July 12, 2010

PRINCETON BOROUGH — As his 9- and 10- year olds peers watched, Theo’s hands flew across his keyboard, jabbing at the “w” key and the spacebar.

Under Theo’s expert command, his hero, “Doughnut Man,” jumped from one slice of toast to the next, shooting any “Pancake Punks” and killer cornflakes that got in his way.

This video game, which Theo programmed from scratch in just two days, is one example of the projects that students aged 7-17 have been creating during Internal Drive (iD) Tech Camp’s eight one-week sessions held at Princeton University from June 20 through Aug. 13.  This is the camp’s ninth year in the Princeton area.  Click here to read full article.

July 2, 2009

By Allie Ward

LAWRENCE — Although the traditional summer camp must-haves include cabins, ghost stories and s’mores, this summer, at Rider University, campers are in for something a little different — technology.

Celebrating its third season at Rider and 11th overall, internalDrive’s weeklong iD Tech Camps give students ages seven through 17 the opportunity to gain a comprehensive technology education while incorporating the more traditional summer camp elements.

“It’s all hands-on and project-based,” said Karen Thurm Safran, vice president of marketing for iD Tech Camps. “Some kids will be making video games; some will make movies and Web sites, build robots or learn programming.”

Campers take courses and complete a project by the end of the week. Averaging one instructor for every six students, the groups are small and the attention personalized. Day and overnight sessions are available and run June through August at universities nationwide.

As perhaps the largest tech camp in the United States, iD utilizes cutting-edge products from Apple, Adobe, Autodesk, Microsoft and more to create 2D and 3D video games, design Web sites and make graphic design portfolios, among other things.

Caitlin Jackson, 14, is currently working on a 3D video game from scratch, an experience that allows her creativity to flow.

“Our instructors help us to put in the characters and then we can design them however we want,” Jackson said. “My game is mostly about (the book) The Lightning Thief; I’m basing it off the book. I’ve created a whole bunch of notes about different characters and what the main plot is.”

Matt Lebowitz, 12, is also creating a video game. He is using a program called FPS Creator to develop a 3D first-person shooter game.

“My second level is called Zombie Apocalypse and it’s kind of like a tunnel and most of it’s underground and you’re searching for this guy who makes zombies,” he said.

Some of the younger campers who are just starting out focus more on creating individual characters or animations using other programs.

“We use Adobe Photoshop and we draw our own characters and little monsters,” said Hunter Yankelevich, 10.

While some may see summer camp as a place for kids to get some fresh air, Safran believes that the educational benefit of an iD Tech experience trumps traditional views.

“The kids want to go and parents want to send them because anything that involves learning is something they want to be a part of,” she said. “To me, stimulating a kid’s imagination through technology is so important.”

Safran also added that campers do get outside throughout the day and have the chance to explore the university or play team sports and board games.

Michael Roslansky, 14, is attending his third year at iD Tech Camp.

“I just found this a really good learning experience,” Roslansky said. “The first year I did game creation, then last year I did Web design and I learned Flash and this year I’m working with Final Cut Pro.”

Roslansky is working on a movie based off his own original concept and is using the Final Cut Pro program to do the editing.

“It’s a movie about a guy who doesn’t have an idea for his movie-making class so he sells his soul for a movie idea,” he said. “There are schools that have majors in film communication so this (experience) is really going to help me out.”

Above all, Safran stresses that one of the camp’s main goals is to instill in its students the technological skills that can one day be used in a real world setting.

“What’s better than taking a kid’s hobby and turning it into a potential career?” she said. “You love to doodle? Well, guess what — you can be a graphic artist.”

For more information about iD Tech Camps, visit www.internalDrive.com .

©2009 Times of Trenton

© 2009 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.

http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-17/124650752033690.xml&coll=5&thispage=2

June 2007

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 .

April 2007

By Sarah Magnola

While it’s only just beginning to feel like spring, parents are already wrestling with a big summertime decision: should their kids go to camp this year and if so what kind and which one? In our area, the options are plentiful: day or overnight, general or specialized, one week or four, co-ed or just girls or boys. Regardless of variety, one thing is for sure, choosing the right camp is an important consideration, since the experiences and life lessons it will provide will help your child learn and grow, all while discovering innovative activities and making new friends.

TRADITIONAL OR SPECIALTY
Summer camps are categorized as either being traditional, meaning they offer a variety of activities to campers, or specialized, in that they offer instruction in one area of interest. Traditional camp activities usually include outdoor and indoor recreation, arts and crafts, team activities and games. These types of camps are best suited for children who have a wide spectrum of interests and need a great deal of stimulation to maintain their attention. On the other hand, specialized camps are geared toward improving campers’ skills at doing one particular activity, such as ballet, soccer, computers, or acting. Children who go to specialized camps should be extremely motivated to pursue their area of interest and have the ability to stay focused on one thing for extended amounts of time.

ID Tech Camp is a popular specialty camp that focuses on teaching kids to utilize cutting-edge computer software to record and edit digital movies, create video games,
design websites and even build robots. These camps, which offer both day and overnight programs for kids ranging from 7 to 17 years of age, are held on major university
campuses, including Seton Hall University in South Orange for the first time this year. In addition to promoting the idea of higher education, by immersing the kids in a college setting, this camp gives them an invaluable opportunity: they use the tools of the pros and are taught by people who work in the industry. “We really bring learning to life and turn a hobby into a passion (for the kids),” say Karen Thurm Safran, Vice President of Marketing. “These kids are empowered by what they learn and walk away with something that changes their lives. They also get a real edge in school. Students have started clubs and even begun selling products they learned how to make at camp. It increases their self-esteem and they learn to use creativity through technology.”

