Camp Overview

About This U & Maps

Staff Ratio Guarantee

Safety & Peace of Mind

Sample Week

In the News

Testimonials

FAQ

Computer Camps Held at American University

iD Tech Camps (Ages 7-17) and iD Programming Academy (Ages 13-18)

Ignite your internalDrive and do something BIG this summer! iD Tech Camps is a family company – and our company is a unique place. Some call it magical. We’re the World’s #1 Tech Camp – consistently ranked a Top Workplace. One of our big secrets? Ridiculously small ratios. Small ratios mean personalized instruction – just 8 students per instructor or fewer – or you get a free week of camp, guaranteed! Our adult-only staff are tech-savvy undergraduates, graduate students and professionals, passionate about teaching game design, film, computer science and more.

At American University, we offer two distinct programs: iD Tech Camps and iD Programming Academy.

 

iD Tech Camps, Ages 7-17

WEEKLONG | CO-ED | DAY CAMPS | OVERNIGHT CAMPS
COURSE TOPICS: VIDEO GAME DESIGN, PROGRAMMING, APPS, WEB DESIGN & MORE

This is our 10th season hosting our summer camps in the D.C. area and our 4th season at American University. Our popular American University summer day camps and overnight camps are among a handful of elite summer camps in Washington, D.C. We strike the right balance between off-computer activities (creative games, sports, life skills, etc.) and essential cutting-edge technology education to foster STEM skill development (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

We cover cool topics from video game design to iPhone® app development, Flash® animation, programming, video editing, web design, robotics and more. Most courses are for beginner to advanced learners. Learn the best brand name products from Adobe®, Apple®, Autodesk®, Google, Microsoft® and more. Ultimate Gaming Weekends serve as a bridge for overnight students attending multiple weeks.

Continue to Step 2 (iD Tech Camps) for Course Availability, Tuition & Dates or jump to the iD Programming Academy.

 

Additionally at American University

iD Programming Academy, Ages 13-18

TWO-WEEKS | CO-ED | OVERNIGHT ONLY | TEEN-ONLY | INTENSIVE PRE-COLLEGE EXPERIENCE IN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING & APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

The iD Programming Academy offers 2–week sessions of intensive study in computer science programming. Gain a deep understanding of application development–and a broader knowledge of how programming can be applied to the real world. The iD Programming Academy is perfect for students with previous programming experience who are looking to take their code to a whole different level.

About American University

NOTE: Looking for our exact location on campus? You must first be enrolled; you can then access that information through My Account. Not yet enrolled? Go to Step 2 to enroll. The maps included here are for general information only.

Many students use their summer camp experience with iD Tech Camps to explore colleges that they’re interested in attending in the future. Learn on campus, eat in the dining halls and ages 10+ can even stay overnight (at most campuses).

Our computer camps at American University give students the opportunity to take in iD’s challenging program while enjoying a culturally rich, collegiate atmosphere. These popular Washington, D.C. summer day camps and overnight camps are a great option for kids and teens. Come check us out!

American University

American University is one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. Located at the top of Embassy Row, American University’s 84-acre, tree-lined campus is located in one of the most attractive and safe residential areas of Washington, D.C.

American University Facts

Nickname: The Eagle
Founded: 1893
Schools at American University: College of Arts and Sciences, Kogod School of Business, School of Communication, School of International Service, School of Public Affairs, Washington College of Law.
Student Population: Over 6,000 undergraduates and over 3,900 postgraduates comprise the student body. American University enrolls about 1,500 freshmen each year, with an average GPA of 3.8 and SAT of 1266. The average class size is 23 and the student-faculty ratio is 14:1.
Rankings: Recently, American University was named the most politically active school in the nation in The Princeton Review’s annual survey of college students. The Fiske Guide to Colleges ranked AU as a “Best Buy” college for the quality of academic offerings in relation to the cost of attendance.
Athletics: A member of the Patriot League, AU is home to a wide variety of athletics, including men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, cross-country, swimming & diving, track, women’s volleyball, field hockey, lacrosse and men’s wrestling – not to mention several club sports.
Points of Interest: The Smithsonian, the National Monuments and Memorials, the Three Houses of Government, Georgetown, concerts at Wolftrap Farm Park, Mount Vernon, Old Town, Alexandria, the Air & Space Museum.

