Pennsylvania Summer Camp Locations Summer Camps: Villanova University Computer Camps

Villanova 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 Villanova University

iD Tech Camps (Ages 7-17) and iD Gaming 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, guaranteed! Our adult-only staff are tech-savvy undergraduates, graduate students and professionals, passionate about teaching game design, film, computer science and more.

At Villanova University, we offer two distinct programs: iD Tech Camps and iD Gaming 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 12th season hosting our summer camps held at Villanova University. 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). Our popular Villanova University summer day camps and overnight camps are located in the Philadelphia area of PA.

We cover cool topics from video game design to iPhone® app development, 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 Gaming Academy.

Additionally at Villanova

iD Gaming Academy, Ages 13-18

TWO-WEEKS | CO-ED | OVERNIGHT ONLY | TEEN-ONLY | INTENSIVE PRE-COLLEGE EXPERIENCE IN VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT

The iD Gaming Academy offers a 2–week intensive program in the dynamic worlds of game development, game programming, level design and 3D modeling. Academy courses are geared for beginner to advanced teens ages 13-18. Use industry-standard applications like Autodesk^® Maya^®, Adobe^® Photoshop^®, XNA^® for the Xbox 360^®, Unreal^® Development Kit (UDK), and the Unity game development tool as part of our video game camp for teens. Ready to learn from top faculty, creating your own game development portfolio? You'll also tour a major game development studio.

About Villanova 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).

iD Tech Camps has chosen to host our summer academic camps at ‘Nova because it is one of the country’s top engineering educational programs. Recently, it was ranked the #1 “Best College” in the North by U.S. News and World Report.

Philadelphia International Airport is located 25 minutes from the Villanova campus, making it an excellent option for our multiple Northeast summer computer camps. The campus is also directly accessible by train. Come check out our Pennsylvania summer camps!

Villanova University

Located just outside one of America’s great cities, Philadelphia, Villanova’s 254-acre campus is tranquil, serene, and beautiful. Villanova University is a comprehensive Roman Catholic institution that welcomes students of all faiths and offers a wide variety of degree programs through four colleges.

Villanova University Facts

Nickname: Wildcats
Founded: 1842
Schools at Villanova University: Villanova University offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs through different divisions: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, Villanova School of Business, College of Nursing, and the School of Law.
Student Population: Villanova University remains a highly competitive institution, with a current overall undergraduate acceptance rate of 39%. Over 50% of incoming freshman graduated in the top 10% of their high school class, with almost 100% graduating in the top quarter of their high school class. In terms of where Villanova’s students reside, about 21% of the students are Pennsylvania residents, with the remaining 79% of students hailing from other states.
Rankings: Villanova University has always been highly regarded as a premier academic institution. In fact, U.S. News and World Report has ranked Villanova #1 for more than a decade in the Best Universities-Masters category in the northern region. Also, the Villanova University School of Law was ranked as a Top Law School by the 2009 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools.” Aside from academics, PC Magazine and The Princeton Review rated Villanova as #1 in its listing of top “wired colleges,” making it the perfect location for our Pennsylvania summer camps.
Athletics: The Villanova Wildcats have recently enjoyed great success with their men’s basketball teams. Other varsity men’s programs include baseball, cross country, golf, football, soccer, lacrosse, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field. Villanova fields women’s teams in the following sports: basketball, cross country running, lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, softball, rowing, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and water polo. Most of Villanova’s sports teams participate in the NCAA’s Division I and are Big East Conference members. Villanova’s Football and Men’s Lacrosse teams play in the Colonial Athletic Association, while the Women’s lacrosse team plays in the Patriot League.
Distinguished Alumni & Personnel: Bradley Cooper, the actor who has most recently appeared in The Hangover and Wedding Crashers, attended Villanova University.
Points of Interest: Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia, The Liberty Bell.

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 Villanova University over the years.

