iD News and Blog
We are passionate about introducing children of all ages to the wonders and benefits of the sciences and technology, and offer camps ranging from film to computers and robotics. Summer computer camps, film camps, robotics camps, cyber camps — we can help you find the summer camp that's right for your child.
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 2nd. 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
February 1st, 2012 by: Nova
Today, we announce the lucky winner of our first 2012 camp fair raffle. And the winner is Philip Destefano! Congratulations on winning a free week of day camp at iD Tech Camps, Philip! We are excited to have you join the iD Family. Stay tuned, campers. We plan on holding 3 more raffles this year (once per month, until April) and we will announce future winners here!
To be entered in one of our camp fair raffles and for your chance to win, please visit us at a camp fair event near you. To locate a camp fair in your area, please refer to our Camp Fair Directory. You can also contact a Program Advisor at 1-888-709-TECH (8324), option 1 for more information.
- Team iD
February 1st, 2012
Posted in: Uncategorized
February 1st, 2012 by: Audrey
Interested in the crossover between technology and art? The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) movement is gaining an A for the Arts this summer, and turning to STEAM. iD Tech Camps and iD Teen Academies have introduced a range of new classes for Summer 2012, and included a variety of new arts-centered classes.
One of the recent course additions is an introduction to web design class, Intro to Web Design & Photography, where students can gain an introduction to web design and learn the basics of graphic arts, photography lighting and composition, and photo editing. Check it out, and gain some STEAM this summer!
February 1st, 2012 | Tags: academic summer camps, introduction to web design, web design, web design camps
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
January 31st, 2012 by: Pete
Are iD Tech Camps worth the cost?
I think it is a fair question. Here’s what I know. My team and I care deeply and passionately about delivering the top summer technology camps in the country. Are we perfect? Absolutely not. Are we a human business that needs to continually refine? Absolutely. Are we an inexpensive camp? No. But are we worth the cost? Here is why I say “yes!” And here are some of the reasons why we are the World’s #1 Tech Camp.
- Track Record. We’ve been running technology programs since 1999, and we are entering out 14th season. When I started, I didn’t have any gray hair (now I have plenty)—but I knew that kids and teens were not getting the exposure to technology that would be necessary to compete in the new economy. It was clear back in 1999. It is even more clear today. In 1999, my family set out to do things differently. We’re still an independently run family company that defines quality on our terms.
- Personal Approach. The iD Pedagogy is quite simple…we guarantee ratios of 8 students per instructor for personalized, 1-on-1 instruction. Kids have different learning styles. If you have 20 or 30 kids per educator, the end result is what you’d expect…you have to teach to the middle. Likewise, if you are an educator and have a maximum of 8 students, you can deliver a whole lot better instruction, on a much more personal level. It’s much more expensive to guarantee our small ratios—but the end result speaks for itself. And when we say guarantee, we mean it. If we go beyond ratio, you get a free week of camp. Read more about the iD Guarantee.
- Risk Management. Safety has to be job 1. I am personally involved in developing our risk management training. It evolves every season. I ask myself one simple question… “would I send my own kids to iD Tech Camps? Would I trust every staff member to care after my own kids?” The short answer? Yes. And Yes. Then we get to work.
- Software. Anybody can go to the Web and learn just about anything these days. But let’s face it, I am not going to spend 30-40 hours in a week teaching myself how to make iPhone Apps, learn Maya, edit in Final Cut Pro or program in C++ or Java. It is great to have an energetic coach and role model who is passionate about teaching the specific software applications. At iD Tech Camps, we teach the best of the best…products from Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Microsoft, etc. And staff better know their stuff!!
- Adult-Only Instructors. Years ago, we bucked the summer camp trend. We decided on a “No Counselors in Training” policy. We just saw that too many camps were cutting corners by “hiring” 15 and 16 and 17 year old teens to actually be the counselors. Imagine running a camp and not having to pay anyone to work there. That’s how many camps cut costs. We do things differently. We seek out the best talents, pay them better than other summer programs, and attract (and retain) the best.
- Top University Locations. A college degree is pretty much a must-have for the new generation. It is important to get kids and teens thinking about college right now. Expose them to as many university campuses as possible. At iD, they can experience over 6o of the top Universities in the country. Down the road, when it’s time to apply to college, they can make a more informed decision. “Hey, I studied a week at iD Tech Camps Stanford, I really love the campus.” “I got to spend 2 weeks learning programming at MIT. I want to apply there!”
