Frequently Asked Questions

The below FAQs primarily answer questions about iD Tech Camps. For more specifics on the iD Gaming Academy, the iD Visual Arts Academy, the iD Programming Academy or Ultimate Gaming Weekends, please click on the appropriate link.

We hope that you find these FAQ’s regarding our computer camp helpful. The answers to many of your questions can also be found in our Program Details.

Quick Links to Answers Below

General Information
Q: What is the iD Difference?
Q: How long have you been running technology camps?
Q: What makes you different from the other summer tech camps?
Q: Do students typically register for one or multiple weeks?
Q: What about 4th of July?
Q: Do you offer credit for continuing education?

Adult Staff & Small Ratios – The Gold Standard
Q: Where do your instructors come from?
Q: What is your student-to-staff ratio?
Q: Why don’t you use Counselors in Training?

Courses & Curriculum
Q: What’s new in 2010?
Q: What course should my child take if he/she has never participated in a computer camp?
Q: What if my student already has experience?
Q: How do you determine your age requirements?
Q: Do students take one topic for the entire week or multiple topics?
Q: How can I find out if the course I want is still open for enrollment?
Q: What software do you use?
Q: Do you use Macs or PCs at iD Tech Camps?

Meals & Special Needs
Q: Which meals do you provide?
Q: How do you handle students with food allergies/special dietary needs at camp?
Q: Is iD Tech Camps a suitable environment for a child with special needs?

Activities
Q: How much time do students spend on the computer each day?
Q: What off-computer activities are there?
Q: What is the Teen Scene?
Q: Do you have gaming tournaments?
Q: What are Ultimate Gaming Weekends?

Risk Management
Q: What safety measures are taken in the overnight program?
Q: Can I observe a camp before I register my child?
Q: Can I sit in on a course?
Q: What is your medication policy?

Tuition
Q: What is the cost of your tuition?
Q: Do you have a referral program or Refer-a-Friend program?
Q: Are financial aid or scholarships available?
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
Q: What if my child gets sick before/during their week of camp?

Already Registered
Q: Already registered for our 2010 camp season and still have questions?
Q: What is my Camp Account and what are the Required Forms?
Q: Do you provide transportation for students? What about Carpooling?

General Information

What is the iD Difference?
iD Tech Camps is a family-owned company. Our dedication and true desire to be the best has made us the largest, most recommended camp of our kind. We average just six students per instructor and use the best BRAND NAME products at our summer camps. Each student will have access to his/her own computer while at camp and will be instructed only by paid adult staff. Read the iD Difference page to see why more students enroll at iD Tech Camps than any other computer camp.
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How long have you been running technology camps?
This will be our 12th season hosting iD Tech Camps at prestigious universities nationwide. Our goal is not to be the biggest, just the best. Our Board of Directors, Managers, and Instructors lend a well-rounded perspective to iD Tech Camps. iD Tech Camps has a meticulous plan for growth, emphasizing a word we invented: Techcellence. Our ideas are inspired by evaluations from past seasons’ campers, parents and instructors. Find out more about us and read the iD Difference.
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What makes you different from the other summer tech camps?
We are a family-owned company and we believe in quality and nothing less. Our reputation as the best has been well-earned. With an average 6:1 student-to-staff ratio and an individual computer for each student, our instructors are able to tailor our curriculum to each student. Distinguishing ourselves from most summer camps, we’ve respectfully created a “No CIT” policy. This guarantees that each student is instructed and supervised by paid adult staff ages 18 and older, not teenagers of camp age. Our instructors work hands-on with each student and are experts at blending the traditional camp experience with cutting-edge technology education. We also hold our programs at prestigious universities and colleges nationwide.
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Do students typically register for one or multiple weeks?
Our courses are designed so that students can register for one week at a time. Many students choose to sign up for multiple week packages to build on their skills and learn new subjects. It is not uncommon for students to stretch their skills for 3, 4, and even 5 consecutive weeks. Please note that whether you choose to register for one or several weeks of summer camp, your student will have a blast and leave camp having learned a new skill, as well as complete a project they can be proud of.
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What about the 4th of July?
The 4th of July will be camp as usual at iD – with a special twist! Each of our locations may offer special activities for the HoliDay. Students will definitely know it’s the 4th of July at iD Tech Camps!
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Do you offer credit for continuing education?
iD Tech Camps will be looking into offering Continuing Education Units for 2010. Credit earned for our CEUs is a nationally recognized unit of measurement for participation in non-credit continuing education programs. Back to top

Adult Staff & Small Ratios – The Gold Standard

Where do your instructors come from?
At iD Tech Camps, our staff is family! Each member of our team comes to us with a blend of spirit, energy, enthusiasm, knowledge of technology and experience with kids and teens. Our goal is to ensure that every location is comprised of experienced, returning camp counselors along with new individuals who bring a fresh perspective to camp.