For the less computer savvy, camps such as Atlantic Club Summer Camp in Manasquan, offer a wide range of specialties within one organization. “It depends on the
child and the family’s interests,” says Janice Grasso, the aquatics director at Atlantic. “There are benefits to both specialty and general camps, with traditional being more relaxed.” At Atlantic they have a variety of sports camps, such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey, as well as learning-enrichment camps. “Our goal is to contribute to the health and wellness of the kids by putting together programs that are developmentally appropriate for the age of the child. The element of fun has to be part of the equation, to keep them interested. That is what summer is all about for the kids: to be in a fun environment and enjoy themselves.”

DAY OR SLEEPAWAY
To help point parents in the right direction, the American Camp Association (ACA) suggests parents ask themselves a few questions about their child. Is the child younger than seven years of age? If so, they most likely won’t be ready for a sleepaway camp. Is your child showing a sustained interest in camp and what is it that
he or she is specifically looking forward to doing there? Has your child had positive experiences sleeping away from home at friends’ houses or has there been
separation anxiety?

Marla Coleman, President of Camp Echo (part of Coleman Family Camps) in the Catskills, and spokesperson for the American Camp Association, stresses the importance of a child having a “basic foundational level of independence” before being sent to sleepaway camp. She recommends starting kids out in day camps at a young age, so they get accustomed to the camp experience, which will make the transition to sleep away camp easier.

Some anxiety surrounding the issue of separation is very normal even if the child is only attending day camp, since the child is immersed
in unfamiliar surroundings with new people. “Any change is difficult, at any age,” says Grasso. At Atlantic they introduce new campers to the entire staff and give them a tour of the campgrounds to help them feel more comfortable. Learning to be independent and to make new friends is a key component of the camp experience, and dealing with some initial homesickness is perfectly normal.

To minimize homesickness, Coleman recommends parents be verbal in validating the decision to go to camp. “The parents need to express their confidence in the child’s abilities and reinforce the positive aspects of the situation.”

She also points out that the experience of letting go can be equally hard for the parents themselves. “As a parent you need to let your kids go and allow them to learn to navigate on their own.”

CAMP MEMORIES LAST A LIFETIME
Despite the types of activities your child participates in at camp, the rewards garnered from the experience at large are consistently positive, according to a study conducted by an independent research firm for the American Camp Association. The study found: “Camps build skills necessary to assume roles as successful adults, including self-confidence, independence, making friends, exploring and learning new activities. It provides growth experiences for youth that can benefit them through adulthood.”

When asked about their camp experiences, kids cited “getting along with peers, looking at challenging situations differently instead of giving up, finding a way around them, and better sportsmanship and listening skills” as things they learned. Likewise, 70 percent of parents polled reported their children “gained self-confidence, remain in contact with camp friends and continue to participate in the new activities they learned at camp.”

“In the end, the specific skills the children learn at camp are secondary to the life skills, such as how to navigate on their own, feel connected and included, and how to make their own decisions,” says Coleman. “There really is a camp for every child. As a parent you need to do your homework.”

June 30, 2006

By Hilary Parker

It’s like something out of a movie over on the Princeton University campus, where a kickball game run amok is leading to mind travel and other crazy shenanigans.

Wait.

It is a movie – created by the students participating in the Digital Video Production course, one of the many camps offered at Princeton this summer at iD Tech Camps.

“The border between what’s real and what’s not gets sort of skewed,” said Noah Bogdonoff, the 14-year-old camper from New London, Conn., who plays the mind-traveling kickballer.  Using Canon GL2 digital camcorders, the middle and high-school students in the digital video course recorded footage based on scripts they wrote and then headed back to the lab to doctor the images and add special effects.

While the video creators started with real footage of real people, many of the campers in the other iD Tech Camps such as the new 3D Character Modeling course and Video Game Creation, are creating worlds with no basis in reality.

“You get to choose what characters you want to put in and your own theme,” said 9-year-old Madison Kirton of Newtown, Pa., as she ably threw snowballs at the “bad guys” on top of an igloo.  While her stellar aim (she hit them every time) will soon allow her to advance in the game, she’ll have to wait a little bit; she has to create the next level first.

The students aren’t the only participants at iD Tech camps experiencing a new reality; three of the instructors are participants in the American Institute for Foreign Study’s Camp America, an international program that brings people to the U.S. to work at a variety of summer camps throughout the country.

One Camp America participant, Zara Phang of Malaysia, England and Scotland, is well versed in computer science, having already completed three years of study on the subject at the University of Edinburgh.  While she is working with computers at iD Tech camps this summer, the experience is entirely different from her time at university, she said, due to the interaction with the students.

“They have so much personality,” she said.  “They’re very enthusiastic.  When people start getting older, they hold back a little more.”

While computers are iD Tech Camps’ specialty, said director of the Princeton camps Jonathan Olshefski, the campers also participate in those ever-popular summer camp games like capture the flag and laser tag.  A Temple University graduate with a degree in film and media arts and English literature, Mr. Olshefski is now in his second summer with iD Tech Camps, having served as assistant director of the Princeton program last year.

Beyond all the high-tech knowledge and gaming, he said, the campers get “basic human contact – it’s an opportunity for kids to get to know each other and learn how to interact.”

Apparently, some of the campers have picked up on this as well.  Dalton Ryan, a 15-year-old from Long Island, N.Y., said iD Tech Camps is “awesome.”  In explaining why he likes the camp, he mentioned the skills the gamers learn in order to create multi-leveled games they can play with their friends.  And then, he continued talking about other favorite experiences during his week as an overnight camper, the non-technological ones.

“We hung out, we talk,” he said.