Nick has been begging to do a camp with iD Tech, the world’s #1 STEM summer program, for years but it never worked out with our busy summers of traveling. When his school made the change to distance learning for the foreseeable future, he asked if there was anything fun he could do to pass the time. Enter the brand new Virtual Tech Camps from iD Tech – a perfect fit for our new distance learning family.
This post is sponsored by iD Tech- as always, all opinions are honest and my own.
There are camps for all skill levels and ages 7-19 so there’s really something for everyone. We checked out the different offerings- everything from Python to Roblox to 3D modeling- before he settled on the Minecraft Mods in Java course. The classes are offered in multiple time zones which meant that we could easily find one that worked with our schedule- he does his digital coursework from school in the morning and then checks in for iD Tech after lunch.
Having a set schedule has been a HUGE help for our family during this time. I normally work from home and I’m used to having an empty house from 8:30am-3pm where I can work- or do whatever I want! Like most families, this change to having the kids home 24/7 and having to manage their virtual learning, has been tough. Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful that we’re home and safe, but it’s still been an adjustment. Of all my kids, Nick is the one that will wander around the house complaining that he’s bored so having some extra structure in place for him has been a lifesaver for me- and he’s LOVING it!
The camps feature 2 hours of live instruction plus 2 hours of self-paced project development every day, Monday – Friday. Nick is excited and ready to go every afternoon, eager to meet up with his new online friends and his instructor to learn about production-level Java coding. There’s a max of 5 students per instructor, so I know that he’s getting a personalized experience and his questions (which I’m sure he has many!) are getting answered. He really enjoys the live video aspect because they can share what they’ve done with the group and ask for help.
After his session with the instructor, he has about two hours of self-led project development to work on at his own pace before they meet again. He says it makes Minecraft more fun because you’re able to change what’s already in the game. I love that he’s focusing on something constructive and learning new STEM skills, plus, I’m able to get things done while he’s busy- it’s a win-win for our family!
Are you looking for something for your kiddo to do while everyone is stuck at home? Head to iD Tech to check out their newest Virtual Tech Camps and right now, you can save $125 using the code JENNIFER125.
Additionally, iD Tech offers Online Private Lessons where your kiddo can get one-on-one attention in a 60-minute session (there are single lesson options as well as 5-packs and 12-packs). Plus, right now they’re running a promotion where you can bring a sibling (or friend!) to your session for free!
Are schools in your area doing virtual learning for the rest of the year? Are you adding to the curriculum?