- Where Are the Jobs? STEM-based jobs (those focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) are some of the highest paid in the country. And recently in January of 2012, CNN Money reported that college grads in this field are the top paid, and most sought-after grads in the country. Take that to the bank!
- Top Workplace. We’ve been named a Top Workplace by the San Jose Mercury News for the past two years. It may seem like a just another award, but I know that happy staff = happy campers. If our staff hated their jobs, what kind of camps would they deliver? Likewise, if they love their jobs and love the iD mission, what kind of camps will they deliver? It’s not math, but it kind of is.
- Continuing Education Units from Stanford. Students who want to beef up their portfolios for college can purchase Continuing Education Units at ALL iD locations. CEUs are accredited by Stanford Continuing Studies or Villanova University (depending on the iD program you attend).
- Culture of Excellence. It starts with the little things. Do we pick up the phone when you call? If you email us, do we get right back to you? When you drop off your student at camp, do you fee comfortable that we are on top of the details? Are we delivering on our promises? The answer should be “yes” to all of the above. Talk is cheap. We want to deliver on our promises. That is the expectation.
I could keep going and going and going. In the end, iD Tech Camps is really about bringing out the internalDrive in each student. Did you know that is what the i and D stand for? Yep. internalDrive. We hear from students every year… “I learned more at iD Tech Camps in one week than I learned in a semester at school.” Maybe the reason is that we have built a culture that is un-school. We package learning in a summer camp setting…so our students learn to love technology without feeling like they will be tested. They can unleash their creativity without being competitive.
So, if you want to know if iD Tech Camps are worth the price, at least now you have heard from me. I will never say we are a perfect summer program, bu we set extremely high expectations for ourselves–and that is part of the reason we have such a loyal following. Feel free to leave a comment on my blog–I’d love to hear from you. I hope to see you out there this summer, and I hope to start you on your path toward doing something BIG, like so many students have already done.
Yours Truly,
Pete
January 31st, 2012 | Tags: Are iD Tech Camps Worth the Cost, Computer Camp for Kids, computer camps for teens, Summer Camps, tech camps
Posted in: CEO's Blog, Summer Camps
January 30th, 2012 by: Ryan
I’m willing to bet that you’re utilizing some piece of technology to read this blog post. Ok, that was an easy one, but I also say that if you look left or right, you’ll most likely see something else tech-related. From desktops and laptops, to tablets, smartphones, and TVs…the list goes on.
Getting to the point, technology is all around us. And as if the benefit of offering “tech” courses that directly correlate with booming, well-paying STEM jobs wasn’t cool enough, an abundance of technology allows us to expand our course list to include a variety of different options in interest areas that might not be immediately related to technology. Take movies for example. Sure you have your Avatar-type flicks and other big budget blockbuster films that instantly take your mind to technology as you stare in awe of special effects, amazing animations, and more. But really, even the most basic film couldn’t have been produced without technology.
Now that Oscar nominations have been announced, this is the perfect time to reiterate the fact that technology is more than a computer, allowing us to be more than a “tech” camp. Technology is about our NY film school, and our CA film camp classes. It’s about Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects, filming techniques, and high-end video cameras…really, it could be about anything you want it to be, as you’d be hard-pressed to find a hobby that couldn’t be enhanced with technology.
Basically, technology is becoming less about watching movies or playing video games, and is increasingly evolving to describe a collection of tools or skill set one can acquire to work better/smarter, and to take their interests to the next level.
January 30th, 2012 | Tags: Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro, CA Film Camp, Movie Making Camp, NY Film School
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
January 25th, 2012 by: Ryan
Born and raised in California, I’ve always felt my home state was the biggest; the best. Sure, Texas may have us beat in terms of square miles, but there sure are a lot of people packed in CA.
But really, whichever way you look at it, bigger certainly means one thing…more families; more schools. Above all else, more students with hobbies who might not have an outlet for their pent up creativity or an option to explore how to take their interests to the next level.
As mentioned in my last post, one of our goals is to allow that opportunity for as many students as possible – to talk to parents and teachers, listen to their feedback, and then put a plan in action to offer new communities in different parts of the country the chance to experience a fun and challenging tech summer program – right in their own backyard.
Did you know there are 10 different universities that host iD Tech Camps in the state of California? And looking at Texas, we have most of the major cities covered as well – Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Now, as an addition to our 2012 summer camp lineup, we are also hosting Fort Worth summer camps, held at TCU.
