A tech camp is a summer camp

Summer camp

Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....

 which focuses on technology education. Whereas computer camps originally focused on hardware, networking, and programming, tech camps evolved in the late 1990’s to encompass a broader scope of technical competencies relevant to the internet generation. Specifically, tech camps tend to encompass the disciplines of multimedia and gaming. Tech Camps usually operate on college campuses during the summer months due to the availability of housing, computer labs, and dining facilities. Campers are usually between 7-17 years old.

Tech Camps, having evolved from the early days of computer camps, began to appear in the United States in the late 1990’s. A large number of tech camps have opened since 1999, some operating at just one or few regional sites, and others operating at multiple locations throughout the U.S.

Tech camps encompass a wide range of technology offerings, often multimedia and gaming based, such as Flash Animation, Digital Filmmaking

Filmmaking

Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...

, Graphic Design

Graphic design

Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...

, Video Game Design, Comic Book Design, 3D Character Modeling, Game Modding

Modding

Modding is a slang expression that is derived from the verb "modify". Modding refers to the act of modifying a piece of hardware or software or anything else for that matter, to perform a function not originally conceived or intended by the designer...

, Professional Gaming, C++

C++

C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...

, Java

Java (programming language)

Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...

, Action Scripting, Robotics

Robotics

Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...

, machinima

Machinima

Machinima is the use of real-time 3D computer graphics rendering engines to create a cinematic production. Most often, video games are used to generate the computer animation...

, Digital Photography

Photography

Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...

 and the adoption of Web 2.0

Web 2.0

The term Web 2.0 is associated with web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web...

. Instruction is project-based, and students tend to go home with a final project. Technology education is the main focus, but tech camps also offer traditional camp activities such as sports, swimming, and other non-computer oriented activities, including chess.

Popular Tech Camps include Digital Media Academy

Digital Media Academy

- History :The Digital Media Academy is a digital art and technology training company, offering Stanford University Continuing Studies accredited courses for adults as well as summer camp programs for kids, age 6-18, computer camp and tech camp at several universities in the US and Canada...

, Giant Campus, Emagination Computer Camps, iD Tech Camps and Classroom Antics Tech Camps.