The CTI Summer Experience – where children build apps instead of campfires

The College of Technology and Innovation is changing the way children go to summer camp. Move over campfires, canoes and capture the flag – the CTI Summer Experience will teach youngsters how to invent new products, develop apps, design video games and even start their own business.

The newly redesigned CTI Summer Experience at ASU’s Polytechnic campus is an opportunity for students in junior high and high school to join ASU faculty, successful entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers to explore, create, make and learn. With a selection of more than 30 residential and day camps, there is something for everyone.

And, all faculty, staff, alumni and students at ASU can save 20 percent on camp fees by entering the code ASU13 during checkout.

“CTI has a very unique approach to hands-on and applied learning, and the camps are a way for us to engage young minds before their college years,” said Richard Filley, director of the CTI Summer Experience. “Our hope is that these students will become makers who help pass the torch forward to a new generation of young inventors and entrepreneurs.”

CTI Summer Experience camp offerings

MAKE Your Ideas Happen Camp will explore campers’ interest in brainstorming, designing and making a product or business. The four-day camp will take place on the Polytechnic campus and students will be housed in Century Hall. At the end of the camp, students will travel to MAC6 and learn first-hand lessons about long-term business strategies. 

Occurring immediately at the conclusion of MAKE Your Ideas Happen Camp, the Conscious Capitalism Entrepreneurship Camp, a collaboration with local incubator MAC6, is an opportunity for students to learn how to market and launch a business or product that makes the world a better place. The four-day camp will take place at the Retreat at Tontozona and features workshops related to entrepreneurship, such as funding your business and understanding your customer. During the camp, students can present their idea to judges and have an opportunity to win prizes.

Students may enroll in both camps in order to experience the design process from start to finish. Discounts are available for students enrolling in both camps.

Other residential camps include Game Design Camp, Game Art Camp and App Development Camp. These residential camps are also offered as day camps.

This summer, girls will also get the opportunity to attend Camps Just for Girls to learn about leadership, teamwork and technology. Adventures in Computing Land will teach the basics of programming, web page coding and animation using innovative programming tools. Girls who sign up for Scipreneur: The Science & Business of Personal Care Products will learn the science behind formulating personal care and beauty products as they create their very own product. They will then learn the ins and outs of launching the product and becoming a junior entrepreneur.

In addition to residential camps, CTI offers a selection of day camps occurring in June and July. Comprehensive offerings include:

• Game Design Camp (grades 9-12)
• Game Art Camp (grades 9-12)
• App Development Camp (grades 9-12)
• MAKE Your Ideas Happen Camp (grades 9-12)
• Conscious Capitalism Entrepreneurship Camp (grades 9-12)
• STEAM Machines Invention Camp (grades 9-12)
• Aviation Camp (grades 9-12)
• Maker Camp: Creative Problem Solving (grades 6-8 and 9-12)
• Maker Camp: Tinkering (grades 6-8 and 9-12)
• Maker Camp: Imagine the Future (grades 6-8 and 9-12)
• STEAM Machine Invention Camp (grades 9-12)
• Aviation Camp (grades 9-12)
• Just for Girls: Scipreneur, the Science and Business of Personal Care Products (grades 6-8 and 9-12)
• Just for Girls: Adventures in Computing Land (grades 6-8 and 9-12)
• Summer Gaming Camp (grades 6-8)

Day camps run from 8:30am to 4:30pm unless otherwise stated. Parents can drop off their students as early as 6:30 am and pick them up as late as 6:30pm.

Those families who register before April 15 can save up to $50 per camp. Families with multiple camp participants are also eligible for discounts.

For information about each camp, pricing, dates, times or to register, visit https://technology.asu.edu/ctisummer

Written by: Sydney B. Donaldson, College of Technology and Innovation