As a sports fanatic, I’m familiar with TCU’s Horned Frog football team, a squad that burst on the scene with an undefeated 2010 season and an appearance in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl…only to go undefeated again in the 2011 regular season on their way to claiming their first Rose Bowl title.
There’s no doubt about it. TCU is a school that has not only experienced success on the gridiron, but also on campus and in the classroom as a highly reputable university in the big ol’ state of Texas.
So, when it comes to expanding our university locations so kids and teens across the country can engage in game design and modding, web design courses, movie making, programming, and a whole lot more, I can set my California allegiance aside.
January 25th, 2012 | Tags: 2012 Summer Camps, CA summer camps, Fort Worth Summer Camps, TCU Camps, Texas summer camps, web design courses
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
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
January 18th, 2012 by: Ryan
We have many goals, ranging from making sure to offer only the most interesting and relevant STEM courses, to hosting summer camps and programs that are fun, yet challenging to inspire and cultivate student interests.
Another goal is to give kids and teens across the nation the opportunity to engage in technology, from California to Rhode Island – and everywhere in between. This 2012 summer camp season’s new “in between” includes New Mexico, and specifically Albuquerque summer camps held at the University of New Mexico.
While some of us might not be thrilled with having to write out the word “Albuquerque” over and over again this season, we are excited to offer technology classes and courses to yet another state and major city. Albuquerque is New Mexico’s largest city, and with 35,000 students, UNM is the largest post-secondary institution in the state.
In terms of our classes for kids and teens in Albuquerque, students have the chance to learn how to make iPhone games, and can take a web design course or can choose from a variety of other options.
All in all, we are excited to see all of you NM kids and teens at our Albuquerque summer camps this summer!
January 18th, 2012 | Tags: Albuquerque summer camps, How to Make iPhone Games, New Mexico summer camps, NM summer camps
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
January 14th, 2012 by: Pete-V
I have scolded myself for not talking about robots enough at all. I have a gig writing for a blog that allows me to write about basically whatever I choose and I somehow, entry after entry, neglect robots. Citizens of the Interwebs, this trend is going to change and it will change today! From this day forth, every single entry I write will either be about robots or written by a robot of my very own invention.
Basic Hollywood knowledge suggests that robots will eventually take over the planet (see the Matrix, Terminator, i,Robot, 2001, etc). The only question for us lowly, carbon-based beings is when. Luckily, there are several steps along the way before automatons take arms against us that will make life pretty sweet (that is, of course, as long as the Grey Goo scenario doesn’t play out first).
1. You will never run out of milk.
Let’s get this out of the way – robots will do menial tasks for a long time before they start firing. Right now, robots are already cleaning our floors and vacuuming our rugs. Soon, they’ll be going out at 2am to make sure we have enough milk for breakfast – and I can’t wait!
2. The Earth will become significantly smaller.
Robots will allow for new forms of mass transportation that are virtually accident-free and completely automated. This allows you to constantly travel the globe without consideration of the normal time restrictions or hassles. In addition, you can always have a surrogate attend your meetings while you’re out and about, completely eliminating the need to stay stationary ever.
3. You will lose weight.
Although Wall*E alarmed us of the dystopian possibility of sitting around doing nothing and becoming fat slugs, I suggest that the opposite will occur. Without having to run around doing chores all the time, the average workday will include a significant amount of recreational time that can be spent on healthy activities. And I don’t mean boring treadmills – I mean full out sports simulations from partnerless tennis to a fully automated game of football. Personal training robotic assistants will be so common and so persistent that perhaps the revolution actually starts from their sense of empowerment… All of that extra exercise will come in handy once the revolution goes into full swing!
4. You will not need a kitchen.
Why have a kitchen, when a centralized super-kitchen serving robots only will allow all of your epicurean delights be met every day and night? Your robot will simply scoot off, gather precise amounts of the freshest ingredients, cook them to perfection and deliver them in the sealed warmth of their inner chamber – you know, the one that’s farthest away from the waste chamber.
5. No one will bully you.
Well, perhaps they will bully you, but you won’t have to take it for long! Robots will fight our battles for us, to the extent that fighting in general becomes completely pointless. Sure, there will be professional robot fights (ala Rock’em Sock’em Robots) but us regular folks won’t want to damage our expensive companions by pitting them against one another constantly. You wouldn’t smack someone in the face using an iPad, would you?
