Indiana Summer Camp Locations Summer Camps: Purdue University Computer Camps

Purdue University Computer Camps

Camp Overview
Course Availability

Camp Overview
About This U & Maps
Staff Ratio Guarantee
Safety & Peace of Mind
Sample Week
In the News
Testimonials
FAQ

Computer Camps Held at Purdue University

iD Tech Camps, Ages 7-17

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

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, guaranteed! Our adult-only staff are tech-savvy undergraduates, graduate students and professionals, passionate about teaching game design, film, computer science and more.

This is our 5th season hosting summer camps at our Purdue University location. We strike the right balance between off-computer activities (creative games, sports, life skills, etc.) and essential technology education to foster STEM skill development (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Our popular Purdue University summer day camps and overnight camps are located in West Lafayette, IN.

We offer a variety of cutting-edge summer camp courses for beginner through advanced learners. Kids and teens learn one course topic per week, specializing in video game design, iPhone® app development, programming, video editing and more – using the best brand name products from Adobe®, Apple®, Autodesk®, Google, Microsoft® and beyond. Come explore the college campus and gain skills that will last long after summer camp ends. Continue to Step 2 for Course Availability, Tuition & Dates.

About Purdue 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).

We have chosen Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, to host our computer camps because of its rich academic history and engaging collegiate atmosphere. The college and surrounding area were voted one of the “Best Communities for Young People,” and iD students get the opportunity to take in challenging tech curriculum while enjoying the fun university culture. Our Purdue location has day camp and overnight camp options, but please note that most students at this location participate in the overnight camp option (ages 10 and up).

Purdue University

Purdue University is one of the nation’s leading research institutions with a reputation for excellent, cutting-edge research and affordable education. Overall, Purdue has earned 18 top-10 academic rankings. When on campus, it is recommended to visit Purdue Mall, Purdue Bell Tower, Mackey Arena, Water Sculpture Fountain, Cary Quadrangle, Memoria Hall, Engineering Fountain, and Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music.

Purdue University Facts

Nickname: Boilermakers
Founded: 1869
Schools at Purdue University: Purdue offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in over 200 major academic areas of study. The university has a list of accomplishments that has branded them an influential University regarding America’s history of aviation. This list includes being the first university to offer college credit for in-flight training, the first to offer a four-year bachelor’s degree in aviation, and the first university to house its own airport (Purdue University Airport). Purdue’s aviation program has grown to involve advanced spaceflight technology as well, leading to Purdue’s nickname of “Cradle of Astronauts.”
Student Population: About 40,000 total students with over 30,000 undergraduates and nearly 8,000 graduate students.
Rankings: Shanghai Jiao Tong University compiled an Academic Ranking of World Universities and placed Purdue University 65th on that list. U.S. News and World Report ranked Purdue 66th among national universities.
Athletics: Purdue has always been regarded as an athletic university. They participate at the Division I/I-A level in the NCAA with 18 different teams including basketball, tennis, volleyball, football, cross country, wrestling, golf and others. Purdue is an original member of the Big Ten Conference and competes against rivals like the Indiana Hoosiers, and the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Distinguished Alumni & Personnel: Purdue has graduated very well known astronauts such as Neil Armstrong and Gus Grissom. In fact, over one third of all of NASA’s manned space missions have had at least one Boilermaker as a member of the crew. They have also have other notable alumni in sports, business, entertainment and politics. This list includes legendary UCLA men’s basketball coach John Wooden; popcorn specialist Orville Redenbacher; and founder of C-Span Brian Lamb.

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.

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.

8:1 Staff Ratio Guarantee

iD Guarantee - Small Class Sizes

We guarantee ridiculously small class sizes, with a maximum of 8 students per instructor. Why? Because our teaching philosophy is premised on personalization - your path, at your pace. iD's passionate, adult-only instructors guide students through customized curriculum with 1-on-1 teaching. The immersive environment (typically 5, 6, 7 or 8 students - but never more than 8 per instructor) is ideal for fostering creativity. Read more about the 8:1 iD Guarantee.

