University of Wisconsin – Madison 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 Wisconsin

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 3rd season hosting summer camps at our University of Wisconsin-Madison 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). These popular summer day camps and overnight camps in Wisconsin are located in Madison.

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 the University of Wisconsin – Madison

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 University of Wisconsin to host our academic summer camps because of its high quality reputation as a “Public Ivy.” As the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin system, the University of Wisconsin-Madison is an extremely large academic institution, made up of over 42,000 students. The campus in Madison is located about a mile from the Wisconsin state capital and is built over 933 acres of land – making it the perfect summer camp location. Our University of Wisconsin summer program is a short 20-minute drive from Dane County Regional Airport. Come check out our Wisconsin summer camps!

University of Wisconsin-Madison

One of the largest universities in the United States, UW-Madison is regarded as a “Public Ivy” thanks to its reputation of academic excellence. Over 42,000 students call themselves Wisconsin Badgers and attend courses in buildings and facilities spread over 933 acres of land.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Facts

Nickname: The Badgers
Founded: 1848
Campus: Just outside of the state’s capital, the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus spreads over 933 acres. On campus, students can find a police force, hospital, food services, recreation facilities, and even an on-campus dairy.
Student Population: Over 42,000 students attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, nearly 29,000 of which are undergraduates.
Rankings: The University of Wisconsin-Madison is consistently recognized and one of the top schools in the nation. In 2009, the US News & World Report ranked UW-Madison 35th among undergraduate programs of national universities. The school has been labeled a “Public Ivy,” a name given to publicly-founded universities that provide studies and opportunities that compare to those of Ivy League schools.
Athletics: The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s major sport teams participate at the highest level as members of the NCAA’s Division 1-A. Most Badger teams compete in the Big Ten Conference with other powerhouses like the University of Michigan and Ohio State University.
Distinguished Alumni and Personnel: Notable UW-Madison alumni include Carol Bartz, CEO of Yahoo!; and Charles Lindbergh, aviator. Frank Lloyd Wright also attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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 Wisconsin camps.

• Tim: Over the past 10 years Tim, aka “Big Papa P,” has lead over 30 weeks of summer camp.  These include everything from sports camps to church camps and science camps.  When the sun isn’t high in the sky and the days get shorter, Tim can be found in his classroom teaching Science classes to middle school students in the Madison area.  Tim is passionate about education and the outdoors, makes sure to infuse summer fun into camp with his rocking tie-die and sweet shades.
• “Marbles”: Currently a junior at UW-Madison, Marbles is majoring in computer engineering. Marbles joins the UW location after teaching in our summer camps across the lake at University of Michigan. He has a large interest in both computers and technology and loves sharing them with students.  With a vast knowledge of programming, game design and coffee, Marbles always offers a fresh take on today’s technology.  Look for him solving the problems of the world while enjoying a latte.
• “RAWR”: With a degree in media production from UW-Madison and real-world knowledge of graphic design, RAWR brings the world of design and production to life for students.  She currently runs a production company in Madison that offers a full array of editing and video services.  Her background in summer camps makes her a strong player in our summer camp lineup.
• “Lazer Face”: Lazer Face recently graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. At SCAD he studied Game Design and 3D Modeling. He is currently working on a Facebook game set to debut in the next year, and he loves playing and making video games.

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 Madison Teens!

Our summer camps in Wisconsin at University of Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin News

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

Apr 12th, 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

As appeared in the Detroit News - article about video game summer camps in Ann Arbor

Jul 27th, 2010

As appeared in The Pioneer Press - article about tech courses in St. Paul

Jul 5th, 2010

Testimonials From the University of Wisconsin

What Parents Are Saying

“The instructors were charismatic and fun. My son felt so comfortable and part of the crowd, which is not always the case. Loved this camp. Jori C., parent, University of Wisconsin – Madison

“My son was very enthusiastic about attending camp every day of the week and made some new friends along the way. He is looking to attend again next year. Christopher V., parent, University of Wisconsin – Madison

“My son came home every day energized and excited about what he was working on. He had positive things to say about his instructors and really learned a lot! Thanks so much! Jennie E., parent, University of Wisconsin – Madison

“This experience lit a fire in my son and has him already planning the creation of a sequel to his game. He loved his camp experience, and I loved seeing him so excited by what he learned. Thanks to all the staff for making this such a positive experience. Trish C., parent, University of Wisconsin – Madison

“All of the instructors were enthusiastic and helped my son see where he could go in the future. I am so glad he was able to have this experience. It will be easier to motivate him to think about the future and what he wants to do. Rachel C., parent, University of Wisconsin – Madison

What Campers Are Saying

“iD Tech Camps was so fun! I had a great time making video games…It was a lot of hard work, but I definitely caught on fast. I had a great time! Michael H., student, University of Wisconsin – Madison

“I had a great time learning about how to use professional-grade software to make something amazing (despite the difficulty). Mitchell P., student, University of Wisconsin – Madison

“The entire area was clean and convenient. The instructors were well informed and helpful. Overall it was an enjoyable and informative experience. Christopher S., student, University of Wisconsin – Madison

“I had the best time of my life. I normally don’t see many people who are even interested in programming. This has been an amazing experience for me and I will be attending every year from now on! JT S., student, University of Wisconsin – Madison

“I fully enjoyed iD Tech Camps and its instructors. It was a great experience that helped me shape my future goals. Austin R., student, University of Wisconsin – Madison

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)