The Greening of iD Tech Camps
What is the Greening of iD?
The Greening of iD is a major company focus aimed at continually assessing and addressing our impact on the environment and our communities. We are a family company comprised of forward thinking, conscientious people and we have decided as a company, and as individuals, to reduce the footprint we are leaving to our kids…and yours! In typical iD Tech fashion, rather than “just talk”, we are actually putting words into action. Part of our company’s mission is to “balance profitability with our wholesome family values, enriching our communities by promoting scholarships, tuition assistance, environmental stewardship and volunteerism.” Talk is cheap. We’re doing something.
Like dominoes, once the conservation and do-good bug gets going, there is no stopping it. We look forward to pushing the envelope this coming season – empowering and acknowledging our summer camp staff, campers and parents.
What are Full-Time Staff Doing to Make iD Greener?
We’ve set up an incentive program for our employees to find creative ways to get to work, volunteer in our communities, recycle, and implement energy and environmentally friendly policies for our summer computer camps. Here are some things we’ve done since starting our initiative last fall:
- Pete, the CEO of iD Tech Camps, rides his bike to work 3 times a week, on average. “I love when, at the end of the week, I still have a full tank of gas – and my pants fit better too,” says Pete.
- iD provides incentives to its employees who demonstrate conservation, such as biking to work or volunteering for charities.
- We’re doing more online marketing (such as producing digital versus print catalogs) and reducing our print collateral overall. On those occasions that we print on paper, we print on recycled paper.
- Many full-time staff members have bought hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles. Some have done away with their cars completely and are now taking mass transit or have moved within walking distance to work.
- Recycling efforts have increased. Up to 50% more plastic and glass products are taken to the recycling center each week.
- We have bought more rechargeable batteries.
- We have reduced our energy consumption by turning off lights and computers when not in use. NOTE: We do not recommend or support “sleep mode” on computers. It is a waste of energy.
- Tuition assistance and scholarships increased to $250,000 this season (up from $150,000 last season).
- This holiday season we will contribute time and gifts to the Family Giving Tree, a non-profit organization that delivers thousands of wrapped presents to kids all over the San Francisco Bay Area.
How Can You Help?
- Bring your old ink cartridges and cell phones to camp as part of the fundraising effort.
- Register with a friend for camp, then carpool. Check out our new carpool application!
- Be aware of your energy consumption, how much you drive and what you recycle. We can all make a difference. Start by being aware of the simple stuff like turning out lights, recycling cans and bottles, and taking shorter showers.
- Travel less, or purchase carbon offsets when you do travel.
Thank you for reading through these pages and thank you for helping us make our communities and environment stronger.