Adult-Only Instructors

iD Tech Camps recruits energetic, adult-only instructors to teach our technology courses and supervise our students. Our summer staff is passionate about technology. We do not cut corners by employing Counselors-in-Training. We recruit from top colleges and universities to find staff with great credentials in game development, filmmaking, web design, programming, photography, etc.

Personalized Instruction

Most courses are beginner through advanced. Our innovative curriculum is premised on a blended learning strategy. Students receive blended (or hybrid) instruction through use of the brand new iD Game Plan engine along with live 1-on-1 instruction from our team of educators. Our approach allows students to move along at an appropriate, customized pace.

Project-Based Curriculum

We encourage a hands-on, experiential approach to technology; students learn by doing. Each student is provided with a computer and works with the same products that professionals use in their fields. Students complete a project showing off their new technology skills. By focusing on practical skill development of STEM topics (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) 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 Purdue University over the years.

“Hermione”: Hermione is a second-year doctoral student in Rhetoric and Composition at Purdue University, where she teaches Introductory Composition and Business Writing. When she’s not directing and teaching at iD Tech Camps, she studies multi-modal, cultural, community, and digital rhetorics and literacies. She recently had her first academic article accepted to the online peer-reviewed journal, Enculturation. She’s really excited to teach not only the technical, but also the artistic and creative aspects of game and web design to students.
“Agent Z”: Agent Z is a first year graduate student studying Engineering Education at Purdue. He recently graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Mathematics. He is one of the first people to invent a prototype of the human larynx capable of generating vibrations and sounds. When Paul is not studying, he enjoys watching everything on Hulu, reading everything on Wikipedia, and keeping up with modern news in the world.
“Ness”: Ness recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Math and a minor in Computer Science. He has worked as a networking specialist for Rockwell and designed numerous back end productivity tools for a small webpage design company. He has competed as a semi-professional gamer for Smash Brothers, and loves sharing his passion for computers and video games. He also loves soccer, volleyball, movies, and martial arts. He’s been interested in programming since his own days at a tech camp over a decade ago, and is excited to pass on his love of programming to current students.
“Blitz”: Blitz is a fifth year undergraduate student studying Computer Science Engineering and Industrial Operations Engineering with a minor in Math at the University of Michigan. He loves hockey, football, and videogames, including Mario Kart and Smash Bros. He is very excited to teach what he loves to do! A fun fact about “Blitz”: He once kicked a field goal in Michigan stadium in front of 100,000+ people. He is also an avid music lover; he plays guitar and bass.

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 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
12 pm			Raffle
1 pm		Instruction – Back to the labs, woo hoo!	Showcase Prep
2 pm		Instruction – Back to the labs, woo hoo!
2:30 pm		Techtivities – Ultimate Frisbee? Apples to Apples anyone? Gaming tournaments? We’ve got it all!
3 pm			Family Showcase*
3:30 pm		Instruction – Back to the labs!	Family Showcase*
4 pm		Instruction – Back to the labs!	All campers - Check Out
5 pm		Day Campers - Pick Up & Closing Activities Overnight & Extended Day Campers – Open Lab/Free Time	Ultimate Gaming Weekends – Option available at select locations.
5:30 pm
6 pm	Overnight Campers - Check In	Dinner
6:30 pm	Welcome	Evening Activity - Movie Nights, Local Outings, Gaming Tournaments & more!
7 pm	Dinner	Extended Day Campers – Pick Up
7:30 pm	Evening Activity	Evening Activity – cont’d.
8 pm	Evening Activity
8:30 pm	Drills
9 pm	Chillax
10 pm	PreTeen Lights Out
11 pm	Good Night Teens

Off-Computer Camp Activities

Students spend approximately 5 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 organized sports, 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. *At Stanford, Pre-Teen Family Showcase: 2:30 - 3:30 PM, Teen Family Showcase: 4:00 - 5:00 PM

Hours/ Camp Options

Day Camp - Day Camp runs Monday through Friday, with drop off between 8 - 9:00 am and pick up between 5 - 6:00 pm (3 - 5:00 pm on Fridays, varies by site).
Extended Day - Extended Day Camp runs Monday through Friday, with check-in between 7:30 am and pick up at 7:00 pm (3 - 5:00 pm on Fridays, varies by site).
Overnight Options - Overnight camps are available at most locations for students ages 10 and up. Overnight camp runs Sunday through Friday, with check-in between 5 - 6:00 pm on Sunday and pick-up at 3 - 5:00 pm on Friday (varies by site).
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 Indiana Teens!

