Coding Camp with Take-Home Retro Arcade

Yes. Kids ages 7–9 code a collection of games in Microsoft MakeCode Arcade using visual coding blocks, learning coding basics like variables, loops and events. For example, they code a score that goes up as players collect items and defeat enemies. No typing or coding experience is needed.

Instead of playing games someone else made, kids ages 7–9 design their own: they draw pixel art characters, make up a story and code how the game works, like a score that goes up when players collect items. Then they test their games and share them with friends on their own console.

It's a handheld arcade console your child unboxes at camp and keeps. After coding their games in Microsoft MakeCode Arcade, from blasting away meteors in outer space to searching for hidden treasures in a fantasy castle, with their own pixel art, characters and story, they load a game onto the console to play and share it hands-on with friends. The console plays one game at a time, and kids can swap in a different game throughout the week. At the end of the week, the console goes home with one of their games loaded, and every game they coded is saved on a USB flash drive they also take home, so they can load a different game anytime.

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. Instructors are trained to be in tune with students’ unique needs and provide a personalized learning experience. 

While we are a tech program with the goal of transforming your child’s interests into real-world STEM skills, we are also a summer camp. Simply put, camp is a balance of learning and fun! Students learn in small groups in labs on a prestigious college campus and from expert instructors who are trained to engage and inspire.

Day camps kick off with icebreakers and team-building before jumping into morning coursework. When it’s time for lunch, your child will walk from the computer lab to the dining hall as they take in the beauty of campus. Students return to the learning labs in the afternoon for more exciting coursework, followed by an afternoon break where they will have the chance to take part in outdoor game time and more campus discovery before wrapping up with instruction!

Overnight campers work until dinner and then go off to create deeper connections and memories while gaming, watching movies, and more. Your child will experience the magic of camp during days and nights filled with learning and adventure that builds lifelong friendships.

Day camp runs 9am to 4:30pm Monday through Thursday, with check-in beginning at 8:30am and pick-up available until 5pm. On Friday, camp ends after Family Showcase, which runs 2–3pm. Overnight campers check in Sunday at 6pm and are also picked up Friday between 2 and 3pm.

Students spend approximately five hours per day on the computer, taking breaks to engage in recreational activities throughout their sessions.

Yes! You can register today for as little as $375 per student and pay the balance in convenient monthly installments. You can save $50 by registering for multiple sessions, and you can earn $25 in credit when you invite a friend to join camp (your friend saves $25 when they sign up too!).

All computers, equipment and software are provided in our camp labs, so your child doesn't need to bring a laptop or tablet, or download anything ahead of time. They should wear and/or pack comfortable clothing and shoes (preferably athletic shoes), a jacket or sweatshirt, sunscreen for outdoor activities, and a clearly labeled or identifiable water bottle (if students don't bring one, we'll have disposable cups). If your child has an account for games like Roblox or Minecraft, have them bring their login information to camp. Overnight campers should check their pre-camp details, since room setups and whether bedding is included vary by location.

Headphones are optional: students may bring their own, but we do not provide them. Spending money is optional too. Some locations allow for purchasing vending machine snacks or souvenirs in the campus bookstore, but we don't guarantee these opportunities each week and recommend that students not bring more than $30–$50.

At the conclusion of your child's course, they will receive an iD Tech diploma as well as a transcript outlining everything they learned over the week. They'll also take home their handheld arcade console with one of their games loaded on it, plus a USB flash drive with every game they coded during the week, so they can load a different game onto the console at home. They'll also get a limited edition iD Tech t-shirt.

In addition to valuable tech skills, kids and teens leave camp with new relationships, resilience, critical thinking opportunities, and an even greater love for tech (if that’s possible!).

Our instructors are recruited from top universities, but more importantly, they are elite mentors who understand kids, share their interests, bring first-hand experience, and serve as real-life role models for what the future holds. They are trained extensively in-person (and virtually) to differentiate engaging content to campers’ needs, connect to each child, and inspire them to pursue their dreams.

All instructors are adults (no high school counselors-in-training), fully background-checked, and trained in safety and first aid. Campers learn in small groups with a 10:1 average student-to-instructor ratio, split first by age and then, as needed, by experience level. Instructors monitor group dynamics closely and will move a camper to a different seat or class section right away if a pairing isn't working. Every camper agrees to our Code of Conduct, and staff are trained to step in quickly.

As courses frequently sell out, we recommend registering early to secure your child's spot. You can make unlimited changes with no fees up to 28 days before the start of your session. If you need to cancel before March 1st, you will receive a full refund of the amount paid. If you cancel after March 1st but still 28+ days before your session, you will receive a refund less the additional fees (if applicable) and a $250 cancellation charge per week. Within 28 days of your session start date, changes are subject to a fee, and no refunds are provided for cancellations.

Yes! Every iD Tech experience contributes toward leveling up along the iD Tech Pathway. This course is worth 1,000 XP— learn more about the iD Tech Pathway here. Next, kids ages 10–12 can design a retro game in Arcade Camp: Game Design with Take-Home Pocket Console.