Many of our instructors are graduate and undergraduate students in Education, Engineering, Computer Science, Film and Programming. Often these instructors come from the same recognized universities where we host our summer programs including Stanford, MIT and Columbia University. We also employ tech coordinators, teachers and principals from various school districts, and seasoned professionals taking a sabbatical to train students in their respective industries. Click here for all locations.

Staff members undergo in-person training as well as extensive background checks each summer. We have a great crew that comes back year after year to create a unique and high-energy environment.
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What is your student-to-staff ratio?
We have raised the standard for learning with extremely small course sizes averaging only 6 students per staff member. All students receive hands on, one-on-one instruction throughout the day and are provided with a computer, so there is no need to share. Our curriculum is customized for beginner to advanced learners so that each student can work at his/her own pace.
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Why don’t you use Counselors in Training?
Distinguishing ourselves from most summer camps, we’ve respectfully created a “No CIT” policy. This guarantees that each student is instructed and supervised by paid adult staff members, ages 18 and older, not teenagers of camp age. CIT’s, we feel, can be an asset to some camps, but not iD Tech Camps. Read more about how we teach.
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Courses & Curriculum

What’s New in 2010?
As North America’s #1 technology summer camp, we know you count on us to pave the way. This summer will be no exception. We are excited to announce new courses, new locations, new teen programs, new curriculum, a new carpool application, new referral program and much more. Click here for more details on what’s new.
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What course should my child take if he/she has never participated in a computer camp?
Adventures in Game Design and Adventures in Programming are two courses designed specifically for beginning to advanced students ages 7-10. We are excited to offer our RPG Game Design & Graphic Arts Hybrid course, the perfect sampler course for students ages 9-12. For students ages 10-17, we recommend starting out in Game Creation – Arcade & Platform, Web Design & Flash® Animation or Video Editing & Special Effects.
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What if my student already has experience?
Experienced students and iD Alumni – we have the perfect challenge for you. With our new curriculum, students will be able to move along faster and more independently, or collaborate utilizing our customized lessons while still receiving our gold standard 1-on-1 instruction (average 6 students per staff).

In addition to NEW curriculum in all courses, we have some brand new courses that are perfect for returning campers including: 3D Game Design – Role Playing Games, FPS Game Design – Unreal^® Engine 3, Game Modding – Warcraft^® III & StarCraft^®, Game Modding – Half-Life^® 2, Adventures in Programming, Graphic Design, and more!
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How do you determine your age requirements?
We carefully consider the age range for each course as we update our course curriculum each season. Age requirements are based on a number of factors, including feedback from past campers, the complexity of the software used, and our many years of experience. Our age policy is to allow students to take a course provided they meet the age requirement by December 31 of the camp year.
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Do students take one topic for the entire week or multiple topics?
Students enroll in one course topic per week (except in RPG Game Design & Graphic Arts Hybrid or our Sports & Tech and Surf & Tech offerings). We offer a unique program that is designed to give each student a thorough understanding of his/her curriculum topic in a week’s time. If students register for multiple weeks, they have the option to take a different course each week or to repeat the same one. Students who choose to take the same course for multiple weeks will build upon the skills they learned in their previous week of camp with our customized curriculum.
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How do I find out if the course I want is still open for enrollment?
You can view the “Real Time” availability of all of our courses, locations and dates right online! Just select your university or college of interest on our locations page. This information is updated by-the-minute so remember to refresh the page often.
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What software do you use?
We work closely with many companies (Apple®, Adobe®, Autodesk^TM, Microsoft®, Clickteam® and others) to provide students with the latest software programs available. We make every attempt to use only the latest software releases at our camps.
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Do you use Macs or PCs at iD Tech Camps?
We use both platforms at our summer computer camps. Most of our courses are taught on PC’s, but we attempt to mirror the industry standard in each of our summer camp courses. For example, our programming courses are typically taught on PC’s and our digital video courses are generally taught on Macs. We find that it is an important skill to be proficient on BOTH platforms.
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Meals & Special Needs

Which meals do you provide?
Students at iD Tech Camps will have a number of meal options. All meals are included with our overnight and extended day programs, starting with Sunday dinner and lasting through Friday lunch. 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 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.
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How do you handle students with food allergies/special dietary needs at camp?
Communication is key. If your student has food allergies or requires any other special accommodations, please be sure to notify us in advance in order to allow us time to accommodate your needs. There are a number of ways we work with families to communicate this key information to the camp level.

