Math, Science and Technology: Not Just for Boys Anymore

January 15th, 2009 by: Donna

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.

January 15th, 2009 | Tags: computer camp, girls camp, kids camp

Posted in: iD Tech Camps, Summer Camps

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Summer Computer Camp Inspires Kids and Teens to Do Something Big

December 5th, 2008 by: Donna

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

December 5th, 2008 | Tags: computer camp, kids camp, programming for games, summer camp, teen summer camp

Posted in: Do Something Big

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