Illinois Summer Camp Locations Summer Camps: Computer Camps held at Northwestern University

Computer Camps held at Northwestern University

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 Northwestern University

iD Tech Camps, Ages 7-17

WEEKLONG | CO-ED | DAY 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 13th season hosting summer camps at our Northwestern 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 summer day camps are located in the Chicago area in Evanston, IL on the Northwestern University campus.

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.

Please Note: The use of the location name is strictly for the purpose of identifying the location at which internalDrive is delivering the program. internalDrive is not a university-sponsored program. The summer camps are not affiliated with nor endorsed by Northwestern University.

About Northwestern 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 the Northwestern University campus to host our summer academic camps for teens and kids. Northwestern University is recognized both nationally and internationally for the quality of its educational programs at all levels. Our summer camps in Evanston border the shore of beautiful Lake Michigan and lie only 12 miles north of downtown Chicago. O’Hare International airport is only 15 miles west of Northwestern, making camp accessible for students joining our IL summer camp location from out of state. Evanston is also accessible by train. Come and check out our Chicago area summer camps!

Northwestern University

The summer camps are not affiliated with nor endorsed by Northwestern University.
NU is often considered one of the best universities in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report. Places to check out while at Northwestern University include the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Mary and Leigh Block Museum, Kohl Children’s Museum, and the Grosse Point Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.

Northwestern University Facts

Find more details about Northwestern University by going to www.northwestern.edu.

Mascot: Willie the Wildcat
Founded: 1851
Schools at Northwestern University: NU currently has six undergraduate schools, with its most popular being the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences that hosts 51.2% of undergraduate students. 17.2% of the students are enrolled in the McCormick School of Engineering, 14.7% in the School of Communication, 8.4% in the Medill School of Journalism, 5.0% in the Bienen School of Music, and 3.4% in the School of Education.
Student Population: Northwestern enrolls about 18,000 students a year, with the following breakdown: 8,284 undergraduate, 8,249 graduate, and 1,495 professional students. Females represent a slightly larger portion of the undergrad population at 51.6%.
Rankings: Northwestern is large and considered a highly residential research university. It offers over 130 undergraduate programs and 70 graduate and professional programs, and awarded 2,089 bachelor’s degrees, 2,665 master’s degrees, 462 doctoral degrees, and 416 professional degrees in 2006–2007.
Athletics: Northwestern is an original member of the Big Ten Conference and the conference’s only private institution. The University fields 19 intercollegiate athletic teams (8 men’s and 11 women’s) that compete at the Division I level in the NCAA. The most notable and successful NU teams include men’s soccer, wrestling, swimming, golf, men’s tennis and women’s tennis, softball, fencing and lacrosse.
Distinguished Alumni & Personnel: Many of those who have attended Northwestern have accomplished greatness in their respective areas, including entertainment, business, sports and politics. This list includes: Academy Award-winning actor/writer/director Warren Beatty; Emmy Award-nominated actor for his work on TV show Scrubs Zach Braff; model Cindy Crawford, Emmy Award-winning actress for TV show Seinfeld Julia Louis-Dreyfus; Chairman and CEO of Citigroup Women and Company Lisa Caputo; President and CEO of Campbell Soup Company Douglas Conant.

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 the summer camps over the years.

“Nox”: Nox is a returning instructor with many years of summer camp experience. He enjoys the energetic back and forth of the creative process with students and loves seeing students express themselves artistically. He hopes to get students excited and eager to create truly professional layouts and designs. Outside of camp, Nox is a freelance digital artist, comic-book illustrator, martial artist, poet, writer, and generally enjoys being a really big nerd.
“Storm”: Storm is a returning instructor with iD Tech Camps. She attended the University of Iowa for a degree in Elementary and Middle School Education, and this fall she will be student teaching here in Evanston. She continues to return to iD because she loves creating a great camp experience for new kids every year.
Kevin: Kevin is a recent graduate from Tribeca Flashpoint Academy where he earned his Associates of Applied Sciences in Game Art. Prior to that, he studied at UIC, earning a BFA in Photography/Film/Electronic Media. He worked on several game projects throughout his college career, wearing different hats along the way. His love for 3D modeling is paired beautifully with his passion for all things animated. As a 2D animator, he has done freelance work for RPM Visual Media, an online marketing group.
“Quanzie”: Quanzie is an iD Tech Camps veteran with experience both as an instructor and a director. He works for the Hope Institute Learning Academy in the West Loop as an Educational Technology Coordinator during the school year. In his spare time, he is pursuing a master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration at National Louis University. Outside of camp, Quanzie is an avid biker and enjoys Chicago’s many theaters
“GreaseMonkey”: GreaseMonkey attended 3 separate years at iD Tech Camps as a student, and loved his experience so much he decided to come back and share his knowledge with a new generation of young minds. Now he has almost 4 years of experience with the Source SDK and Hammer editor, and he loves teaching courses that involve video games and modding. He hails from Northern Michigan and graduated from North Central Michigan College with an associate’s degree in General Studies. He is currently attending Michigan Tech to pursue degree in Computer Science. In his free time he enjoys programming, surfing the web, playing guitar and singing.

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 Illinois Teens!

Our summer camps in Illinois 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

News

Learn how to make apps over vacation. Article as appeared in Time Out Chicago Kids

Jan 29th, 2013

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

Apr 12th, 2012

Summer Camps in Illinois News - As Appeared in Chicago Parent

Feb 23rd, 2012

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

Jun 22nd, 2011

As appeared in The Pioneer Press - article about teen summer programs in IL

Aug 5th, 2010

Testimonials

What Parents Are Saying

“My 12-year-old son loved seeing his original comic book character pop off the page and onto the screen! Thanks for helping him realize his dream of learning 3D animation and modeling using the Maya software. Demetrius W., parent

“The Camp Director rocked! Saftey was number one prioity which made me feel great since this was my son’s first experience with this camp. Definitely coming back. Aja H., parent

“This was our first experience with iD Tech Camps, but probably not the last. We weren’t sure what to expect, but my son clearly enjoyed the projects and interaction with other kids who share his interests. Kris T., parent

“Great counselors, well organized and very personable. My son had a great time and was excited to go to camp every day. We are looking forward to next year. Suzanne W., parent

“I was particularly impressed with the conversation and comments my son’s instructor shared with me at the end of the week. Sometimes you wonder what the kids are doing during camp…You know they are having a blast, but are they learning something genuine and buildable? After the weekly showcase, I felt very good as a parent that I sent my son to iD Tech Camps. It will be easy to say “yes” when he asks to return next summer! Jennifer B., parent

What Campers Are Saying

“iD Tech Camps is a great experience for those who want to learn things they didn’t know before. Keep up the good work, iD Tech Camps! Benjamin B., student

“This camp is very educational…it has great instructors, great projects and great technology. Ryan T., student

“iD Tech Camps has been the greatest thing I have done all summer. It’s fun, you learn and the instructors are amazing. I have four words for you: “iD Tech is awesome.” If I had a chance to do it again, I’d accept in a heartbeat. Julia R., student

“I loved this camp so much that by the end of the first day, I knew one week was not long enough. Thank you so much for this awesome experience. Nicholas R., student

“This camp is fun and interactive. It teaches you a lot about your subject, and all of the instructors are nice and cool. All of that makes this camp an awesome thing. Mason D., student

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.