A counselor called Hashtag. Hours in front of a computer. A room full of silent children.

This doesn’t sound like your typical summer camp. And iD Tech Camps are anything but typical. But after touring the iD Tech Camps held at Stanford, it’s clear that these kids are loving every minute of it.

At the camp, kids spend a week (or more) exploring various topics like robotics, app design, Photoshop, or web design. An 8:1 student-teacher ratio ensures that kids receive enough instruction to quickly master the concepts. Walking around the camp, I was shocked at how engaged the kids were; both boys and girls sat working diligently at their computers. When asked, they hurried to show me their creations, clearly proud of what they’ve learned.

Two ten-year-old girls sat on the floor, working together to program a robotic catapult. The first time they try to show it off, it doesn’t launch. They quickly reassess and beg me to wait until they’re ready. Heads together, they weigh down the front of the catapult, experimenting by adding different base weights until it finally launches.

These girls are learning the essentials of computer programming, as are the kids next door developing games for tablets. Computer programming is a vital skill, but not enough students study it in college. As a result, there will be a demand for 1.4 million programming jobs over the next decade, but current projections estimate that there will only be 400,000 graduates in the field. During a period of high unemployment, this is an incredibly encouraging statistic.

Campers spend most of the day practicing their computer skills, but break for lunch and some outdoor play in the middle of the day. While a technology camp doesn’t exactly conjure images of idyllic summer play, for some kids it’s the perfect place to explore their interests in a safe environment. Loving all things tech still hasn’t hit mainstream culture, and often the kids that are drawn to the camp are the same kids that prefer to be indoors and would be playing on the computer or video games all summer anyways. Through the camp, they are able to bond with their peers, do what they love, and learn skills that could very well translate to careers someday. The camp also demonstrates that tech can be cool, and that they’re not alone in their passions.

iD Tech camps are held on roughly 60 college campuses all over the country. The location has a hidden benefit; campers get to experience what life on campus is like. Oftentimes this encourages them to study at a 4-year school.

Undoubtably, some people are mourning the slow death of a more traditional summer camp, complete with kayaking and cookouts. But that’s not necessarily the right experience for all kids. iD Tech camps offer an opportunity to learn skills that will launch children ahead in school and their careers, all while still enjoying a camp environment, complete with dress-up days and counselor-mentors.

For more information about iD Tech Camps across the country, click here.

For easy resources to get kids interested in coding, check this out.

For more information on why teaching kids coding is important, follow this link.

Written by Liz Wassmann

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