iD News and Blog

Learn more about yourself and your interests at iD!

Meet another one of our Do Something Big success stories: Mike!

By first attending, then teaching at iD Tech Camps, Mike was able to find his passion for technology while combining it with his love of music. Mike is now pursuing both of these interests at college and on his own time.

Read an excerpt from our interview with Mike, below:

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
Mike: West Chester, PA

iD: How many years at iD (attending and working)?
M: Attended for 3 years at Villanova in 2001, 2002, and 2003 and instructed at Villanova and Sacred Heart University in 2008.

iD: What are your favorite things about our summer camp?
M: The people are a ton of fun and are all interested in learning, whether in the classroom, outside or just through conversation.

iD: How has iD inspired you?
M: iD has taught me to think bigger. After attending and working for iD Tech I was convinced I wanted to work with computers when I was older. It also taught me that I don’t have to restrict myself to one thing. I love technology, but I also love music. I’ve decided to combine those skills in my continuing studies.

iD: Is iD a good place to make friends?
M: iD is absolutely a great place to make friends. I still talk to a few of the kids I went to camp with years ago, not to mention the staff I worked with this summer.

iD: What’s your favorite tech gadget?
M: My MacBook Pro or iPod Touch; they get me through the day and keep me organized.

iD: How has iD helped you improve in other aspects of your life besides technology?
M: iD taught me a lot about being myself. When I was younger, I was a traditional geek, but iD broke the stereotypes and made me realize that you should be who you are – regardless of stereotypes. Aspire to better yourself at all times.

iD: How did iD Tech Camps prepare you for your current position?
M: Attending iD Tech gave me the idea to major in Music Industry, combining music with technology and business. Working for iD gave me experience to talk to kids and teach. This teaching is something I now do quite often to help underclassmen register for classes, etc.

Mike, we’re so proud of what you’ve accomplished and look forward to welcoming you back to instruct this summer!

Check out the full interview with Mike by clicking here.

Find out more about the courses Mike taught and the locations he worked at – this could be your chance to do something big with your summer!

 

Tags: computer camp
Posted in Do Something Big | No Comments »

 

 

What Makes a Summer Camp Thrive? It’s People!

iD Nation,

We’re rounding the corner to Summer 2009.  Our camps are thriving right now, and interest is at an all-time high for our summer computer camps.  But what makes a camp unique?  What makes iD Tech Camps unique?  SImply put:  It’s people.  Check out a few of the cool photos from a few of the very cool and creative people that are responsible for bringing iD Tech Camps to you.

A company that celebrates its employees is a company that thrives.

From our team of Regional Managers, Client Services Representatives, Admin folks, Field Services, IT and Marketing…the best team in the camp business is counting down the days until summer.  We are ready for an amazing summer.  Climb aboard!

-Pete

 

Tags: computer camp, computer camps, summer camp, Summer Camps
Posted in CEO's Blog, Summer Camps | No Comments »

 

 

Saving Time With the Actions Manager

It’s me again.  If you’re like me, you really aren’t into reading directions.  Particularly when it comes to computer applications (and games), I prefer to dive in head-first and just start working, clicking through menus and exploring the various options and what they do.  Therefore, I don’t always go as deep into applications as I would had I taken a seminar or class, or read a book.  With Photoshop CS4, however, I have found some really cool features!  One of my favorites is the action manager: you can use it to manage repetitive tasks.  For instance, I scan a lot of photos, and when all of the photos are the same initial size, I end up doing the same thing, over and over.  I cut my scanning time in half by using the actions manager (which you can get to by making sure that windows/actions is checked) to record an entire action that you often repeat.  I use it to connect to the scanner, scan a set sized photo, and save it, all with one keystroke.  All I have to do is swap photos, hit that key, and I’m ready to go again – no more mousing around in menus.

CS4 has been very, very good to me.

 

Tags: computer camp, CS4, macro, photography, Photoshop, recording, time saving
Posted in iD Tech Bloggers | No Comments »

 

 

Math, Science and Technology: Not Just for Boys Anymore

For Immediate Release
Contact: Donna Pianka, iD Tech Camps
408.871.3734 or donna@internaldrive.com

iD Tech Camps Gets Girls Interested in Technology

In today’s ever-evolving world of technology, it may seem that girls have taken a backseat to boys. While the market is tailored more toward boys, girls are just as capable as boys when it comes to learning new concepts-however they sometimes lack encouragement from inspirational role models and miss opportunities that are tailored to their interests.

In recent research published in the journal Science, it was revealed that parents and teachers consistently believe boys are better at math and technology and this “keeps girls and women out of a lot of careers, particularly high-prestige, lucrative careers in science and technology,” said Janet Hyde, the University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher who led the study.

The study went on to conclude that things are changing, albeit slowly. Forty-eight percent of undergraduate college degrees in math are now earned by women, but they still lag far behind in physics and engineering. Educators across the nation are working to combat this issue by introducing girls to technology at a younger age with programs designed more towards their interests. Paving the way in the summer camp industry is iD Tech Camps, the largest summer technology camp in the nation.

iD Tech Camps is serious about fostering a love of science and technology through an updated and diverse curriculum that is designed for girls’ tastes and interests as well as boys.