Meals

All meals are included with our overnight and extended day programs. Day campers have the option of purchasing the lunch plan or bringing a sack lunch. The lunch plan is recommended, but not mandatory. If the lunch plan is purchased, lunch is provided Monday-Friday. Many university dining facilities do not permit outside food to be brought into the dining hall; students bringing bag lunches may eat outside of the dining hall with their classmates and instructors. Lunch is provided to all students on Fridays, as part of an iD-style picnic.

Maps/Carpool

See maps and driving directions in My Account for detailed directions on how to get to our exact location on campus.

Want to Carpool? Go green and save some green when you carpool to camp! Sign up for our Carpool app in My Account to see the other families in your area that are interested in carpooling.

Staff Ratio Guarantee

iD Guarantee

Students learn in small classes for a personalized experience. How small? Classes typically have 5, 6, 7, or 8 students – but never more than 8 per instructor. That's the iD Guarantee - if we ever go over an 8:1 ratio, you get a free week of camp!

Adult-Only Instructors

iD Tech Camps recruits energetic, experienced instructors to teach our technology courses and supervise our students. Our summer staff is adult-only, with no Counselors-in-Training.

Personalized Instruction

Courses are personalized to students' abilities, and therefore suitable for beginner to advanced levels in most cases. Because of the ridiculously small ratios (max 8:1 or a free week with the iD Guarantee), instructors have time to consistently work with students 1-on-1 and adjust curriculum to their interests and experience level.

Project-Based Curriculum

We encourage a hands-on approach to technology; students learn by doing. Each student is provided with a computer and learns to work with the same products that professionals use in their fields. Students complete a project showing off their new technology skills by the end of each weeklong session they attend. By focusing on practical applications of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills, iD prepares students to take their new tech knowledge back into the real world.

Staff at this Location

Meet some of the amazing instructors that have taught at American University over the years.

• “Leeni”: Leeni is a veteran iD Tech Camps instructor with many years of teaching and directing experience. She hails from Pottstown, Pennsylvania initially, but has been a transplant to the D.C. area for the past 5 years. Having recently graduated from George Washington University with a double major in Dramatic Literature and Creative Writing, she spent a year working with the Jr. National Young Leaders Conference, which brings exceptional middle school students to D.C. to learn about leadership in an experiential environment. She is excited to bring her youth education experience to camp!
• “Momo”: Momo is a multi-year teaching veteran with iD Tech Camps at American University. She recently graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.F.A. in Photography, a B.A. in Women’s Studies and a minor in Psychology. She has spent the past year working with the YMCA’s Girl Force mentoring program and teaching after school drawing classes through Young Rembrandts. After the camp season, she plans to expand her teaching experience by working with elementary students in South Korea.
• “Reese”: Reese has taught with iD Tech Camps for many years at locations including Washington University and Georgetown.  He loves teaching and has been working with children since high school. He has a B.F.A. in Advertising Design from the Washington University in St. Louis. When he’s not at camp, Reese is a professional video editor, a motion graphics designer working in video systems for local colleges, and an audiovisual technician.
• “Thirds”: Thirds holds a B.A. in Computer Science from Rutgers College and received a Digital Arts degree in Photography from the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University. He has taught and led after school programs and worked for organizations based in education, technology and non-profit. He also shoots for several local web and print publications and is working on many fine art projects.
• “Fever”: Fever is a second-year undergraduate student at the Rochester Institute of Technology where he studies Information Security and Forensics. Computers and all things technology have been his passion for his entire life, and being able to share that passion with campers all summer long is amazing! To keep his programming skills sharp, he has been actively working with friends on independent programming projects.
• “Kamina”: Kamina is a pending graduate of the University of MD Baltimore County, with a double major in Secondary Education and Computer Graphics. His tools of the trade are Autodesk Maya, Photoshop CS5, and AfterEffects CS5. He’s developed both 3D and 2D assets for games currently on the iOS App store, and enjoys game modding on engines such as the Neverwinter Engine in his spare time.

Safety & Peace of Mind

Risk Management

Adult staff and instructors supervise all activities. iD has a policy of never using Counselors-in-Training (CITs).

American Camp Association^® Accreditation

iD Tech Camps is accredited by the ACA at multiple locations, meaning we have met over 300 health and safety requirements. All camps follow ACA guidelines.

