Texas Summer Camp Locations Summer Camps: University of Houston Computer Camps
University of Houston 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 the University of Houston
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 University of Houston 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 Houston summer day camps and overnight camps are located in Houston, 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, 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 the University of Houston
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).
The University of Houston’s 560-acre campus includes lush greenery, fountains, sculptures, and recreational fields surrounding modern classrooms, high-tech laboratories and study facilities. Its proximity to the heart of the nation’s fourth largest city, Houston, is also quite an advantage. UH is located inside Loop 610 approximately 7.5 miles north of William P. Hobby Airport – making it a convenient day camp and overnight camp option in Houston. Come check out our summer camps in Houston, TX at the University of Houston!
University of Houston
We have chosen UH to host our summer camps because it is Texas’ premier public metropolitan research and teaching institution. UH stands at the forefront of education, research and service. Likewise, the resources of the Gulf Coast region complement and enrich the university’s academic programs.
University of Houston Facts
Nickname: Cougars
Founded: 1927
Schools at University of Houston: The University of Houston offers coursework through a variety of academic colleges, as follows: Hines College of Architecture, Bauer College of Business, College of Education, Cullen College of Engineering, Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston Law Center, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Optometry, College of Pharmacy, Graduate College of Social Work, College of Technology.
Rankings: The University of Houston has been recognized for Campus Ethnic Diversity and ranked #2 among national universities by U.S. News & World Report. The Princeton Review has also recognized the academic quality of the University of Houston and has ranked their entrepreneurship program as the best in the nation. In terms of public universities who produce CEOs of S&P 500 companies, the University of Houston ranks 5th according to Bloomberg Markets.
Athletics: The University of Houston Cougars are members of Conference USA, and since the conference was formed in 1995, UH has won a respectable 33 titles. The University of Houston sponsors 16 intercollegiate programs, with their most successful programs being men’s golf, men’s basketball (five NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four appearances), and men’s baseball (two appearances in the College World Series). In addition, the University of Houston has produced more than 50 Olympic athletes, who have brought home 33 medals, 19 of which were gold medals.
Distinguished Alumni & Personnel: Those in entertainment who have attended the University of Houston include actor Dennis Quaid; actor Randy Quaid; country music singer Kenny Rogers; and former Managing Editor and Anchor for the CBS Evening News Dan Rather. Cougars who have gone on to success in professional sports include former NBA Center for Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors Hakeem Olajuwon. Other notable alumni include the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics Mary Kay Ash, and founding developer of WordPress Matt Mullenweg.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. Lunch is provided to all students on Fridays, as part of an iD-style picnic.
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 the University of Houston over the years.
- “Star”: Star is an energetic teacher who has worked with kids for the past 20 years. She is currently a Technology Integration Specialist with Katy ISD. Over the past year, she has worked with the Mobile Learning Device Team to integrate mobile devices into the curriculum. She has worked with iD Tech Camps for 4 years at different universities. She loves continually learning new technologies and working with kids!
- “Pluto”: Pluto has a master’s degree in Computer Science from American University in Washington, D.C. He is certified in Adobe Dreamweaver, and he was part of the award-winning 2010 eduStyle Web Design team at American University. His hobbies include reading, listening to old school music, playing various sports games and editing videos.
- “Titan”: Titan is a returning instructor with over 3 years of experience in summer technology education. The programming wizard and video game superstar is studying game design out at USC in Los Angeles, and with several years of experience in programming and making games, he is excited to be able to share what he’s learned with students.
- “Neptune”: Yale student Neptune specializes Computing and the Arts, a brand new major that combines the innovation of technology with the creativity of art and design. She is a Yale University campus tour guide, a dedicated mentor with “ReadySetLaunch” (a Chase Community Giving award winning service organization), and the senior managing editor for The Yale Record, America’s Oldest College Humor Magazine. Before Yale, she went to Bellaire High School where she received an International Baccalaureate diploma.
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 Texas Teens!
Our summer camps in Texas at the University of Houston 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
University of Houston News
As appeared in the Star-Telegram - article about video game careers
Jul 6th, 2011
As appeared in The Houston Chronicle - article about learning to create video games at our TX camps
Jul 16th, 2010
As appeared in The Tomball Potpourri - article about our TX summer camps in Houston
Jun 29th, 2009
As appeared in The Lake Houston Sentinel - article about our TX summer camps in Houston
Jul 19th, 2007
As appeared in The Houston Chronicle - article about our Houston computer camps for kids in Texas
Jul 11th, 2007
Testimonials From the University of Houston
What Parents Are Saying
“My son could not wait to head off to camp every day! I felt he was well taken care of and excited that he was able to spend the week at a university doing something he loves. Melissa K., parent, University of Houston
“I was very impressed with the organization, counselors and facilities. A very positive experience that I would not hesitate to recommend to others. Cameron P., parent, University of Houston
“My son had a great experience. I appreciate all the effort of the staff to help my son with his project. He is now excited to tackle this project at home. Thank you to all the staff members for this wonderful experience. Giovanni T., parent, University of Houston
“I loved the interaction with the camp counselors during check-in and check-out. My son loved his course and felt that he was learning new things every day. Kellie B., parent, University of Houston
“My son had an awesome time at iD Tech Camps. It was a great opportunity to combine his creative skills with computer skills. Angela D., parent, University of Houston
What Campers Are Saying
“This was a great camp, and now I know how to make my own map on Unreal Tournament. I’m definitely coming back next year. Billy F., student, University of Houston
“Everything I have experienced at iD Tech Camps was great. The instructors were helpful, accommodating and overall fun people to be around. Best experience I’ve had this summer… Matthew L., student, University of Houston
“My instructor was a good teacher and all of the others were also very cool. I cannot think of a single complaint. I learned what I wanted to learn and had fun while doing it. The skills I have learned will help me later in life through hobbies and possibly careers. In total, I believe that this camp was very worth it, and I will gladly return next year if I get the chance. Timo F., student, University of Houston
“I really enjoyed coming to this camp every day. I liked working with the instructors who were very knowledgeable about the particular subjects we had chosen to learn about. All-in-all I enjoyed my experience here and made many lasting friendships. Thanks iD! Adam Y., student, University of Houston
“The camp was fun and full of gaming experiences! I have enjoyed meeting other people with the same love of technology! Zoe H., student, University of Houston
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.
