Robert is an avid video game player who learned how to design personalized games for himself and his friends through a 3D Game Design class with iD Tech Camps.

iD: Tell us a little bit about yourself
My name is Robert and I’m from Texas. I am currently an 8th grader and I love video game design, sports and music. Especially video game design!

iD: How have you used what you’ve learned?
My software knowledge has come in handy at school. I took a class about 2D Flash games, and since I already had a pretty good foundation in animation, I was able to get a lot more creative than my classmates. It’s really cool to see the unexpected ways mapping can come in handy.

iD: What opportunities did iD give you?
Before going to iD Tech Camps, I had a really limited knowledge of computers. I knew how to use one, but not to its full potential – which I only realized after seeing all that you can do with the right software and the right skills at camp.

Andrew currently has six apps published in the Apple^® store with 30,000 downloads so far. Andrew’s success goes far beyond the Apple store, though – he’s also helping to educate his peers. His school plans to incorporate his latest app, Math Player, into their math curriculum.

iD: What course did you take at iD Tech Camps?
I took Programming in C++ or Java twice as an iD Tech Camps student in camps held at the College of William & Mary. I also took iPhone App Development at the iD Programming Academy held at MIT.

iD: How have you used what you’ve learned?
I am very interested in the possibilities of iOS technology for children, specifically autistic and similarly handicapped children. My latest app, Math Player, is a math app designed to make simple math fun for kids to practice. My school is planning to integrate my math app into the lower grade school curriculum.

Sean, a devoted programmer, gained a solid foundation in essential professional software through iD Tech Camps and iD Gaming Academy. Sean created a website for student government and set up an electronic lunch ordering system to make life easier for his classmates. He is also a published author with a book about XNA™ Game Studio programming currently selling on Amazon®.

iD: Tell us a little bit about yourself
My name is Sean and I’m from California. I spend a lot of time programming – building games, websites and working on other projects. I also enjoy running, shooting, playing video games and spending time with my friends and family.

iD: What opportunities did iD Tech Camps give you?
iD Tech Camps helped me get to the next level by guiding my exploration of technology and exposing me to specific programs like Photoshop and Maya.

Bryanna, an inspirational iD staffer who, in her own words, “got an internship and likely a full time job largely due to my experience at iD Tech Camps.” She loves her job with Fuelcell Games, and says “Thank you for having an awesome summer job program; if it weren’t for my experience at iD, I don’t know if I would have gotten hired.”

iD: How many seasons were you an instructor at iD Tech Camps?
I was an instructor for two camp seasons at iD Tech Summer Camps in Seattle.

iD:What are your favorite things about our summer computer camp?
Summer camp is more than a job, it’s an experience! I absolutely loved the games I got to play with my campers, theater games and video games alike. Gaming and theater are my lifetime passions and I really enjoyed sharing them with campers.

iD:What’s your favorite tech gadget?
My laptop. I couldn’t live without it! I love having my workstation be portable.

Karen is a passionate photographer who took a Graphic Arts course at iD Tech Camps. The technical expertise she learned at camp helped her step into a leadership position as Art Chief of her school’s literary magazine.

iD: Tell us a little bit about yourself
My name is Karen, I’m 14 years old and originally from Honduras. My hobby is photography and everything that revolves around it.

iD: What courses did you take at iD Tech Camps?
I took a Graphic Arts course at iD Tech Camps. I learned Photoshop and the amazing things you can do with it once you know the program. I also got experience with Illustrator® and learned design concepts for things like logos, all of which has been helpful for projects at school.

Carter applied the values he learned with the project-based curriculum at iD Tech Camps to his personal goals, and now at age 11 he is one of the youngest certified iLife® Associates for Apple®.

iD: What course did you take at iD Tech Camps?
I attended my first two sessions during the summer of 2010 and took Web Design & Fencing as well as Game Modding – Warcraft® III & StarCraft® at Stanford University, which is where I want to go to college!

iD: Is iD Tech Camps a good place to make friends? Why?
It’s perfect because you get to hang out and play games with classmates, share your iPod® or your iPhone® with them, and be with a bunch of kids who share your interests. Also, everyone is really friendly and helps one another. You get to share a lot of great ideas too.

Andrew is a freshman at Columbia University with plans to go into either a tech or media career. He will be an instructor at iD Tech Camps held at Adelphi this summer!

iD: What are your hobbies?
I am an aspiring amateur musician. I also love astronomy, and I follow NASA and many astronomy blogs.

iD: What courses did you take at iD Tech Camps?
I attended five years (2005-2009) of iD Tech Camps held at Vassar College so I’ve taken a lot of courses. This includes Video Game Creation, Programming in C++ or Java, 3D Game Design, Gaming Athletes, Web Design & Flash Animation, Robotics, 3D Modeling with Autodesk Maya®, and 3D Game Modding.