Background Checks

We conduct criminal background checks, sexual offender background checks, multiple reference checks and identification checks on all summer staff.

CPR & First Aid

All camps have Directors and Staff that are CPR and First Aid Certified.

Sample Week

A typical day varies depending on session and location, but it might look something like this:

	SUNDAY	MONDAY - THURSDAY	FRIDAY
7:30 am		Extended Day Campers – Check In Overnight & Extended Day Campers - Breakfast
8:30 am		Day Campers - Drop Off & Arrival Activities
9 am		Welcome & Opening Activity	Finesse Projects to Gold Version
9:30 am		Instruction – Jump on the computers!
10 am
11 am			Friday Activity
12 pm		Lunch – Overnight and Extended Day Campers eat in the campus dining hall.  Day Campers can choose to bring a bag lunch or purchase the meal plan.	Picnic Lunch
			Raffle
1 pm		Instruction – Back to the labs, woo hoo!	Showcase Prep
2 pm			Family Showcase
2:30 pm		Techtivities – Ultimate Frisbee?  Apples to Apples anyone?  Gaming tournaments?  We’ve got it all!
			All campers - Check Out
3:30 pm		Instruction – Back to the labs!	Ultimate Gaming Weekends – Option available at select locations.
5 pm		Day Campers - Pick Up & Closing Activities Overnight & Extended Day Campers – Open Lab/Free Time
5:30 pm	Overnight Campers - Check In
6 pm	Welcome	Dinner
6:30 pm	Dinner	Evening Activity - Movie Nights, Local Outings, Gaming Tournaments & more!
7 pm		Extended Day Campers – Pick Up
7:30 pm	Evening Activity	Evening Activity – cont’d.
8 pm
8:30 pm	Drills
9 pm	Chillax
10 pm	PreTeen Lights Out
11 pm	Lights Out!

Off-Computer Camp Activities

Students typically spend 5-6 hours on the computer each day. iD Tech Camps is careful to balance technology and fun - giving students Tech-Reation time. When they're not on the computer, students participate in fun summer activities like talent shows, play board games, compete in sports, take part in gaming tournaments and more.

Family Showcase

Every Friday afternoon, we invite parents and friends to come and experience iD Tech Camps. See the labs where students learn, explore campus, meet our staff, applaud students' course projects and attend the personalized diploma ceremony.

Hours/ Camp Options

Day Camp - Day Camp runs Monday through Friday, with drop off between 8:30 - 9 am and pick up between 5 - 5:30 pm (3:30 pm on Fridays).
Extended Day - Extended Day Camp runs Monday through Friday, with drop off at 7:30 am and pick up at 7 pm (3:30 pm on Fridays).
Overnight Options - Overnight camps are available at most locations for students ages 10 and up. Overnight camp runs Sunday through Friday, with drop off at 6 pm on Sunday and pick up at 3:30 pm on Friday.
Ultimate Gaming Weekends - Stay the weekend and game with us. UGW is fully supervised and includes housing, meals and supervision. It is available at the end of an Overnight Camp week or as a bridge between two consecutive weeks of Overnight Camp. Not available at all locations.

Attention Washington, D.C. Teens!

Our summer camps in Washington, D.C. at American University just got even cooler for our teen students. We have specialized teen activities including free time to hang out, movie nights, extra project time, and as always, plenty of gaming. Check out our other cool teen-only programs like the Ultimate Gaming Weekends (offered at select locations).

iD in the News

American University News

As appeared in the Main Line Media News- Camp 2.0: Kids learn technology at Villanova

Jul 20th, 2011

As appeared in The Washington Post - Business RX: Fostering entrepreneurial skills in the next generation

Mar 16th, 2011

NBC Channel 29 Visits Our Charlottesville, Virginia Summer Camp

Jul 2nd, 2010

As appeared in The Daily Record - article about our Towson summer camps in MD

Feb 21st, 2009

As appeared in The Brentwood Journal - article about our Nashville kids summer camps in TN

May 16th, 2007

Testimonials From American University

What Parents Are Saying

“Attending iD Tech Camps for the past two years has allowed my normally introverted daughter to express herself positively among campers with interests similar to hers. Theresa M., parent, American University

