I am delighted to announce a special discount for BostonTechMom readers at iD Tech computer camps. You can save $100 off a camp or $35 on a Mini camp. This offer is good through the entire summer camp season and expires 8/31/17. Take advantage of the offer by entering the promo code “BOSTONTECH17” when you register on iD Tech’s website.
iD Tech specializes in summer computer camps and courses for children ages 6-18 at over 150 college campuses around the country. The company has been around for 18 years and offers courses in coding, game design, robotics, cyber security, virtual reality, 3D printing and more. My daughter has been taking courses with iD Tech for many years now and her experience has been very positive. There are many reasons why iD Tech excels (e.g., friendly and knowledgeable staff, small class sizes, project-based courses, etc.) Learn about my daughter’s experience and why we love iD Tech.
Popular courses
I talked with iD Tech about their courses and asked them which classes are in demand each year. They told me that perennial favorites usually fall into a few categories. For Minecraft, they have Intro to Java Coding: Modding with Minecraft and Forge and 3D Game Design: Minecraft and MC Edit. The programming favorites are Java Coding, and C++ Coding. Robotics Engineering & Visual Programming and Robotics Engineering & Coding with VEX are the leaders in their robotics genres.
Additionally, iD Tech revamps their curriculum each year to update it with exciting new content, so students can take the same course multiple times and continue to learn new skills. “Our Education Department takes a unique approach to developing curriculum. 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,” says Genevieve C. Johnson, Educational Content Manager. “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 iD Tech’s 8:1 student-instructor ratio comes in; it provides the students with a level of personalized instruction.
What’s new for summer 2017?
iD Tech has a few new courses this year that they are very excited about. They are offering two cryptography courses, Cryptography & Cyber Security at iD Tech Camps and Decoder Squad — Encryption at Cyber Security at Alexa Café, where students learn how to encrypt data and keep information secure online. They also have a course called DIY: Build Your Own Laptop & Learn Coding, where students physically build a Pi-Top computer and learn to code on 
it, then take their computer home at the end of the week. They have also incorporated virtual reality into a few of their game design courses both at iD Tech Camps and at the iD Game Design & Development Academy.
I think it’s great that iD Tech stays on top of tech trends and understands what skills employers are seeking. It’s definitely one of the reasons why my daughter comes back to iD Tech each year.
“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,” says Aurora Smith, Editor for iD Tech Camps. “Virtual reality, cyber security, and building computers 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.”
Interested in iD Tech?
If you are interested in exploring a computer camp for your child and want to learn more about iD Tech and their programs, I would start by visiting their website and clicking on the “Locations” tab to see if there is a camp near you. From there, you can filter by program, genre and courses. iD Tech offers five different programs:
- iD Tech Mini is for ages 6–9 and is available in both half-day and full-day options. It’s the perfect way to ignite a lifelong passion for STEM, designed with the youngest innovators in mind.
- iD Tech Camps for ages 7–17 is the flagship program with locations across the nation and includes the most diverse course offerings.
- iD Coding & Engineering Academy and iD Game Design and Development Academy are for teens ages 13–18. These programs are two-week immersive experiences where students dive deep into the world of coding or video game design, with a special focus on preparing students for careers in those fields.
- Alexa Café is an all-girls program for ages 10–15 where girls learn STEM skills in a collaborative, empowering atmosphere with an emphasis on leadership, entrepreneurship, and social activism.
If you decide to take a class with iD Tech, remember to use the promo code BOSTONTECH17 during the registration process and save $100.
One final note: In my experience, summer computer camps tend to fill up quickly and it’s best to do your research now and book your courses by March. Researching early will give you time to inquire, ask questions and determine which particular class might be a good fit for your child. Booking early also means you will likely get your top choice.
