My daughter began to learn computer programming when she was 8-years old. I know that may seem young, but my husband and I knew she had an affinity for computer games and tech, and we wanted to encourage her development. Since she was young, I figured a summer computer camp, with trained instructors, might be a good place to start.
I did some research and landed on iD Tech Camps. iD Tech offers computer camps and courses for ages 6-18 at over 150 college campuses in the U.S. They offer courses on programming, coding, video game design, Minecraft, app development, robotics, web design and film animation. They’ve been around for quite some time and are family-owned and operated. Their mission is straightforward: provide students with high-energy, hands-on technology education in a summer camp setting. They purposely hold their camps at prestigious universities to promote higher education.
I signed my daughter up for an introduction to programming class on MIT’s campus the first year and she absolutely loved it. She’s gone back many times to take various programming classes.
Why my daughter loves iD Tech
My daughter tends to be on the shy side, so going to a new camp is a big deal. She usually wants to go with a friend, but enjoys iD Tech so much that she’s quite comfortable attending alone. That’s a testament to the instructors and the kids who attend.
Because she enjoys learning new skills, she takes a different programming class each summer. She likes that she gets to learn by working on a week-long project, and thinks the classes are challenging— in a good way. If she has questions or runs into problems, the teachers are always there to provide one-on-one assistance.
While my daughter goes to iD Tech to learn programming, the experience has been much more than that. She goes back year after year because of the instructors. When I ask her about them, she smiles and says that if you don’t understand something, they’ll work closely with you. She also adds, “They always talk nicely to you and encourage you to try.” I can tell she’s comfortable in that environment and benefits from it.
How iD Tech Camps excels
There are quite a few reasons why I think iD Tech offers superior programs and why we keep returning:
- Excellent instructors: All teachers are adults with strong tech knowledge. Most important, they really enjoy teaching kids. I’ve had the opportunity to speak with the instructors and watch them interact with my daughter and the other students, and I can tell they really like their jobs. The kids enjoy being around them.
- Small class sizes: An 8:1 ratio guarantees that students get personalized attention and a lot of one-on-one support.
- Project-based curriculum:Â The hands-on approach to learning means that every child completes a project and takes home an online portfolio.
- Extensive class offerings: Programs are designed with a child’s age and experience in mind, using industry-standard hardware and software.
- Self-paced learning: Children learn at their own pace with a lot of personalized instruction.
- College campus experience: Kids get exposure to life on a college campus.
- Balanced daily program: Outdoor, non-computer time is built into every day– which I like. My daughter always enjoys the games, especially zombie tag!
Summer is a perfect time for your child to develop their computer programming and tech skills. I am a big supporter of summer computer camps because children can immerse themselves in a very specific topic. If this sounds like an experience your child would be interested in, I would visit iD Tech’s site to see which camp locations are offered in your area and which courses might interest your child.