“My son has been gaming since he was 4 years old and this camp was perfect for him. He was able to finally build a game that matched his abilities and solidified his dream of designing games as his preferred career choice for his future. Thanks for such a great experience! Jennifer S., parent, American University

“My son is now excited more than ever about computers and the infinite possibilities that they afford. iD Tech Camps have taught him to use his imagination when using computers and not to rely on what already exists. This has been an overall wonderful and exciting experience for him and is one that he will never forget. Lisa H., parent, American University

“My son was enrolled in a basic course and we were called after the first day and told that he was progressing quickly and the instructors had taken the time to 1) notice, and 2) get him moved quickly into a more advanced class. This type of attention and action is what every parent dreams of. Whether a child needs extra support, or an extra boost – the extra is what will bring us back next summer. The instructors went out of their way to take care of my son and he in turn was up every morning at 6AM clamoring to get to camp. Thank you. Kate C., parent, American University

“I’m proud of my daughter, especially in light of her never having programmed before. I see loads of growth just in one week and now really believe she has a future in programming. Laryssa K., parent, American University

What Campers Are Saying

“The instructors are friendly, knowledgeable and eager to help. The programs were fun and informative. Definitely my favorite summer program. Samuel R., student, American University

“I made a lot of new friends during my week at iD Tech Camps, and the things I learned will definitely be useful in future programming careers. I will be back next year to learn something new. Lawrence P., student, American University

“My experience at iD Tech Camps was completely and utterly amazing. I learned so many skills and values that go beyond this classroom. Michael G., student, American University

“This is a fantastic organization…the instructors are all very nice and helpful – they make the camp fun! All the computers used were of excellent quality and perfect for this course. Alex A., student, American University

“This is an AWESOME camp and my game design course was AMAZING! I got to CREATE my very own game and was able to bring it home! I loved this camp and I will come back again and again. Matthew D., student, American University

Frequently Asked Questions

What courses are offered at this location?
Go to Step 2.

When does camp start?
See Step 2 for the dates of our weeklong university summer computer camps.

How much does camp cost?
The cost of tuition varies depending on the course, location and camp option that you choose. Basic Day Camp ranges from $749 to $1,049 per weeklong course. There are additional costs for program add-ons.

How can I save on tuition?
There are many ways for you to save!

• Register early to take advantage of our seasonal promotions.
• Refer-a-Friend and you and your friend both save $50.
• Sign up for multiple weeks to save $50 off each additional week.
• Register multiple siblings and save $50 for each sibling.

Do you offer financial aid?
iD Tech Camps is proud to offer tuition assistance for families who qualify. Application deadlines are announced each year in the Spring.

What is your cancellation policy?
Balance payments, less the non-refundable deposit, are refundable up until 3 weeks prior to the start of the confirmed camp week/session. No refunds will be issued for cancellations or withdrawals within 3 weeks of the start of confirmed camp weeks/sessions. All cancellations must be made online in My Account or submitted in writing to the internalDrive Inc. office no later than 3 weeks prior to the start of camp. For more details, please see our Terms & Conditions.

Does my child need to have a high computer IQ?
No, our courses are for beginner to advanced students. Because of our small ratios, instructors can work with students 1-on-1 and personalize the curriculum for each student's level.

Should my child bring a personal laptop to camp?
No, students do not need to bring laptops to camp. We provide a computer for each student to use for the week. All materials necessary for the course will be provided.

Do you have any teen programs?
iD Tech Camps has a Teen Scene that provides older students with a more independent experience on campus. Teens enjoy extra privileges appropriate for their environment and maturity levels, and although we maintain standard supervision ratios, teens will feel a sense of freedom. Special Teen Scene activities include computer gaming tournaments and Gamingpalooza.

iD also offers specialized iD Teen Academies in Gaming, Programming and Visual Arts at select locations across the country. These teen camps are intensive, two-week courses with tours of nearby industry hot spots and bi-weekly portfolio building workshops. See our iD Teen Academies page for more information.

How do I register? How do I contact you?
To register, find availability at the location you desire, and you'll be guided through the process. Registering online is the fastest way to get into camp. Or, you can phone us at 1-888-709-TECH (8324) or 1-408-871-2227. You can also email us at info@internalDrive.com. And, if you'd like a brochure sent to you, please click the brochure link.

Course Tuition (Program options are found on the next step)