Tech Focus
Who says summer camp and computers don’t mix?
Tech Focus provides an inspirational education program to children and young adults. Our program is constantly evolving to provide relevant, foundational, and real-world knowledge in computer programming, content-creation, and robotics.
Our highly innovative program combines the intellectual challenge of computing and technology with Camp Fitch’s summer camp. It is a one-of-a-kind program and is held at one of the country’s oldest and most successful year-round camps.
What sets us apart from other tech camps:
- Individualized and adaptive program.
- Counselor to camper ratio during lab time.
- Traditional summer camp activities.
- Very high breadth and depth of course offerings.
- Extremely high return camper (and counselor) rate.
Environment
Tech Focus instruction takes place in a clean, air-conditioned facility with well-maintained equipment and leading-edge software tools. We maintain a reasonably quiet, casual, comfortable, social, and open learning environment. We utilize various methods of instruction including pair-programming, teaching-by-example, visually with whiteboards and paper, and by self-paced books. We strive to match a camper with a learning method most effective for them, adapting as needed.
As part of Camp Fitch Summer Camp, campers sleep in open-air cabins near indoor restrooms with hot showers, eat in modern dining facilities, and participate in typical summer camp activities with traditional summer camp campers of similar age. We encourage campers to be active and to enjoy the fantastic outdoor opportunities Camp Fitch provides!
We proudly strive for a market-leading camper-to-counselor ratio of 2-to-1 during lab hours; pairs of campers have the otherwise undivided attention of a skilled and experienced counselor. Our typical counselors have multiple years of Camp Fitch experience, training equivalent to a college degree in the field of computing, and/or are professionally employed in their field of instruction. Our fun and friendly staff is passionate about technology and absolutely love being part of camp every year.
Our Approaches
We have two different approaches to instruction: a standard course progression and an individualized program.
With both approaches, we continually evaluate a camper’s progress and satisfaction, so that if needed we can make changes to their course work to maximize their success. We find this flexibility strengthens the educational value of camp while keeping campers engaged and having fun.
For campers without particular interests, we assess their current knowledge and experience so we may fit them into our traditional course progression. Campers without any previous programming experience are usually placed in an introductory Python course. Second year or second week campers or campers with light programming experience are placed in an Intermediate Python course. Third year or campers with significant programming experience are usually included in a team of campers creating a game.
In our individualized program, we work with the campers and the parents to build a customized course catered to the strengths, weaknesses, schooling, and career aspirations.
Skills
Campers don’t just learn how to write software code or learn about computer hardware. We also focus our instruction on advancing skills and gaining experience working in teams, solving problems, and thinking critically.
Teamwork plays an important part in many of the projects our campers work on. They hone their communication skills while building trust and working together. Teams work together building on each-other’s strengths and weaknesses while maintaining productivity.
All of the disciplines we teach involve problem solving. Problem solving strategies and techniques are an enormous value and are difficult to acquire in most schools. We encourage campers to work through their problems; breaking them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. The problem-solving skills campers acquire at camp can be applied not only to their computational endeavors but also their school-work and their careers.
Campers learn how to identify and utilize empirical evidence while working on their projects. We teach them how to spot hidden clues and how to use those clues to solve problems.
Regularly returning staff, campers, and their parents find the camp to be an excellent value and an incredible experience.
Experiences
Flagship Experience
For kids 6-16, this is our traditional experience that kids from all over the world have enjoyed for over 100 years! We can’t wait for you to come be a part of it.
Leadership Development
Engage your teenager in our leadership development experiences to develop crucial skills in areas like teamwork, empathy, responsibility, and a service mentality.
Teen Adventure Trips
Taking the Fitch Experience on the road allows us to push kids even further out of their comfort zones, build intense friendships based on trust and shared responsibility
Health Focus
Let our special medical teams closely supervise your child while educating and encouraging them on their journey toward independence.
Tech Focus
Does your child love working on computers? Let them do that all week with like-minded boys and girls while getting a healthy dose of fresh air and sunshine!
Equestrian Focus
For boys and girls who love horses, being an Outrider is hands-on, in the saddle fun at summer camp!
Farm Focus
We have created an engaging farm focus to teach children about raising animals, planting seeds and sustainability.
Drone Focus
For boys and girls who love flying drones, Drone Focus will teach children how to become an expert pilot!