6. Your “bucket list” will appear much more ambitious.
Climb Mt. Everest? Sure. Learn another language? Why not 5? Do a handstand on 7 continents? No problem! Your robot dream team will always be there to make sure your every goal and need is being met – they’ll even identify goals before you do. You’ll never need to write another New Year’s Resolution, knowing that you’ll have a companion with you 24 hours a day dedicated to controlling you bettering your life.
7. You will never ever have to wait in another line again.
From getting a coffee to shopping during the holidays to Disney World, you will always have a robot there to jump into a queue and wait patiently for your turn. All you will need to do is listen for an alert and proceed to the front, where you will be served instantly. This is, of course, if you need to physically be present, because in many cases, your robot will simply deliver the goods to you as you need them. In fact, robots may be able to replace the need for your to physically be at a specific place at all…
8. You will never need to use a public toilet.
Being a robot is messy work and you will be the main beneficiary of that fact until, of course, the robot decides that enough is enough…
9. You will never have to see another lolcat.
With robots around, there will be more than enough memes centered around their zany antics to fill much of your digital humor inbox. 100% customizable creations that are free from cruelty protestations of the masses will make for some of the funniest bloopers on the web! There will be borderline hilarity when the robots start “misunderstanding” human desires in an attempt to subtly take over, before the facade drops completely and the human race is enslaved.
10. You will never be too far away from home.
Regardless of where you travel, your home will only be a short bit of manual (automated) labor away. No one needs a permanent piece of property when a robot will construct a perfect replica of your home (or office, or bedroom) wherever you desire. Time to move on? No worries! The robot will simply deconstruct everything as if the house was never there!
11. You will be a better artist.
For many of us, our artistic hopes were dashed the first time that we picked up a paintbrush – no matter how many classes or layers of color can produce exactly what’s in our mind. Other media offers similar results, particularly when I picture Cinderella’s Castle in the sand and get a crummy old shack instead. Robots will change all of that. If I want a 40 foot tall sculpture of Mr. Belding made out of limestone, my wish can be granted perfectly in a series of hours. Now that’s progress!
12. You will never have to hear Nickelback again. Ever.
The robots will take over music as well – at least formulaic pop-alternative. Sure, there will be human contributions, but they will be offering complexity and beautiful mistakes, concepts that are too counterintuitive for robots to comprehend. The entirety of pop music, however, from Gaga to Bieber, will be outdone by machines with perfect pitch, rhythm, rhymes and a lyrical body supported by every top 100 hit to nonsensically blather about love, parties, and misused emotional cliches.
While the coming Robopocalypse may seem terrifying, we have a long time to enjoy the perks before our extinction. And who knows? If you decide to hop on board the robotics bandwagon and help bring about this dismal future, you may be spared and even celebrated!
January 14th, 2012 | Tags: androids, automatons, cyber camps, programming camps, robo-teens, robotics, robotics camps, robotpocalypse, robots, Summer Camps, teen camps
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers, iD Tech Camps, Summer Camps
January 12th, 2012 by: Ryan
Readying to wrap yet another year as one of the nation’s leading technology-related trade shows, the 2012 version of CES (Consumer Electronics Show) appeased the masses as expected.
After all, it is CES that has wowed audiences over the years by introducing massive marvels like Samsung’s 102-inch plasma TV in 2005, and continuing the tech tradition with experiences like the tablet-driven show of 2011. Celebrities ranging from to Adrian Grenier to Jay-Z (appearing in a Bill Gates skit) have taken part in the event, so what makes the 2012 rendition special?
Maybe it was Justin Bieber and a dancing robot, or 50 Cent’s new audio gear. There were plenty of iPad-rival products from Acer, Lenovo, and others trying to push their way to the front in order to make the most of Apple’s show absence. And don’t forget Razer’s ‘Project Fiona’ gaming tablet (pictured above), which is essentially a screen with two handles equipped on both sides for a more ”controlled” gaming experience. Not to mention plenty of new cameras, amazing HDTVs, and a host of other gadgets and gizmos.
All in all, not a bad showing, and who knows what next year will have in store. But, while it might be another year before CES returns to Nevada in 2013, there will be plenty of technology on hand this summer as students begin to show for our Las Vegas summer camps held at UNLV.
January 12th, 2012 | Tags: CES 2012, Las Vegas summer camps, Nevada summer camps, Summer Camps 2012
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