Joseph started programming at the age of 9, and now he’s the co-founder of an indie gaming studio with a profound passion for developing server side applications. One major stepping stone on his path to success? A 3D modeling course at iD Gaming Academy.

iD: What course did you take at iD Tech Camps?
I took 3D Modeling with Maya at iD Gaming Academy. It was a great experience because I learned how to create 3D characters and got a good foundation in rigging and movement.

iD: What opportunities did iD Tech Camps give you that you otherwise wouldn’t have had?
The modeling course I took gave me a lot of experience in 3D Modeling – now when I work on my own gaming projects today as a programmer, I can talk to my modelers in technical terms instead of only explaining in lay men’s terms.

Marc learned C++ to program his own game, Mazetron, and then took a Programming iPhone^® Apps course and transformed his game into an app. Now it is featured in the Apple^® Store and earning money from sales as far away as Great Britain and Japan.

iD: Which iD locations have you attended?
For both seasons, I have attended summer camp in California at UC Berkeley.

iD: What do you do for fun when you aren’t at our summer computer camp?
I enjoy playing water polo, creating film shorts, camping and engaging in computer programming.

iD: What’s your favorite video game?
I really enjoy The Legend of Zelda^®: Twilight Princess.

Matthew is making a name for himself – by disguising others’ names. His final project at iD Programming Academy was a “krankCall” iPhone^® app that changes callers’ contact information, letting them prank their friends.

iD: How many seasons have you attended iD summer tech programs?
I have attended one season of iD Tech Camps in Texas, and have also had the great opportunity to attend the iD Programming Academy – a teen program held at Stanford.

iD: What are your future goals?
I’m looking forward to college and exploring a tech career. I have already been accepted to the University of Illinois, UT Austin and Texas A&M. After college, I’d like to work as a software engineer for Google, Apple^®, Microsoft^® or Disney^®.

Katherine is an award-winning director of computer animated short films. She has attended iD Tech Camps summer camp in Los Angeles for 4 years and taken courses in Video Game Creation, 3D Game Design, 3D Game Modeling with Maya^® and Programming in C++ or Java.

iD: What are your favorite things about our summer camp?
It’s great to experience a week’s worth of learning with other students who also share an interest in technology. Not to mention the exposure to the same software the professionals use on a day to day basis.

iD: Does coming to iD help you improve in other aspects of your life besides technology?
It helps me realize that there are lots of people out there in the world who hold the same interests that I do.

Bryan is a former iD Tech Camps student who became an iD instructor and is now working for Electronic Arts^®, one of the largest gaming companies in the world!

iD: What are your favorite things about our summer computer camp?
The courses, locations, and instructors. The instructors were fun-loving, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable, which separates iD Tech Camps from the “ho-hum” feel of traditional summer camps/schools.

iD: Any advice for future iD Tech Camps students?
Take different classes each time you attend camp. Technology spans many spectrums and if you can learn a bit about everything, you’ll be that much more useful and successful when you get out into the real world, pushing the trends of technology forward.

Ross & Scott are 9-year-old twin brothers. After learning how to make their own website using Adobe^® Dreamweaver^® at iD Tech Camps, the brothers built a website for a neighborhood business and received more than enough money to fund their way back for another summer fun technology experience! Enjoy their interview.

iD: What’s your home state?
Pennsylvania

iD: What locations did you attend?
Rider University

iD: Is iD a good place to make friends? Why?
Ross: Of course. When you have free time you get to talk and play with other kids.
Scott: Yes, because I could talk to other kids who like the same things I like!

Ian is going to MIT! This teen programming phenom was inspired by what he learned at iD. He then used his new knowledge to write a book titled Programming Video Games for the Evil Genius, create iPhone^® applications, started not one but two companies and more! Read below and be inspired. The sky is the limit to what you can accomplish and iD Tech Camps will help you begin your own journey to do something big!

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
Sherman Oaks, CA

iD: What locations did you attend?
UCLA and Stanford

iD: How many years have you attended iD?
Five (2002-2006)

Grant is a freshman at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. After attending multiple sessions in Game Creation and Modding at iD Tech Camps, Grant ‘s love for technology has steered him to majoring in Video Game Design at his college. When he became eighteen, he was excited to become an iD Tech Camps instructor. Now Grant has his eye on starting his own game development company and credits iD with opening the door to a lucrative career he can thoroughly enjoy.

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
Atlanta, GA

iD: How many years at iD (attending and working)?
Four years as an iD Tech Camps student and one as an instructor.

iD: Which iD locations have you attended?
Emory University.

Marta began her career with iD as a Lead Instructor then moved up the ranks as an Assistant Director and Director at our summer camps for kids and teens. We’re happy to say she is now our full-time Lead Designer at the iD Tech Camps headquarters in Campbell, CA. She developed her graphic design skills in college, then was inspired by working at iD Tech Camps and then the rest, as they say, is history! Read on to learn more about Marta and her incredible story.

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
I’m originally from Nicollet, Minnesota (a very small town of about 900!).

iD: Which iD locations did you teach at?
I’ve worked as a Lead Instructor, Assistant Director and Director at the Stanford location and I recently directed at one of our iD Film Academy locations.

Spencer is from Saratoga, CA and has attended iD for 6 seasons at Santa Clara University and Stanford University. He is aspiring to have a career in the tech or film industry as a result of what he’s learned at iD Tech Camps!

