My Fox New York  visited iD Tech Camps  on June 24, 2008.  Click here to see iD Tech Camps in action!

July 19, 2006

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

Click article to view in full size