do something BIG!
Meet Cameron
Cameron has enjoyed our summer camps at UCLA, and is planning on attending the iD Programming Academy held at Stanford this upcoming summer. Having already created his own iPhone® app called iSketch—which is currently featured in the Apple® Apps Store—Cameron credits iD Tech Camps with furthering his interest in programming and apps creation. Read all about Cameron’s experiences and interests, including why Cameron is donating a portion of his app’s proceeds to the Mattel Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. He has already donated $20,000!
iD: What’s your hometown and state?
Cameron: Los Angeles, CA .
iD: What locations did you attend?
C: Last summer I took Programming in C++ or Java at iD’s UCLA location. I went with a friend of mine and even though we were in different courses, we saw each other in the morning and at lunch. When we weren’t in the lab working on our projects, I liked being able to go outside to play games with the rest of the campers. Plus, my instructor was fun and a really good teacher.
I’m looking forward to attending the iD Programming Academy at Stanford this summer!
iD: How has iD Tech Camps inspired you? Has iD helped you improve in other aspects of your life besides technology?
C: I liked programming before, but after attending iD Tech Camps and meeting other kids who were also interested in programming, it made me want to learn more. Sharing your interests and thoughts with people who are interested in the same thing pushes you in a good way.
Learning Java and C++ OpenGL really helped with math in school and I was able to take my programming course further than the curriculum because I learned OpenGL at iD Tech Camps.
iD: Is iD Tech Camps a good place to make friends?
C: iD is a great place to make friends. Being around other kids with the same interests makes it easy to meet new people. I still keep in touch with my new friends through IM.
iD: What’s your favorite tech gadget?
C: I really like my iPhone® and I enjoy creating programs. I actually created an iPhone® application called iSketch, which is a drawing and painting program. The app has a text tool, different brush sizes and other cool features.
iD: What do you do for fun when you aren’t at our computer camp?
C: When I’m not creating iPhone apps, I also like to update and edit my website. Playing basketball and other sports with my friends is also fun.
iD: What’s the #1 way you communicate with your friends?
C: I communicate with my friends on AIM, AOL’s instant messenger.
iD: Any advice for future iD Tech Camps students?
C: Just be ready to have a great time at camp!
iD: Anything else you’d like to add?
C: Last March I had a medical problem that restricted me from sports and physical activity for six months. I was out of school for a bit and spent time in the hospital, and while all my friends were doing sports and games, I couldn’t. So, one day I Googled “how to create an iPhone application,” and I watched some online tutorials. This is how I initially became interested in programming.
After my time in the hospital, I was able to attend iD Tech Camps for a week during the summer, and this is where I found inspiration to do so much more with programming. After I finished my week at camp, I started creating my own iPhone application. By the end of summer I had completed iSketch and I submitted my application for an iPhone app in November. The app was approved by Apple in December and was placed in the Apple Apps store shortly after!
After such great care from the hospital, I wanted to give something back so other kids would have things that would help make them feel better about being sick or injured. I donated a portion of the proceeds from my iSketch sales so the hospital could purchase entertainment and electronic items – so far we have donated $20,000. This way, pre-teens and teens can have age-appropriate options available to them during their stay.
Check out some of the cool courses Cameron mentioned. Register early and do something BIG this summer!
