Washington Summer Camp Locations Summer Camps: University of Washington Computer Camps
University of Washington 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 Washington
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, 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 University of Washington 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 University of Washington summer day camps and overnight camps are located in Seattle, WA. GO HUSKIES!
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.
Additionally at the University of Washington
iD Gaming Academy, Ages 13-18TWO-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 the University of Washington
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 UW main campus to host our popular Seattle academic summer camps because it is recognized for the excellence of its academic programs, faculty, research contributions and public service. The SEA-TAC Airport is approximately 25 minutes away, making University of Washington is an easily accessible option for both a day camp and an overnight camp. Come check us out!
University of Washington
Aside from impressive academics, the University of Washington is also known for its athletic programs – “Go, Dawgs!” Did you know the founders and owners of iD Tech Camps are a brother and sister duo who both graduated from UW?
University of Washington Facts
Nickname: Huskies
Founded: 1861
Schools at University of Washington: Through 140 different departments, The University of Washington offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. The list of UW schools is as follows: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Built Environments, School of Dentistry, College of Engineering, The Graduate School, Michael G. Foster School of Business, College of Education, College of the Environment, Information School, School of Law, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, School of Public Health, and the School of Social Work.
Student Population: As one of the largest universities in the nation, UW had 40,216 students for the 2006-2007 academic year. In 2007, the average high school GPA of incoming freshmen was an impressive 3.75, with the average SAT combined score being 1251. Members of ethnic minority groups occupy 33% of all undergraduates at the University.
Rankings: The U.S. News and World Report ranked the University of Washington 41st among “national universities.” Both the University’s School of Medicine and School of Nursing are ranked #1. For the School of Nursing, this #1 ranking has been the norm, going all the way back to when the first nursing school survey was conducted in 1984. Equally impressive, their Primary Medical has achieved #1 ever since the first ever U.S News & World Report ranking of such schools.
Athletics: Selected by the student committee in 1922, The University of Washington Husky continues to be one of the most recognizable mascots in all of college sports. The husky actually replaced UW’s former mascot, the “Sun Dodger,” an intangible reference to the mostly wet weather experienced by those in the Pacific Northwest. While the costumed “Harry the Husky” performs at sporting events, a true Alaskan Malamute (appropriately named “Dubs”) has historically lead the Husky football team onto the field at the start of home games.
Distinguished Alumni & Personnel: The University of Washington’s most notable alumni include CEO and co-Founder of MySpace Chris DeWolfe; co-Founder of Baskin & Robbins Irv Robbins; and former NFL quarterback and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Warren Moon.
Points of Interest: EverGreen Escapes Tours, Seattle Food Tours, Pike Place Market, Museum of Flight, and Washington Park Arboretum.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 our University of Washington camps over the years.
- Rachel: A multi-year iD Tech Camps veteran, Rachel has a strong background in both education and film production. She received her BFA in film production in 2006, and is currently earning her master’s in teaching at Seattle University. She will be student teaching 5th grade in Seattle next year. Prior to iD, she worked in Japan with the JET Programme teaching English in Japanese public schools for two years.
- Alex: With 6 years of experience working at outdoor recreation camps in Southern California and New Hampshire, Alex has the education/recreation balance down. He graduated in 2007 from Occidental College in Los Angeles with a B.A. in Philosophy, and following a brief stint as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts State House of Representatives, decided that his passion is working with young people. He has spent the last 3 years as a coach and substitute teacher in the Los Angeles area, and is very excited to enter the field of summer tech education.
- Jason: Jason has been involved in STEM outreach for many years, teaching robotics and engineering at schools throughout Boston, New York, Puerto Rico and Seattle. He recently graduated from Tufts University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and will pursue his master’s degree in Music Technology at Georgia Tech this fall. He has developed iOS applications for a few small Boston companies, as well as the Tufts University Future Technologies Laboratory and the Tufts University music department. He is excited to introduce students to an up-and-coming industry and see what they will be able to create.
- Connor: Connor has been creating games recreationally for many years and studies game design along with creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University. He also runs CMU’s “Game Creation Society,” an organization dedicated to collaborative game creation, and is scheduled to teach a university class on Game Criticism in the fall. He can’t wait to share his passion for game design with iD Tech Camps students!
- Maisha: In addition to previous education experience as a camp counselor, Maisha has a whole lot of tech cred as a former robotics competitor. She was captain of her school’s robotics team and led her classmates to nationals twice during high school. She is also an award-winning photographer, and she looks forward to sharing her diverse skills with students this summer.
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 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 TimeUltimate 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 Washington Teens!
Our summer camps in Washington at the University of Washington 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 Washington News
The Minecraft Phenomenon - CCTV-America visits iD Tech Camps Spring Break Camp
May 2nd, 2013
Gaming Academy comes to Washington University - Article as Appeared on develop-online.net
Apr 25th, 2013
Watch iD Tech Camps on NBC's Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda!
Apr 12th, 2012
Jul 1st, 2008
Jun 12th, 2006
Testimonials From the University of Washington
What Parents Are Saying
“The family showcase was great – it was exciting to hear my son talk about his project, and to see the skills he learned. I especially enjoyed getting the chance to meet his instructor, who exuded positivity and humor, and clearly took time to get to know and encourage each student. Thanks! Vanessa M., parent, University of Washington
“Thank you for providing a safe and fun environment for my son to thrive and get a chance to do things he really enjoys – with people just like him. Since I have lost the ability to keep up with his gaming, it is great to have him challenged in a positive manner. Julie T., parent, University of Washington
“My son LOVED his class and the expertise and positive attitude of his instructor, who really went above and beyond to help my son build his game and learn to use the software. His advice was spot-on and he added so much positivity to the experience. We really appreciated all of the staff and the instruction at iD Tech Camps. We will definitely recommend it to others and my son will certainly be back next year. Cari H., parent, University of Washington
“We had a fabulous instructor who was energetic about the subject. This was clearly illustrated in the children’s enthusiasm toward their game creation. Heather M., parent, University of Washington
“I’m quite pleasantly surprised at what my son was able to implement in C++. Thanks for helping him have a great experience. The enthusiasm of the staff is superb and completely appropriate for these kids. John S., parent, University of Washington
What Campers Are Saying
“I have enjoyed going to iD Tech Camps, and always go home feeling like I learned something. Thanks to iD, I managed to get an iPhone app on the App Store and I have made money already. Daniel S., student, University of Washington
“I really love how my instructor and everyone was supportive and caring. I made new friends here and would recommend this camp to everyone interested in game making. Michael R., student, University of Washington
“iD Tech Camps is such a great place to make friends and learn new things. This is my 3rd year…As an overnight camper, it is so much fun to be in a dorm room. This camp is a great place and I’d recommend it to anybody. Alley Q., student, University of Washington
“I had a great time! Since the first day, I felt as though I belonged with the community. My instructor was fun and had a great sense of humor, and taught me a lot during the week. I had plenty of fun and gained some friendships along the way. Wesley T., student, University of Washington
“I really like how the instructors are fun and make you feel welcome. I had a ton of fun! Aidan A., student, University of Washington
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.
