Ignite your internalDrive and do something big this summer. At week-long day or overnight camps, iD Tech campers experience a variety of cutting-edge courses for beginner through advanced learners. Camps aim to strike the right balance between off-computer activities (creative games, sports, life skills, etc.) and essential technology education to foster STEM skill development (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Course topics include video game design, programming, apps, web design and more. Staff are tech-savvy undergrads, graduate students and professionals who are passionate about teaching game design, film, computer science and more. Plus, campers to staff ratios are low—just 8 campers per instructor. See website for full details.

DigiPen Institute of Technology’s ProjectFUN Programs engage and challenge students through hands-on learning during two-week camp sessions. ProjectFUN workshops immerse students in the arts and sciences as well as the tools and techniques of today’s high-tech careers. Camp topics include Animation, Game Design, Video Game Programming, Multimedia Production, and Robotics. Lunch and snacks provided. See website for session dates.

Lakeside Summer School offers Middle School Academic Camps for students entering grades 5 - 8. Campers spend their days actively engaged: two classes each day in a wide variety of areas will engage their brains and expand their curiosity. Class choices range from Farm to Market cooking and Recycled Sculpture, to Web Design, Dancing with the Stars, and Crime Scene Investigation. After a great lunch, campers play games that build leadership skills, focus on team work, and have them outside and active. See website for full details.

University of Washington Summer Youth Programs offer enrichment opportunities--camps, academies and short courses--for elementary, middle and high school students. Topics include arts, computers, robotics, science, writing, etc. See website for full details on various session dates, times and fees.

Morning session campers customize and race off-road, radio-controlled cars, progressing to different levels of skill. Learn math and architecture through the construction of ramps, bridges, tunnels, and other obstacles. Afternoon campers animate scenes with characters flying through the air with wings, propellers, jet packs, magic, hot air, and giant slingshots. Students explore the history of flight for inspiration while animating on the iPad2's program called DoInk. Classes focus on hand-drawn animation skills, character and background construction, and storyboarding, plus editing, sound effects and score music. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced curriculum provided.

Summer Institute for the Gifted provides high quality educational and social opportunities for academically gifted and talented students through programs designed to meet their abilities and needs. Students choose from a wide variety of courses taught in Humanities, Math, Science, Technology, Multi-Disciplinary, Visual and Performing Arts, and Fitness and Recreation as well as meet other gifted students who share common interests, abilities, and goals. Please see website for full details.

Cougar Quest is a residential academic summer camp for highly capable students on the WSU campus, and is designed to meet the educational and social needs of young college-bound students. Campers attend three rigorous workshops of their choosing; most taught by WSU professors and full of hands-on activities meant to challenge and keep the interest of students. Course options include Lego Mindstorm Robots, Environmental Sciences, Culinary Arts, Fashion Design, and many more. Interactive activities and the use of top-of-the-line technology and techniques allow students to experience an amazing week of learning, fun and exploration.

LEGO® animation campers (morning session) explore the theme Impossible Worlds. What if people could change color as they walked up walls or on the ceiling? What if someone could do 50 flips in the air and land on her feet? Push the limits of reality through animating imaginative worlds using stop-motion animation and LEGO® pieces--bring in pieces from home too! Students learn to operate a digital camera, construct characters, props and backgrounds, and plan a storyboard, plus learn editing, sound effects and score mucis. (LEGO® is a registered trademark of the LEGO® Juris A/S, which is not affiliated with, and does not sponsor or endorse, the services or products of the Clay Animation Network). Clay animation campers (afternoon session) explore the theme Morph and endless combinations of shape- shifting between characters and objects using the same process of animation that is used in movies such as "Wallace and Gromit" and "Pirates: Band of Misfits". Students learn how to operate a digital camera, construct characters, props and backgrounds, and plan a storyboard, plus learn editing, sound effects and score mucis. Beginner, intermediate and advanced curriculum provided.

Cougar Quest is a residential academic summer camp for highly capable students on the WSU campus, and is designed to meet the educational and social needs of young college-bound students. Campers attend three rigorous workshops of their choosing; most taught by WSU professors and full of hands-on activities meant to challenge and keep the interest of students. Course options include Lego Mindstorm Robots, Environmental Sciences, Culinary Arts, Fashion Design, and many more. Interactive activities and the use of top-of-the-line technology and techniques allow students to experience an amazing week of learning, fun and exploration.

What do film scores, large scale concerts, musical theater, contemporary pop recordings and television music have in common? In all cases the computer has been integrated into the processes as an essential tool in producing sound, in scoring sheet music, in recording tracks and in the enhancement of live performance. This camp shows students how to use inexpensive software that can be installed on a home computer that can produce amazing results. Students will be producing as many small projects during the week as they can. A selection of their work will be shared with family and friends in a performance August 17 at 2:30.