3D Printing and Modeling with Take-Home Printer

Price: Starting at $1,449
Age: 13 - 17
Skill Level: Beginner–Advanced
Format: iD Tech Camps | Small-Group, On-Campus
Duration: Weeklong program, 8 hours per day

About This Course

Craft innovative designs from your imagination into tactile works of art using your very own 3D printer. You’ll build a fundamental skill set in modeling and sculpting with Blender, a powerful 3D software used by studios like Marvel and Ubisoft. Start from your brainstormed sketches and work through the entire 3D printing process as you create your own characters from scratch and print them into figures you can display on your desk. While you prep your next design, you’ll learn to operate and maintain your equipment for future use. The best part? You'll take home your 3D printer and have the skills and tools to keep going.

Topics Covered

Take charge of the entire 3D printing process, from model design to final print
Design and sculpt unique 3D characters and objects by hand
Learn how 3D printers and slicing software work
Employ best practices for effective 3D printing and troubleshoot complex printing jobs

Sample Schedule

Here’s a sample of what a week in the course could look like! Please keep in mind that students will progress at varying paces; this is a general outline of key material and the overall student experience.

Monday: Learn Basics of 3D Printer & Blender

Students will dive into the fundamentals of 3D printing by exporting their very first test print. They’ll learn the basics of setting up their Monoprice Voxel 3D Printer and using Blender to transfer digital models to the printer.

Tuesday: Sketch Designs & Import to Blender

Building on their foundations in Blender, students will learn how to model custom objects, like rollable dice. They’ll sketch designs on paper that they’ll import into Blender as a reference for their next printed art piece.

Wednesday: Learn to Clean Up, Sand & Paint Printed Model

Students will continue to push their knowledge of 3D modeling with more advanced techniques and projects, such as keychains and robot companions. Then, they’ll learn how to clean up, sand, and paint their printed models.

Thursday: Use Brushes & 3D Sculpting Toolkit

Welcome to sculpting! With Blender, students will use brushes and a 3D sculpting toolkit to design their own animal companion or custom character.

Friday: Finalize & Showcase

Honing all of their 3D modeling and printing skills, students will work independently to clean, sand, and paint their final prints, which they’ll get to showcase with their peers! After class, students will receive a digital voucher in their iD Tech account to collect their very own Monoprice Voxel 3D Printer — so they can continue their projects at home with fresh, out-of-the-box hardware.

Portfolio-Boosting Diploma & Transcript

At the conclusion of your child's course, they will receive an official iD Tech diploma and course transcript outlining the skills they learned over the course of the week.

Learn from the best.

Passion for tech. Unmatched expertise. Personality that brings out the absolute best in your child. With 23 years of experience, we know there's no replacement for the best teacher. It's no surprise that iconic companies like Google, EA, Microsoft, and Disney hire the same talent we do. Our iD Certified instructors possess the whole package of skills that top employers seek.

100% USA-based, adult instructors
Recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU
Rigorous background and reference checks
Robust training programs and certification
Adherence to American Camp Association accredited guidelines

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer
at Google

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer
at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer
at Bethesda Softworks

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer
at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer
at Disney

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer
at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Blender?

Blender is a creative software that creatives can use to make amazing visuals, stop motion films, animations, and special effects.

Why should my child learn with Blender?

The applications of Blender to gaming, the arts, and film can ignite kids’ passion for STEAM. As they progress, they’ll discover the potential of the software to bring their imagination to life!

What college and career opportunities can this course lead to?

With digital art and 3D modeling skills in hand, kids can pursue careers and college studies as animators, game designers, digital artists, and 3D printers.

Is this course suitable for all skill levels?

Yes, this course is designed for beginner to advanced students. Our small class size ensures that each student receives individual attention and has the freedom to learn at their own pace.

What is the camp experience like?

At our on-campus programs, students get inspired by iconic architecture, learn in our next-gen labs, and get a taste of collegiate life. With our small classes, your child will progress at their own pace with the hottest software and hardware, while learning from carefully-vetted talent sought by companies like Google, Apple, EA, and Disney. They hire who we hire.

As the only STEM educator rooted in 23+ years of legendary camp traditions, we know that when learning is fun, kids and teens stick with it! At camp, students build relationships in a fun and inclusive campus setting, and in between sessions in the labs, can be found diving into high-energy outdoor games and video game tournaments, and bonding over legendary iD traditions like raffles, pie-your-instructor Fridays, and so much more.