Our summer camps in Indiana at Purdue 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 iD Gaming Academy, iD Programming Academy, iD Visual Arts Academy and Ultimate Gaming Weekends (offered at select locations).

iD in the News

Purdue University News

iD Tech Camps Featured on Purdue Public Radio!

Jul 12th, 2012

Watch iD Tech Camps on NBC's Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda!

Apr 12th, 2012

WLFI -TV Channel 18 visits our Purdue Summer Camp in Indiana

Jun 22nd, 2011

Watch our Purdue University Camp location interview with WLFI Channel 18 Indiana

Jun 29th, 2010

As appeared in The Journal & Courier - article about Indiana technology summer camp held at Purdue

Jun 26th, 2010

Testimonials From Purdue University

What Parents Are Saying

“As our first experience with iD Tech Camps, I have to say that I am very impressed. The communication with staff on-site was excellent and every student seemed to have learned a lot. Anita C., parent, Purdue University

“Great program and well-educated staff with amazingly positive attitudes. My son was a little shy and concerned when I dropped him off, but he ended up having a complete blast; I think he is already looking forward to next year…I would recommend this camp to anyone. Thank you iD Tech Camps. Thomas R., parent, Purdue University

“Christian couldn’t stop talking about the day’s experiences and adventures during the ride home. Overall, his enthusiasm and willingness to get up early with a positive outlook during the long ride to each day’s camp adventure was a major breakthrough in his willingness to venture into unfamiliar and unknown challenges. A very positive experience for him. Michael S., parent, Purdue University

“Thank you for a great week! I know my son had a good time because we traded texts just once during the week and I asked him if he was having a good time…his answer was “Of course, I’m having an amazing time. I’m with my people.” Lissa N., parent, Purdue University

“Drake has attended iD Tech Camps 4 times, at 3 different locations. He has completely enjoyed each one. As a parent, I am happy and 100% satisfied with his experiences. I have recommended the camp to other parents and will continue to do so. Each summer, we look forward to the time for camp to begin. Way to go iD for providing an educational and unique experience for my son! We hope he can attend 2 weeks next summer! Ashley M., parent, Purdue University

What Campers Are Saying

“I have been to iD Tech Camps for three years, and every single week has been the best week of my summer. I am totally satisfied with the counselors, food and the overall care. I go home every year looking forward to the next. Al S., student, Purdue University

“The staff was awesome! They did their best to make the activities fun for both the older, and the younger campers. My particular staff teacher was a real big help in allowing me to create my map! Thank you iD Tech Camps! Michael O., student, Purdue University

“This is my second summer participating at iD Tech Camps at Purdue. I’ve really enjoyed this summer camp experience! I had a lot of fun, made several friends and learned a lot of useful things about designing and programming games. I highly recommend this camp to anyone who likes computers, video games and having fun! Justin R., student, Purdue University

“iD Tech Camps are amazing! I attained great map creating skills, while still having a great time. Thanks to iD Tech Camps, I have made many friends and new interests. In my opinion, it’s definitely one of the best camps ever! Alexander J., student, Purdue University

“iD Tech Camps combined learning with fun really well. The counselors made it so you actually wanted to work! Matthew L., student, Purdue 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 $779 to $999 per weeklong course. There are additional costs for program add-ons including lunch, overnight camp, and weekend stays.

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?
Yes. We have weeklong teen-only courses at iD Tech Camps, plus two-week pre-college Teen Academies. iD Tech Camps is for ages 7-17, and our courses and activities are divided between teen courses and pre-teen courses. In some cases, teens and pre-teens will study in the same lab (but will not be mixed in the same class). Students will be supervised at all times, but we attempt to strike the right balance of independence. Teens enjoy extra privileges appropriate for their environment and maturity levels. Special Teen Scene activities include computer gaming tournaments and Gamingpalooza.

iD also offers specialized iD Teen Academies in the topics of Game Design, Programming, Film and Photography 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.