Sarah: Sarah has been a director at iD Tech Camps for over 4 years, and before that she worked as a year-round program director for a camp in New York. She also spent her summers in college working as a camp counselor, so she has lots of experience with camp and youth education. She has a master’s degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and a B.A. from Lenoir-Rhyne University.
“Keasbey”: Keasbey has taught with iD Tech Camps for many years. He graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and has a strong background in game and level design, as well as 3D modeling and 2D animation. He currently works as a freelance graphic artist for small local businesses, and plans to expand his career to include work as a concept artist/illustrator for games and film.
“The Great Stintini”: The Great Stintini is originally from Lancaster, PA and has been with iD Tech Camps for multiple seasons as an instructor and as an assistant director. She graduated from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art with a BFA in Photography and Art Education, and since then she’s been busy combining art, education and technology. She currently works at the School District of Philadelphia as an elementary school art teacher, and freelances as a photographer at weddings and special events.
“Cuzzo”: Cuzzo is a returning instructor with degrees in Math and Computer Science. He currently works for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston as a software engineer. He really enjoys teaching and loves returning to iD Tech Camps year after year.
“Stallion”: Stallion is an undergraduate at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia studying Multimedia with a focus on interactive design. He has a background in design and illustration, as well as programming, and has several years of experience working at different summer cmaps.
“Apollo”: Apollo is a graduate of Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. While in college he gained valuable experience with many 3D and 2D content creation tools. He specializes in environmental art for video games and movies, and has also worked on character modeling and animation in a production setting. Outside of iD Tech Camps, Apollo works as a freelance 3D artist.
“Ms. PacMan”: Ms. PacMan graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with an emphasis in animation. She also focused on editing, compositing and modeling. She is currently a freelance animator, mainly working as the head animator for GenevaMars. When not working, Ms. PacMan can be found searching for something new to read and learn about.
“Tron”: Tron is currently an undergraduate student at Brown University getting his B.S. in Computer Science. During the academic year, Tron works in Brown’s Department of Computer Science as a teaching assistant for the more intensively theoretical introductory computer science track. He looks forward to sharing his extensive knowledge of theoretical and practical computer science at iD Tech Camps.

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 Pennsylvania Teens!

Our summer camps in Pennsylvania at Villanova 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

Villanova University News

Watch iD Tech Camps on ABC Philadelphia News!

May 10th, 2012

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

Apr 12th, 2012

Summer Camps in NJ and PA News - As Appeared in the Princeton Packet

Feb 1st, 2012

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

Jul 20th, 2011

As appeared in The Pittsburgh Tribune - article about PA summer camp activities

Jun 3rd, 2010

Testimonials From Villanova University

What Parents Are Saying

“iD Tech Camps was a wonderful experience for my son. I appreciate the staff’s enthusiasm and warm support as my son felt very comfortable at a camp where he was initially afraid “he would not know anyone.” The meal-service was excellent and the overall organization (pick-up/drop-off/sign-in and out) was excellent. It’s nice to know of a non-competitive, high-learning and fun camp in our area. We will be back next year! Lauren T., parent, Villanova University

“iD Tech Camps was awesome. My son was thrilled, and enjoyed the week so much that he wants to come back for four solid weeks next time. He learned a great deal, made an intricate game and worked with helpful and supportive classmates and his instructor. Thanks for an incredible experience. Karyn P., parent, Villanova University

“My son was inspired to be creative and loved working on his projects. We really appreciate the effort put into hiring good instructors and making this possible. Barbara S., parent, Villanova University

“My son was very excited about the camp. He enjoyed learning Java. The instructor shared his knowledge of the subject and provided a positive role model. My son, a highly motivated student, wants to learn more and will be back for additional camps this summer and next year. The camp sparked his interest in computer science and I know he will continue to investigate other opportunities to learn in this field. I want to thank the staff for encouraging this quest! Gale F., parent, Villanova University

“Our son was utterly turned on by his first experience with Java programming, discovering a new world he will surely plan to explore further. Thanks! Michael H., parent, Villanova University

What Campers Are Saying

“I had an absolutely fantastic time for my second summer at iD Tech Camps. The staff is just awesome… games, software, camp mates, facilities – all great. I’ll definitely be back next year. Sean W., student, Villanova University

“I enjoyed playing games with everyone else, outdoor and online. I liked the friendly staff and their ability to make every learning moment, easy or not, fun. David L., student, Villanova University

“I loved my session at iD Tech Camps! I learned so many new things from my instructor and fellow campers, including Photoshop. The food was great, the staff was friendly, and the games were awesome! I really hope to come back next year. Samantha T., student, Villanova University

“My instructor was very personable and helpful in learning and project-making. The software was great and easily accessed from home. Overall, a great experience! Jacob G., student, Villanova University

“Another great week at iD Tech Camps! My instructor was able to handle the group and keep us focused. I learned much more than I thought I would, and that will help me in the future. Will M., student, Villanova 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.