Upon registration, you will be provided access to your Camp Account, where you have the opportunity to enter more detailed information into your student’s required Health Form. We also ask that you please notify your Camp Director on your first day of camp. It is crucial that your Camp Director is aware of your child’s needs so he/she can adequately provide guidance at meal and snack times. If your child has severe food allergies, we recommend sending your student to camp with a bag lunch. If you are interested in registering your student as an overnight camper, please call us toll-free at 1-888-709-TECH (8324), option 1.
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Is iD Tech Camps a suitable environment for a student with special needs?
While iD Tech Camps is not specifically a special needs camp, our instructors are trained to handle special circumstances to a limited extent. We have found that if students are able to function without an aide at school, they generally do very well at camp. If your child does require an aide at school, you must ensure that an aide accompanies your child to camp. According to iD Tech Camps policy, the aide must be over age 18 and may not be the parent, guardian or an immediate family member. Any aide attending camp with a student must achieve a favorable result on a criminal background check, as well as interview with the iD Tech Camps HR Department prior to attending our camps.

We have had many special needs students attend our camps in the past and they typically do well in our program. However, if for some reason it is determined that camp is not a suitable or productive environment for your child, the total tuition for camp is non-refundable per our cancellation policy. We encourage you to call our Client Services Department with any questions at 1-888-709-TECH (8324), option 1.
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Activities

How much time do students spend on the computer each day?
On average, students will spend 5-6 hours per day (approximately 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours after lunch) on the computer (students will spend about 2 hours on the computer on Fridays). Students will take frequent breaks and will also engage in our Tech-Reation activities during the day. We are experts at blending traditional summer camp activities (sports, gaming tournaments, chess tournaments, outdoor activities, etc.) with forward-thinking technology courses. Note: Students in RoboContenders spend more time working with robots than working on the computer.
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What “off-computer” activities are there?
We are a summer computer camp, but are we in the labs all day? No! Balance is the key to every week at iD. While we are in the labs a majority of the day, we certainly take time out for outdoor activities and Tech-Reation. Tech-Reation activities may include organized outdoor games, movie night, Guitar Hero®, talent shows, additional gaming competitions and the ultimate university experience. Activities are divided by age and interests whenever possible and may vary by location. Imagine a traditional summer camp with a technology focus – that’s what we are.
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What is the Teen Scene?
Our Teen Scene is designed to provide teens with a more independent experience while giving them a taste of life on a college campus. iD’s Teen Scene Camp is a special teen camp experience geared towards youth between the ages of 13-17. With our teen gaming tournaments and time to socialize with friends, teens feel right at home at iD Tech Camps.
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Do you have gaming tournaments?
YES! Gamers are in heaven with iD Tech Camps Gaming Tournaments. We also have Pre-Teen Tournaments for students ages 7-12! Games are rated “E” for Everyone and “T” for Teen.

Teens, get ready! Our NVIDIA®-hosted Teen Gaming Tournaments will showcase the industry’s hottest teen games. We use NVIDIA GeForce® gaming cards for peak gaming performance. Play BIG titles from Activision®, Blizzard® Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Microsoft® GameStudios^TM and more. Games rated “T” for Teen and “M” for Mature may be used and will be selected at the sole discretion of iD. Please note: tournaments DO NOT infringe on instructional time.
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What are Ultimate Gaming Weekends (UGW)?
Ultimate Gaming Weekends is a weekend summer program for teens that we are offer at multiple overnight iD sites throughout the country. Students will be immersed in the dynamic and exciting world of video gaming. UGW is fully supervised by iD Staff, and includes housing, meals, supervision, gaming, and outdoor games on campus. The cost is $349 per weekend. If you are enrolling for multiple weeks of our overnight program and want to stay the weekend between sessions, UGW is perfect for you!
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Risk Management

