Missouri Summer Camp Locations Summer Camps: Washington University in St. Louis Computer Camps
Washington University in St. Louis Computer Camps
- Camp Overview
- About This U & Maps
- Staff Ratio Guarantee
- Safety & Peace of Mind
- Sample Week
- In the News
- Testimonials
- FAQ
Computer Camps Held at Washington University
iD Tech Camps, Ages 7-17WEEKLONG | CO-ED | DAY CAMPS | OVERNIGHT CAMPS
COURSE TOPICS: VIDEO GAME DESIGN, PROGRAMMING, APPS, WEB DESIGN & MOREIgnite 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.
This is our 7th season hosting summer camps at our Washington 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 Washington University summer day camps and overnight camps are among a handful of elite summer camps located in St. Louis, MO.
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, Flash® animation, 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 Washington University in St. Louis
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 host our summer camps in Missouri at Washington University because the University is counted among the world’s leaders in teaching and research. Washington University’s beautiful campus is just 14 miles south of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport near Interstates 170 and 64. Come check out our perfect day camp and overnight camp location at Washington University!
Washington University
Founded by St. Louisans in 1853, this prestigious 169-acre hilltop campus features predominantly collegiate Gothic architecture, including a number of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The award winning author T.S. Eliot is among 23 Nobel Prize winners who are members of Wash U’s alumni. The University also boasts 23 Rhodes Scholars to date.
Washington University Facts
Nickname: Wash U Bears
Founded: 1853
Schools and Colleges at Washington University: Washington University offers both Undergraduate and Graduate Programs through the College of Arts & Sciences, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Olin Business School, School of Engineering, School of Law, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Graduate School of Art, Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design, School of Medicine, Central Institute for the Deaf.
Student Population: In 2007, with only 1,338 spots at the undergraduate level, Washington University received 22,428 applications. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2011 was a highly competitive 19% and more than 90% of freshmen coming in that year were ranked in the top 10% of their high school class.
Rankings: Washington University realizes that a school’s reputation isn’t all about academic rankings. Aiming to provide an all around enjoyable college experience, Wash U was ranked #1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review in 2008, making it the perfect Missouri summer camp location. This was done without sacrificing academic integrity and their undergraduate program maintained the 12th overall ranking and the 11th spot in admissions selectivity in the 2010 U.S. News & World Report.
Athletics: The Washington University Bears participate in the University Athletic Association and compete at the NCAA Division III level. The Bears have totaled 16 NCAA Division III Championships and 130 UAA titles in 14 different sports. Going way back to 1904, Wash U’s Francis Field was the host site of the 1904 Summer Olympics. Francis is also home of the Bears’ Football, Soccer, and Track and Field teams.
Distinguished Alumni & Personnel: Notable Wash U alumni who have had successes in business include Global Director for General Motors Corporation Thomas J. Feichtinger; CEO of Anheuser-Busch Dave Peacock; and founder of Men’s Wearhouse George Zimmer.
Points of Interest: Some great sites to see at our Missouri summer camps in St. Louis include: St. Louis Zoo, Gateway Arch, Missouri Botanical Garden, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, City Museum, Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis and the World Aquarium.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.
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 Washington University over the years.
- “Commander Shepard”: Commander Shepard has been designing games since he was a little boy, planning out level layouts and character designs on paper before he even knew how to program. As a high school student, he took every programming class available and taught himself C++ afterwards. Since he graduated, he has taught campers at iD Tech Camps the skills to fulfill their dreams for multiple seasons. As a senior studying Computer Science at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, Commander Shepard has been a developer for the Megaminer AI tournament. He enjoys sushi, Mass Effect, and long walks on the beach.
- “Storm Queen”: Storm Queen is a native of St. Louis and attends Columbia College Chicago. She has a background in education, having worked for several years as Art Director at a local day camp, and knows the secrets behind crafts, clapping games, cheers and even computers.
- “Summit”: Summit attends Washington University in St. Louis and hails from Florida. He plans on majoring in Electrical Engineering with minors in Economics and Computer Science.
- “Redbeard”: The Commodore grew up outside of Boston, MA. He is studying Computer Software and Networking at Middlesex Community College. In his spare time he works in a computer repair shop, fixing broken PCs.
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 - Breakfast8:30 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 Time5:30 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 St. Louis Teens!
Our summer camps in Missouri at Washington 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
Washington University News
Watch iD Tech Camps on NBC's Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda!
Apr 12th, 2012
As appeared in the Suburban Journals - What I did on my summer vacation: create video games
Jul 11th, 2011
Jul 18th, 2010
Mar 21st, 2007
As appeared in Savvy Family - Byte into summer vacation by Alyssa Stahr
Apr 1st, 2006
Testimonials From Washington University
What Parents Are Saying
“I was really impressed with all the enthusiasm from the staff and how they interacted with their students during class time and in the evenings with the overnight campers. Kim L., parent, Washington University in St. Louis
“The program was extremely well put together. My son worked hard every day, and on the final day, I got a chance to play his game and I can say that I was extremely impressed. I am glad he was able to participate and I look forward to him returning! Mikael A., parent, Washington University in St. Louis
“Eric has attended iD Tech Camps for three years, and each year has been outstanding. The staff interaction with the students is great. The pictures on the basement are helpful for “kid sick” parents. Barbara S., parent, Washington University in St. Louis
“This was my daughter’s 4th year at iD Tech Camps, and the experience was wonderful, once again. The quality of the instruction is second to none, and the staff is fun and engaging. We are thankful to have such an amazing camp available for our kids. Amy C., parent, Washington University in St. Louis
“My son really enjoyed the personalized instruction and was encouraged to try what he learned in the course. Everybody should attend this camp if possible. Eun S., parent, Washington University in St. Louis
What Campers Are Saying
“I had a great time at iD Tech Camps. I learned many things about programming, and the many different activities were awesome. Andy L., student, Washington University in St. Louis
“This camp gave me a superb insight into how video games are made. I will be sure to do this camp next year. Jonathan W., student, Washington University in St. Louis
“This was one of the greatest camps I have ever been to. All of the teachers and campers were great! I also did things I never thought I could do on a computer. Levi G., student, Washington University in St. Louis
“Camp was great! Friends were made, knowledge was obtained, and fun was had. If anybody, ANYBODY, wants to go into any field of game development, this is the best camp for teens an preteens alike. Tristan N., student, Washington University in St. Louis
“These camps just keep getting better and better. It’s inspiring to know that there are so many people here that are dedicated to their students and helping them grow and mature. Justin M., student, Washington University in St. Louis
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.