Mary Ann S. (Parent, iD Tech Camps-Emory University) wanted her daughter to discover whether she liked programming to determine a specific direction with her college major. “We searched very deeply for the right summer camp-she almost went to another, but I’m glad she didn’t,” stated Mary Ann. “She learned a lot at iD Tech Camps and this gave her the confidence she needed in programming without having to worry about a grade or being intimidated in the classroom.” Mary Ann added that her daughter has been accepted to Auburn University and is going to major in Engineering and Computer Science. iD Tech Camps helped her decide this would be her career focus!

“Engaging more girls in technology is a priority so we’ve introduced courses targeted towards girls which show through hands-on projects that a hobby can be turned into a potential career,” said Karen Thurm Safran, VP of Marketing. “For example, in our Graphic Arts course, girls that like fashion can use Photoshop® and Illustrator® to create designs for logos, fashion apparel and merchandise labels.”

At iD Tech Camps, girls can choose from a variety of courses, including graphic design, filmmaking, web design, video game design, programming, robotics and more. Being located at sixty prestigious university campuses doesn’t hurt either. While students learn more about their topic of interest, they have the unique opportunity to explore the college campus of their choice by eating in dining halls, taking tours and even staying overnight in actual college dorms. Locations include such prestigious schools as Stanford University, UCLA, NYU, Berkeley, MIT, Emory & more!

No matter which summer computer camp courses or programs girls decide to enroll in, with close to 50% of iD’s staff being women-including the company’s co-founders, Alexa Ingram-Cauchi and her mother, Kathryn Ingram-girls are taught by professional staff who are leaders in their respective fields, as well as role models. This stellar team brings out the best in each student.

As many parents like Mary Ann have said, at iD Tech Camps girls are given a chance to explore their interests in technology in an open and creative environment that fosters a love of learning combined with encouragement and positive social interaction. This is one small but integral step in welcoming girls further into the world of technology.

 

Tags: computer camp, girls camp, kids camp
Posted in Summer Camps, iD Tech Camps | 1 Comment »

 

 

Summer Computer Camp Inspires Kids and Teens to Do Something Big

I recently interviewed one of our former campers who we have featured on our website.  He attended our computer camp for five seasons and is now gearing up for college.  His story is extraordinary – but one that is replicated in big and small examples each summer.

Whether you’re contemplating joining a gym for the new year or signing up for an AP class in high school, several questions guide your decision. What will come of your effort? Will it be worth the time, energy and money? Questions like these plague parents and students on a daily basis. The fact of the matter is: we’re driven by the prospect of attaining positive results. Paying that monthly gym membership fee is a lot easier when you’re happy with your health and appearance as a result. Likewise, if a student passes his AP History exam with flying colors, that means potentially one less “boring” lower-division class in college – all those extra studying hours will have been worth it.

So when the question comes up of whether or not to attend iD summer computer camps, we’re breaking it down using this same method. Kids and teens who attend iD see immediate positive results in a variety of areas including: increased confidence, exposure to new and exciting fields, preparedness for school and even college, making new friends in a social setting, and more.  Long-term results are even more impressive. The fact is that iD Tech Camps inspires students to reach beyond themselves and aspire to do something big. What students take away from their experience at one of our 60 prestigious locations is more than you can confine to a resume (although it definitely looks good on paper too).  We conducted a survey over the summer with our iD student alumni, and the results were incredible.  We found that 94% of former iD students go on to college.  94%.  That’s significant.  We think our camps fulfill a fun, educational niche that many students just wouldn’t get otherwise.

Take a look at Ian Cinnamon. He attended iD Tech Camps for five summers. When I caught up with him the other day, my jaw dropped when he told me what he’d been up to.

Excerpt from interview with Ian:

iD: How has attending iD Tech Camps inspired you?

Ian: At 15, I wrote Programming Video Games for the Evil Genius (McGraw-Hill, 2008), at 16, I became a programmer/developer for the Apple iPhone creating several applications including “Car Finder” which was recently featured in the New York Times. Last summer I led my Harvard-Westlake (Los Angeles) rocketry club to the national “Team America’s Rocketry Challenge” competition and was recently approved by NASA as a government contractor for the Student Launch Initiative. I’ve also been involved in two UCLA science internships. The common denominator in all these activities is my love of programming and engineering which took root at iD Tech.

You can read more about Ian here.

Granted, Ian’s results are quite extraordinary, but big things can be measured in small ways too.  Better grades.  Higher self esteem.  Even simple happiness.  iD Tech Camps inspires students to take what they learn at camp and apply it in countless ways to benefit them in the future.

Want to learn more about other iD Tech Camps Alumni and their accomplishments? Check out our Do Something Big page to be further inspired.

Start your own success story with us this summer.

-Donna

 

Tags: computer camp, kids camp, programming for games, summer camp, teen summer camp
Posted in Do Something Big | 3 Comments »