Tech camp for kids: CNET News Video

[ Music ] ^M00:00:02 >> Do you have kids at home who love video games or anything that has to do with the computer? Well then this summer camp is the one for them. I'm Kara Tsuboi, CNET.com and I'm gonna take you through a day at the ID Tech Camp. From robots... >> We modified to go faster, modified to be stronger and then we put a [inaudible] on it. >> To computer programming. >> I've actually made a movie with like a plot, you know, it's a GC action movie, choreographed it. >> These nationwide tech camps like this one at Stanford University are summertime Nirvana for 7 to 17-year olds who have an interest in technology. >> So you can you do programming and other Java or C++, 3D Modeling with Maya, so that would be like for any sort of special effects and Game Modding II, which is a little bit more of a hobby sport, digital video, that's with the Final Cut Pro. Also video game creation, which is a program that we use for the younger kids that kind of get a feel for what video game programming would be like. Wed design in all sorts of aspects. We do HTML, we do Flash, all the industry standards -- and also robotics, yeah. Robotics is kind of a field that you know, it's just up and coming, so obviously, it's gonna be something in the future that's gonna be really important. >> I'm trying to make a Hangman program. Basically -- you know how the game is. I'm having a few difficulties, but you know, lots of support, so it's all good. >> What's the best part about the camp, like what is it that keeps you wanting to come back? >> It's a really welcoming community, I mean, you don't -- there isn't gonna be anybody who is really mean and you're learning stuff at the same time, so it's like a double plus. >> You get a learning experience that also happens to be fun at the same time. So a lot of the times the kids don't even realize that they're learning something because they come home and they said they had so much fun and then you know they come back and they have actual knowledge that they use towards something substantial. >> Now parents don't worry. Your kids are doing more than just playing video games for a week. I'm told that these skills are transferable to high school courses and college classes and even future careers. >> It's really useful for a career. If you stay here for like 6 weeks, you can skip practically a year of college. This is really great education for the age level. If you're gonna do a 3D design, which is like Pixar does, what most game companies do, this is really the place to be. >> Ian Katzman has traveled from Michigan to spend his third summer at the Tech ID Camp. >> I do like, making levels. I like programming a lot. It's fun, but I'm also considering law school. Even if you're not gonna do it for a career, it's still a great hobby. >> Back to our filmmaker friend Paul. >> We can edit the clips using Adobe, that's what I've been doing. >> He's got the editing chaps, the story telling skills, all he needed was a female voice for the heroine. Ah, help me. >> Great. >> Does that work? >> Yeah, perfect. >> Hey, who knows? These kids could be the next Spielberg. I'm Kara Tsuboi, CNET.com. >> We love ID Tech Camp. ^M00:02:53 [ Music ]