Summer’s Going to Be Tough on Teens, Virtual Tech Camp Can be a Solution

By: Lisa Endlich Heffernan

NOTE: Grown and Flown was compensated for this post but the opinions in it are our own. Thanks to iD Tech Camps for being one of our partners. 

Even as things open up, our kids are still spending hours staring at their screens. Some of this time seems well spent with online classes, catching up with friends or just relaxing with a movie. Some of it is good plain fun like making TikTok videos or playing a video game with a friend. But much of it is just filling time. We can’t help but think it would be great if they could do something constructive with all this screen time.

When we look out at their summer yawning in front of us, we know once classes end, our teens are going to need more to do than a summer job and flipping through their social media.

Our teens are going to need to find a way to spend the summer, constructively. (Photo credit: @whistlepig for Twenty20)

This will still be a tough summer for teens. Many of the activities teens are involved with are not going at full strength and with so much uncertainty this last year, they may have extra time on their hands. So, with long stretches of time—can anyone say “four months until school starts in the fall”—we started to examine some of the options open to teens.

We were looking for constructive, yet engaging activities. We want something that our teens will benefit from, but still feels like a break from the classroom. We wanted something that would help prepare them for their future but that that would feel like fun. And we came upon Virtual Tech Camps from iD Tech. 

With 20+ years of experience and an expansive online course lineup, iD Tech Camps have the exact types of computer instruction that matches teens’ interests.  Plus, their 1500 instructors are college students and young adults.  

GROWN AND FLOWN READERS CAN SAVE $100 off any Virtual Tech Camp by using THIS UNIQUE LINK and Code GNF100

My son has gone to these camps in real life (remember when we used to do that!) and found knowledgeable instructors, lots of peers who share similar passions and, when I dropped him off in the morning, he would try to negotiate an extra hour when the formal sessions were over to spend time with his new friends. 

Top Reasons Why I Chose iD Tech Camps for My Son

Here are the things I loved most about his experience and all of them are now available in the Virtual Tech Camps.

1. My son had an interest in computer programming and game design, but few opportunities to work with educators who could nurture and guide his passions. He found this with his instructors at iD Tech. Spoiler alert: he went on to major in computer science in college.
2. At iD Tech he found a structured routine that gave him the basics he needed to move forward in his learning. He could take classes in Game Design, Python, Java, Minecraft, Roblox, AI, Unreal Engine, Adobe, 3D modeling, and more.
3. He received regular feedback (so important when learning a new skill) from his instructor. I was able to track his success as well. 
4. He spent his summer days doing something constructive, which helped develop an interest that would only grow during his high school and later college years.
5. The only thing he liked more than playing computer games, was coding them and iD Tech taught him the tools to do this. Not long after he began he had animations to show us. 
6. He was in class with teens close in age who had a similar interest. He had plenty of friends who liked to play computer games, but at iD Tech he made friends with teens who liked to create them as well. 
7. The camp was a great way for him to take his learning deeper and figure out if this was something he wanted to do more of in the future. This positive experience led him to taking the AP Computer Science course offered at his high school. 
8. His time at iD Tech camp turned his unstructured summer days into a constructive learning experience and both he and I felt great about how much he learned. 

For the spring and summer of 2021, most teens will not have the opportunity to experience the many on campus programs iD Tech typically runs, but a virtual option has all of the same benefits.

Students in id Tech Camps can take a group camp, individual lessons, or bring a sibling or friend. (Photo credit: @Terralyx for Twenty20)

Students who want to move faster or delve deeper on a topic have another option with Online Private Lessons where your teen will have individual access to one of the highly qualified adult iD Tech certified instructors. These are great for students who already know what they want to focus on.

My son was lucky to have a focus, but for parents of teens who aren’t quite sure of where to start, a Discovery Lesson might be the way to go. This is the perfect place to begin if Minecraft, Java, Python, Roblox, or YouTube all sound completely good or completely foreign and your student needs a bit of help figuring things out by working with a Tech Rockstar for 60-minutes.

If you are looking to save on cost, you can split a Discovery or Private Lesson with a sibling or friend and it’s like you both save 50%. And, for the teen who is already all-in, iD Tech offers 12-week certification programs in coding, creative or game design.

GROWN AND FLOWN READERS CAN SAVE $100 off any Virtual Tech Camp by using THIS UNIQUE LINK and Code GNF100

More Details about iD Tech Camps:

• Ages: For all skill levels, ages 7-19.
• Dates: Structured, weeklong sessions available now in multiple time zones (5 consecutive days, Monday-Friday).
• Schedule: 2 hours of live instruction per day + 2 hours of self-paced project development per day.
• Curriculum: Python, Java, Minecraft, Roblox, AI, Unreal Engine, Adobe, 3D modeling, and more.
• Ratios: 5 students max per instructor, blending personalized learning and team interaction.
• Tracking: Personalized instructor feedback delivered via email so you can track your child’s success.
• Instructors: Instructors have all passed background and reference checks. 

Source: https://grownandflown.com/id-tech-camps-virtual-tech-camps-for-teens/

The content is owned by Lisa Endlich Heffernan. Visit site here for other valuable articles.

Share Us Your Thought!

You are invited to share your thought related to the post above in the comment box. You can share about your tips/experiences as parent or as a kid (if you're in that position).

Would You Share The Post?

And if you find it's interesting post and have a value for others, please share it to your friends. Thank you.