Spark Your Internal Drive With Summer Computer Camp iD Tech

iD Tech prides itself as the intersection of summer fun and real-world skills, from coding and engineering to game design and robotics. Ask and they’ll tell: iD Tech is unlike anything else, with more than 275,000 students since 1999. Stanford, MIT, Emory and Lewis University have trusted and hosted iD Tech programs for more than a decade. The iD difference is simple; students learn at their own pace and are given a jump start for college applications with accredited CEUs.

Patch: Tell us a little about the iD Tech story. How has the camp transformed since its inception?

iD Tech: In 1999, in a studio above a garage overlooking Silicon Valley, Ca., our family began with a simple mission: Provide students with high-energy, hands-on technology education in a summer camp setting. Since our inception, we’ve held our youth programs at top university campuses to emphasize the importance of higher education and to increase each student’s likelihood of attending college in the near future. While we evolve our courses each year to keep up with current technology trends, there are aspects of the business that haven’t changed: commitment to service, our student-instructor ratio, hiring the best instructors, top university locations and providing a safe inclusive environment for students to thrive.

Patch: How do children benefit from STEM education?

iD Tech: STEM summer camps have a unique place in STEM education because it can fill the gap between the school year and help combat brain drain by keeping students interested and engaged in a variety of topics. Skills like problem-solving, creativity, and if-then thinking encourage kids and teens to think through complex problems and come up with logical solutions. When kids make simple changes like attending a STEM camp, not only are they less likely to suffer from brain drain, but they also learn many new skills and ideas.

Speaking of new skills, kids and teens can learn a lot from attending STEM camps. In the case of technology, most K-12 schools still don’t adequately teach computer science and other related technology fields. Therefore, without the help of summer and afterschool programs, where will kids learn the important tech skills needed to give them an edge in school, college, and future careers?

Patch: What makes iD Tech unlike anything else?

iD Tech: More than 275,000 students have attended iD Tech since 1999. Some alumni go on to work at Google, Apple or Facebook. Others start their own game studios, launch startups or found nonprofits. But all have become tech savvy, and the doors of possibility have swung wide open. According to our students, the fun camp culture, next-level instructors, and innovative curriculum make iD Tech the best camp ever.

Although there are many technology summer programs to choose from these days, iD Tech continues to stand out as the nation’s premiere program. No other camp has been trusted by the nation’s top universities —Stanford, MIT, Emory and Lewis University for the past 15 years and counting. Plus, iD Tech is the only camp to guarantee its low 8:1 student-to-instructor ratio, even if it means flying a talented instructor across the country to ensure your child receives the personalized instruction they deserve. Factor in the company’s year-round online learning platform and professional tutors, and it’s easy to see why so many parents love iD Tech.

Patch: How does iD deliver custom content in it’s courses?

iD Tech: Our Education Department works year-round to develop all of our content. We want to ensure students maximize their time learning the material and gaining the skills to prepare them for college and their futures, but we also want to balance that with fun, engaging challenges. That’s why you won’t find any typical “Hello, world” coding projects; instead, we develop projects where, for example, students learn to code a game with their main character fighting a superhero. It’s much more entertaining for the kids, which means they’re invested in learning and building those essential STEM skills.

Additionally, the curriculum is developed with built-in levels to accommodate beginner to advanced learners. This is also where our 8:1 student-instructor ratio comes in; it provides the students with a level of personalized instruction they can’t get anywhere else.

Patch: iD Tech serves children in age groups 6-12 and 13-18 as well as an all-girls program for ages 10-15. How does the camp refine its material for each class?

iD Tech: Our team is made up of educators who have taught all kinds of students and all kinds of subjects all over the world. This wealth of experience is essential to teaching each age group at camp. It starts with pedagogy specifically tailored to each age group. Then, during our nationwide training sessions, instructors are taught best practices to assess skill level, learning style and interest in specific topics. They are able to customize lesson plans, use appropriate teaching strategies and adjust curriculum content on the fly as needed. It’s all about instructors making that one-on-one connection with their students.

Patch: What online options does iD Tech offer?

iD Tech: We offer year-round technology education for kids and teens through our online learning platform Tech Rocket. Students can learn code, game design and graphic design through self-paced online courses with fun videos and interactive challenges as well as through one-on-one online tutoring sessions. Tech Rocket offers more than 30 courses and live, real-time support from our iD Tech instructors. Kids can even talk to others with the same interests through our forums and earn badges and course certificates.

Patch: What’s new for 2017? What can parents and campers look forward to this year?

iD Tech: We have a few new courses this year that we’re very excited about. We’re offering three cryptography courses, Cryptography & Cyber Security at iD Tech Camps and Decoder Squad — Encryption at Cyber Security at Alexa Café and Cyber Security: Encryption & Cryptography at iD Coding & Engineering Academy, where students learn how to encrypt data and keep information secure online. We also have DIY: Build Your Own Laptop & Learn Coding (ages 10-12) and DIY: Build Your Own Laptop & Code With Python (ages 13-17), where students physically build a Pi-Top computer and learn to code on it and then take their computer home at the end of the week. We’ve also incorporated virtual reality into a few of our game design courses both at iD Tech Camps and at the iD Game Design & Development Academy.

Each year, we do intensive research, including everything from online courses to tech conferences, to make sure we stay on the cutting edge of technology. Virtual reality, cyber security and building computers and coding are essential, in-demand skills that apply to a variety of career options, and we’re delighted to add them to our already comprehensive list of course offerings.

Patch: Tell us about the iD Coding and Engineering Academy.

iD Tech: The iD Coding and Engineering Academy is an intensive two-week coding startup experience for teens. At our iD Coding and Engineering Academy, teens can prepare for a future in coding and experience the thrill of startup culture — all within a prestigious university setting. Whether they dream of becoming a software engineer at Facebook or Google or want to launch their own app development studio, the future starts here. After two weeks of elite instruction, industry insights and peer networking, teens will leave with a polished portfolio and the skills needed to succeed in school, college and the limitless field of computer science.

Patch: How do you envision the future of STEM education?

iD Tech: Studies predict that there will be one million unfilled STEM jobs by the year 2020. By unfilled, they mean that there will be numerous job openings, but not enough qualified individuals to adequately fill them. Knowing that there is a huge occupational gap that needs to be filled, STEM education is the future. It’s time to start equipping our kids with the skills they need to thrive in our ever-changing world.

People are already talking about how robots could assume many of the roles people work in today. And with the advent of 3D printing and other emerging technologies, it’s hard to imagine what new innovations our world will think up in the next five to 10 years. STEM education is essential to ensure that children will be interested and knowledgeable about STEM topics, which can make them more likely to pursue a STEM career in the future.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about iD Tech? How can parents in the area get involved with this year’s happenings?

iD Tech: The best way to learn more about iD Tech Camps is to go to our website. But you can also call Marisa in our Client Services Department at (408) 871-3742. She can answer any questions regarding both iD Tech Camps and our specific programs in the Midwest.

We love talking to families about camps! We love attending PTO nights or summer camp fairs in the area. Or we have even sent out our instructors to give a STEM workshop at local schools. So, if a parent is looking for something specific, please just let Marisa know, and we will work together to see if we can meet those needs.

Photo credit: iD Tech