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
Saratoga, CA

iD: What locations did you attend?
Santa Clara University and Stanford University, including 4 years as an overnight camper.

iD: How many years have you attended iD?
Six years

Mike was a camper for 3 years at iD Tech Camps and is now an Instructor. He is studying music and computer science in college!

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

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

Cameron created his own iPhone^® app called iSketch—which is currently featured in the Apple^® Apps Store and has donated $20,000 of his app’s proceeds to the Mattel Children’s Hospital in LA! Cameron credits iD Tech Camps with furthering his interest in programming and apps creation.

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
Los Angeles, CA

iD: What locations did you attend?
Last summer I took Programming in C++ or Java at iD’s UCLA location. I’m looking forward to attending the iD Programming Academy at Stanford this summer!

iD: Any advice for future iD students?
Just be ready to have a great time at camp!

Sam attended our Connecticut summer camps held at Sacred Heart University for 6 seasons and has been accepted to Champlain College as a video game design major. Sam says the school’s admission office was extremely impressed with the portfolio he created at iD Tech Camps.

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
Shelton, CT

iD: How has iD Tech Camps inspired you?
iD has inspired me to be more creative and to look more closely at things. Also, I’ve definitely become more social and I still keep in touch with a lot of the people I met at camp.

iD: What’s your favorite tech gadget?
My iPhone^®, without a doubt.

Annie first displayed strong leadership qualities when she was an iD camper. She then went on to teach and direct our camps at Pepperdine, SMU, Colorado College and Northwestern University.

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
Monument, Colorado

iD: What locations did you teach/work at?
I have taught at Pepperdine University, Southern Methodist University, Colorado College and Northwestern University.

Andrew learned enough in one week of summer camp to put himself months ahead of his school classmates.

iD: What course(s) have you enrolled in over the years?
My first year I was in Unreal Tournament^® 3 map making, but last year I took Java Programming.

iD: How has iD impacted your goals?
It’s made me realize that my goals are very possible and that if I work hard, I will achieve them.

James is a long-time iD Tech Camps student and an aspiring Independent Filmmaker who recently won his first film award.

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
I come from the small town of Camarillo, California.

iD: What are your favorite things about our summer camp?
iD Tech Camps is so wonderful-I look forward to meeting new friends, instructors and artists like myself, and of course, creating my next project. It’s an all around good time!

Steffen recently created a computer science club at his high school and has future plans of making a difference in the fields of science and technology.

iD: What is your hometown and state?
La Jolla, California.

iD: What course(s) have you enrolled in over the years?
Programming One and Programming V 2.0.

Alex was with us for the inaugural session of our iD Gaming Academy, and is now enjoying his time as a full-time web developer. An indie (independent) game developer as well, Alex’s action/puzzle game Aqualux Deluxe is currently available for download.

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
I grew up on Long Island in New York.

iD: What are your favorite memories of instructing at the iD Gaming Academy?
It’s really gratifying to see the satisfaction in a student’s face at the moment something ‘clicks’- when they’ve wrapped their head around a tough concept and created something they’re proud of.

Karl is a high school Junior from Virginia who has always had an interest in art and design. But it was Karl’s experience at iD Tech Camps as a student that taught him how to portray his creations through technology. Now with one Technology Student’s Association National Championship under his belt, Karl continues to develop his skills and keeps enhancing his newly created website.

iD: What’s your hometown and state?
I live in Virginia in the suburbs of the southern part of Stafford County which is only a couple of miles away from the city of Fredericksburg.

iD: How many years have you attended iD Tech Camps?
I have attended iD Tech since the summer after my sixth grade year, four years total.

Rebecca is a former iD Tech Camps student and a current instructor for our programming courses. After obtaining her BA in Computer Science from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, Rebecca is now pursuing her PhD in Computer Science from Brown University. Benefiting from both student and staff interaction at iD Tech Camps, Rebecca discovered her passion for technology. She looks forward to working in the computer technology field and sharing her experiences with the rest of the iD community.

iD: What is your hometown and state?
Westfield, NJ

iD: Which location did you instruct at?
I taught at Smith College.

iD: How many years at iD (attending and/or working)?
For one year I attended iD Tech Camps as a camper then worked as an instructor for one year as well.

Other Stories

• July 14, 2011 Kara Tsuboi, CNET reporter for CBS Newspath, visits iD Tech Camps held at Stanford University
• November 23, 2009 Thanks to iD Tech Camps, Co. hires 9 yr old website developers
• May 1, 2009 Learn more about yourself and your interests at iD!
• April 13, 2009 MC Hammer Hangin' with former iD Star
• March 27, 2009 Web Design Entrepreneur Extraordinaire!
• March 20, 2009 Marta's iD Journey
• January 29, 2009 Learn Technology, Love Technology, Teach Technology…Repeat!
• December 5, 2008 Summer Computer Camp Inspires Kids and Teens to Do Something Big
• August 22, 2008 2008 Ultimate Gaming Weekend Champions!