What safety measures are taken in the overnight program?
Risk management is our number one priority. Adult staff supervise ALL classes, activities, dining and boarding. Overnight students will stay right in the dorms on campus. Boys and girls will generally be housed on separate floors or opposite wings of the dormitory. Most locations have both male and female instructors that stay in separate rooms on the same floor as the students, generally near fire exits and stairwells. Every staff member who comes in contact with students at camp is required to undergo thorough background checks. We run not only criminal background checks, but also sexual offender background checks, identification checks and multiple reference checks. All iD camps have directors and staff that are CPR & First Aid Certified.
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Can I observe a camp before I register my child?
For security purposes, we do not permit non-students (parents or unregistered students) to sit in on courses. We require all staff to undergo thorough background checks. We understand that parents are very interested in what their children are doing at camp and have therefore created our Family Showcase event. Family Showcase takes place on Friday afternoon to provide parents with an opportunity to view their student’s projects and get a feel for their child’s camp experience.
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Can I sit in on a course?
For security purposes, we do not permit non-students (parents or unregistered students) to sit in on courses. We require all staff to undergo thorough background checks. We understand that parents are very interested in what their children are doing at camp and have therefore created our Family Showcase event. Family Showcase takes place on Friday afternoon to provide parents with an opportunity to view their student’s projects and get a feel for their child’s camp experience.
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What is your medication policy?
If your child will be taking medication while at camp, you will be asked to fill out a list of prescribed medications your son/daughter/ward MUST take while attending camp. All medications must be given to our Camp Director at check-in. The medication must be in original containers that identify, in English, the prescribing physician (if a prescription drug), the name of the medication, the dosage and the frequency of administration. The medication will be dispensed as instructed by you. For more details, please read our Medication Policy.
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Tuition

What is the cost of your tuition?
The cost of tuition will vary depending on the camp option, course and program that you select. iD offers unique programs designed to provide each child with a thorough understanding of his/her curriculum topic. We pride ourselves on our cutting-edge programs. Each student at iD Tech Camps will work on their own computer throughout the week, so there is no reason to share. Our students will use high-tech software and industry-grade equipment in a unique university setting. Also, we hire top-notch camp directors and camp instructors who possess a carefully-selected range of qualifications and talents. Our counselors love that we have an average of just 6 students.
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Do you have a referral program or Refer-a-Friend program?
Yes! Referring your friends is easier than ever with our automated process. Please click here for details on our Refer-a-Friend program.
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Are financial aid or scholarships available?
iD Tech Camps is dedicated to equal opportunity education. We have a Tuition Assistance Program which focuses on providing tuition assistance to students who face financial hardship and will benefit from developing practical technical skills. iD Tech Camps awards limited tuition assistance based on financial need and an application is not a guarantee of tuition assistance. Please visit our Tuition Assistance page for more information. No phone calls please.
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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 week/session. All cancellations must be submitted in writing and submitted to the internalDrive Inc. office no later than 3 weeks prior to the start of camp. For more details, please see our Terms & Conditions.
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What if my child gets sick before/during their week of camp?
Our cancellation policy applies for all cancellations including those due to illness. However, we understand that a student becoming ill is not something that you can plan. If for some reason your student cannot attend camp due to a medical condition, emergency or illness, we will work with you as best we can to move your student to an alternate week. There is typically a $25 change fee for camp changes. If an alternate week cannot be found and a doctor’s note is provided, we may be able to issue you a partial camp voucher for the week of camp. Requests for a partial camp voucher based on medical reasons are reviewed on a case by case basis.
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Already Registered

Already registered for our 2010 camp season and still have questions?
Please log into your Camp Account to find camp information specific to your camp location. Your Camp Account will contain your Required Forms, check-in instructions, maps and driving directions, packing lists, carpool information, Refer-a-Friend information, what your child should and should not bring to camp, and much more!
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What is my Camp Account and what are the Required Forms?
After you register your student(s) for camp, you will be asked to log into your Camp Account and fill out your Required Forms. The completion of these forms is mandatory for all students. Your Camp Account also includes everything you need prior to your arrival at camp including maps & driving directions, a list of what to bring to camp, your Camp Director’s cell phone number and other vital camp information. You can also access your Camp Account to make registration changes, view your statement, check out carpool information and refer your friends!
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Do you provide transportation for students? What about Carpooling?
We do not arrange transportation for our students. For your convenience, we have created a new, user-friendly carpool application located in your Camp Account. All transportation to and from camp is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. There are child transportation services that past campers have utilized, which can be found through a web search. iD Tech Camps is not affiliated with any such company and thus cannot be held accountable for clients’ use of outside transportation services.
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