Camp Overview
FAQ
How can I register?
Online: JCCGB My Easyreg
By phone: 617-558-6480What if I have other questions?
Call 617-395-7527, or write to
INSERT NEW FAQ
How does the program work?
Ten adventures are offered every week at every location, serving as the s theme for that session. Every adventure has suggested story lines and project plans in robotics, animation, video production, game design, or digital design.
Throughout icamp, our expert instructors run mini-classes in programming, animation, LEGO construction, and all other technologies with small groups of campers or individually. Campers use their new skills to create a project and film it.
Campers work on their individual projects at their own pace, but we encourage collaboration in small groups and mentorship of younger campers by older campers.
Depending on many factors, campers may complete 2 to 5 projects in a full-day week, and will complete a final movie which captures all their projects to view at home. All projects are filmed or photographed. Campers bring home a CD with all final files.
Each camper has his/her own laptop, with a broad selection of software tools and peripherals
What are the adventures?
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Sample Adventure Projects for Mission to Mars
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Is this for "techie" kids?
No. We emphasize storytelling and creativity as the central themes in all adventures. Technology serves as a tool to tell the story in a rich way. Guided by our Adventure Guides, campers learn technical tools as needed for the Adventure. With diverse Adventures such as fashion design, architecture, computer games, etc., we attract a very diverse cross-section of personalities and interests. We believe that this approach will serve the children well in their future academic and professional lives.
Who is eligible?
Children who have completed grades 2 to 8 can attend ( attention is fairly distributed, we cannot accept younger campers.
What is the difference between full-day and half-day camp?
Except for the last day of icamp, the only difference between half-day and full-day campers is the amount of time they have to complete their projects. Because all the technologies have a learning curve, it takes campers time to begin creating their own projects. More often than not, half-day campers wish they were there full day, but may not have that option if the session is full. Therefore, we recommend full-day registrations. For those who do register for half-day, we highly recommend upgrading to full day on the last day of the session so that the camper can participate in the special project and show their work at the Friday Afternoon Showcase, which is usually held at 3pm.
Can I visit my child in icamp?
We encourage parents and friends to visit icamp to view the projects completed by our campers. If you would like to see their work or speak to one of our staff members about the program, you can visit the workshop 10-10:30 am Tuesday through Thursday. In addition, Friday is a special presentation day when all projects are shown. Details will be provided upon registration.
Can my child bring his/her own LEGO or video games to icamp?
Campers are not permitted to bring or play off-the-shelf video games at icamp. Campers may play games that were created by them or their peers as part of our gamemaker activity. LEGO may be brought to icamp, but we cannot be responsible for the safety of any electronics, LEGO, or other valuables brought by campers from home.
What is the refund policy?
Icamp can be hosted at partner locations, such as the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, where we follow the s refund policies published separately. For icamp sessions where s Technology Workshop handles registrations, our policy is as follows.
Once the registration is paid in full, a cancellation fee of $50 will be assessed on all canceled registrations. Full refund, less the cancellation fee, will be made on cancellations made before April 1, 2008. 50% will be refunded after April 1. No refunds will be made after June 1, except under extenuating circumstances. Session changes and substitutions may be allowed on a space-available basis. Days missed due to illness are eligible for make-up during another session if space is available or a pro-rated refund if space is not available. s note is required for a refund to be issued. Days missed due to weather or to extended school year (snow days) will be refunded on a pro-rated basis without a cancellation fee.
Details of multi-session/ family discount
A 5% discount is applied automatically to registrations with more than one child or more than one session. These discounts are cumulative and are applied to the final amount, for example, when registering two sisters for two sessions each, a 10% discount is applied to the entire registration amount. To be eligible for the discounts, sessions must be booked at the same time.
What is the Camper to Staff ratio? What are staff qualifications?
- Maximum Camper/Staff ratio is 7 to 1, usually lower
- All ages work in the same room as projects and adventures are individualized
- Staff have first aid training, a background check and comprehensive hands-on curriculum training
- Our Directors have a background in education, computer science or engineering
- Staff is hired for their skills with children as much as their technical background
Do the children get to take anything home?
We select a number of finished digital projects (movies, video games, designs, etc.) and post them on our download site within a few days of the end of camp. LEGO materials are not taken home, but are usually incorporated into movies and other digital projects.
What if my child doesn’t like it?
Some campers will want to leave if they t succeed with their projects at first. We will try our best to find activities that will engage every camper by trying out different levels, adventures, and approaches, spending time individually with campers as needed, and seeking suggestions from parents as needed. We have had very few cases where this does not work.
