Southern Methodist University 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 Southern Methodist 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 12th season hosting summer camps at our Southern Methodist 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 Southern Methodist University summer day camps and overnight camps are located in Dallas, TX.

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 Southern Methodist 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 Southern Methodist University to host our elite summer camps in Texas because of its enduring reputation as a top university. The city of Dallas has supported SMU since its beginning, when local citizens pledged $300,000 to secure the University. SMU also boasts quite the cultural scene with its Meadows Museum, which houses one of the finest collections of Spanish art outside of Spain, including works by such masters as Goya, Picasso, and Miró.

The university is located approximately 3 miles from the Dallas Love Field Airport, and 19 miles from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Driving by car is the top mode of transportation for Dallasites, but the city does offer many transportation options, including a vast network of light-rail and bus service provided by Dallas Area Rapid Transit, making it the perfect Texas summer camp location.

Southern Methodist University

Our academic camps at SMU entail a small, caring academic community in the heart of a vibrant international Sun Belt City. Consistently ranked in the top third of national universities in the guide America’s Best Colleges, SMU enrolls more than 10,000 students from all 50 states and 100 foreign countries. Located just five miles north of downtown Dallas, the wooded SMU campus stretches over 165 acres.

Southern Methodist University Facts

Nickname: Mustangs
Founded: 1911
Schools at Southern Methodist University: SMU consists of seven schools which grant degrees: Cox School of Business, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman School of Law, Meadows School of the Arts, Perkins School of Theology, Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development, and finally the Lyle School of Engineering.
Student Population: Southern Methodist University is the host to over 6,000 undergraduates and over 4,500 postgraduates.
Rankings: SMU consistently ranks in the top third of national universities in the U.S. News & World Report annual guidebook of America’s Best Colleges. The Cox School of Business is nationally recognized as a business education leader by BusinessWeek, The Economist, Financial Times, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and The Wall Street Journal.
Athletics: SMU’s athletics teams, fondly known as the Mustangs, participate in the NCAA’s Division I (I-A for football) as a member of Conference USA (C-USA). Football is the defacto sport at SMU.
Distinguished Alumni & Personnel: Former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush; Chairman and CEO of Texas Instruments Mark Shepherd; Chairman and CEO of Enron Jeffrey Skilling; Emmy Award-winning actor Powers Boothe.
Points of Interest: Sandy Lake Amusement Park, Reunion Tower, Museum of Nature and Science, Frontiers Of Flight Museum, Dallas World Aquarium & Zoological Garden, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Children’s Museum, Aquarium at Fair Park.

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 Southern Methodist University over the years.

• Olympia: Olympia is a veteran Camp Director for iD Tech Camps with a strong background in education.  She graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a B.A. in English in 2004 and then a master’s in Educational Leadership in 2009.  During the school year she teaches high school English.
• Eric: Eric is another returning iD Tech Camps instructor with years of experience teaching in small classes and individualizing curriculum for students.  He recently graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in Film and Video, and is now pursuing a career in education.
• Colin: A senior at Southern Methodist University, Colin studies Computer Science and loves sharing his knowledge of technology with students.  He has been an instructor with iD Tech Camps for multiple years, and aside from programming, counts video games as one of his biggest passions.

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
			Raffle
1 pm		Instruction – Back to the labs, woo hoo!	Showcase Prep
2 pm
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!
4 pm			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
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 Texas Teens!

Our summer camps in Texas at Southern Methodist 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

Southern Methodist University News

Camp hones students' technical skills - Article as appeared in the Round Rock Leader

Jul 18th, 2012

Best of Summer Camp Photos 7.6.12

Jul 6th, 2012

iD Tech Texas Summer Camps on CBS Dallas!

Jun 21st, 2012

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

Apr 12th, 2012

As appeared in the Plano Star Courier - Designing the next great video game

Jul 19th, 2011

Testimonials From Southern Methodist University

What Parents Are Saying

“My son grew in ways that I never thought possible, thank you for allowing him a safe place to learn, grow and mature! Misty B., parent, Southern Methodist University

“I am very impressed with the level of enthusiasm and quality of instruction that your staff is able to pass along to my son. All of my kids look forward to participating in the future. Lisa Z., parent, Southern Methodist University

“From the minute he walked into his first camp last year, we knew Max had found his place. He took two courses last summer, he’s taking four this summer, and he looks forward to every minute. We’re impressed with the scope of offerings, something to please every gamer, and look forward to returning over the years at different campuses throughout the country as Max moves closer towards college (he’s 11 now). Other camps bore him silly; in this one, he gets to do what he loves. What a great idea! Thank you for giving my son a creative outlet like this! Ronda S., parent, Southern Methodist University

“My son’s instructor is clearly passionate about what he is doing and my son talked about him/class all the way home, every day! Great preparation for him. Brian W., parent, Southern Methodist University

“I was very impressed with how quickly my student was able to learn a complicated set of programs in one week. The small student/teacher ratio makes the difference… Pam S., parent, Southern Methodist University

What Campers Are Saying

“I can’t put into words how amazed and appreciative I am of how far my instructor went for this class. He is by far the kindest, most patient, fun and supportive instructor I’ve ever had. I strongly appreciate her responsibility, leadership, and kindness. The project was very fun and I think the instruction was awesome overall. The equipment was incredible, and overall, I had a great experience with iD Tech Camps and I hope to return next year. Joshua Z., student, Southern Methodist University

“iD Tech Camps has probably changed my life. I always wanted to have a career that involves computers, but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I loved designing maps for Unreal and I want to do it as an adult. Braxton C., student, Southern Methodist University

“I liked iD Tech Camps a lot because the staff is really helpful, the dorms are awesome and the experience is just amazing. I’m definitely coming back next year. Spencer W., student, Southern Methodist University

“The instructors are extremely caring people who are very knowledgeable in many fields besides their own. Knowing this made me feel confident about what I have learned, and I am now more prepared for the future. Joshua S., student, Southern Methodist University

“iD Tech Camps has been a great help in my overall programming experience. After teaching myself web design languages such as html, JavaScript, css, php, and xml, I started learning C#. Then I came to iD Tech Camps to learn C++, and was given a great environment to learn all the core elements. Ethan H., student, Southern Methodist 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.

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