran University and Stanford University.  During the week, students take courses in web design, digital video production, 2D and 3D video game creation, and programming & robotics.  With small class sizes averaging only six students per instructor, students are given the attention they need to excel. At Pepperdine University there’s even a unique Surf & Tech program where students spend half the time learning to surf and the other half making a website or video game.

Students use industry products from tech leaders like Adobe, Macromedia, Apple, Canon, RadioShack, Wacom and AutoDesk.  Besides a week of fun, these Digital Kids leave with a completed project using products which professionals use, increased tech-confidence, and a competitive edge.

“I was really proud that I created a really cool website within one week that made my instructor’s jaw drop when he watched my Flash Animation morph from different shapes into a logo,” said Kyle.

With the Flash Animation Shape Tween tool, Kyle made his animation come alive.  He used different colored shapes that finally morphed into his “Kyle Henson Productions” logo.

“At first it was hard, but my instructor showed me how to morph objects.  I think making animations for my site was not only super fun, but really rewarding knowing that I was using the same software that professional web designers use.”

Today’s challenge for parents is helping their kids learn technology that they themselves do not use or understand. They depend on school to achieve this goal, but unfortunately schools today still lag in integrating technology into the curriculum.  Thomas K. Glennan and Arthur Melmed address this critical issue in their article Fostering the Use of Educational Technology: Elements of a National Strategy.  “The nation’s most important educational goal must be to produce learners adequately prepared for life and work in the 21st century.  In 1994, U.S. schools spent about $3 billion on computer- and network-based technology.  Despite all this activity, however, examples of school-wide use of technology are comparatively rare and isolated.”

iD Tech Camps addresses this pressing need and uses tech savvy role models for instructors.  As role models, these college students and recent grads make learning fun and share first-hand how technology is making a positive impact.

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