About
Where do you host Giant Campus programs and camps?
Giant Campus Summer Camps are hosted at prestigious universities, colleges and other locations across the United States. This provides youth with a unique chance to get on-campus experience at a pre-college age. Some Giant Campus programs are also offered privately to organizations that contract with us to bring the program to their specific communities. Giant Campus Virtual Camps are hosted online and can be accessed from anywhere in the world!
How long has Giant Campus been around?
We hosted our first camp at the University of Washington in 1997. Building from a decade of offering the nation's most innovative youth computer camps, Giant Campus has expanded each year to accommodate the growing demand for technology education in the U.S.
What are the ages of youth attending Giant Campus camps?
Youth participants range in age from 6 to 17 years old.
Are Giant Campus Summer Camps ADA Compliant?
Giant Campus programs are ADA compliant, however, we do require some lead time to secure assistance or verify appropriate accommodations. Please indicate your need at the time of registration and allow at least four weeks before attending camp so that we can coordinate with our university hosts. In addition, if a youth typically has full-time assistance of a professional medical or classroom aide, we’re happy to accommodate those needs to be sure the camper is able to fully enjoy their experience. Safety
Safety
Will my child be well supervised?
Absolutely! All summer campers are supervised at all times by our carefully selected and screened staff, starting at the drop-off point in the morning, right through to the pick-up in the evening. We use the "buddy system" to ensure that even participants who have to step out of the classroom for a bathroom break are not left alone. All Giant Campus Summer Camps are self-contained in specific areas of the location. They have been carefully selected to create a safe atmosphere that is conducive to a great educational experience.
What safety precautions are taken for overnight participants?
The dorm buildings we use are self-contained and locked at all times, restricting access from outside. We make sure the appropriate number of staff spend the night to maintain the high staff-to-student ratio consistent with levels during the day. Experienced and trained staff are on duty 24 hours a day, offering guidance, assistance and supervision. If, for any reason, a participant needs to run an errand away from the group, a Giant Campus staff member always accompanies him or her. Participants are not allowed to roam the campus on their own at any time of the day or night.
How do you choose Giant Campus Summer Camp staff?
Our staff is the best! In addition to going through our strict screening and interviewing process, each staff member is required to pass a detailed background and reference check. We're proud to mention that many of our staff return year after year!
What if my child has a medical emergency?
When it comes to medical care, we've got it covered! Each member of our staff is first aid and CPR certified. In addition, one of the great benefits of staying on a university campus is the close proximity to some of the world's best medical centers. If an incident occurs, we treat minor injuries on-site. Whenever necessary, participants are taken promptly to the campus medical facility. Parents are notified immediately of any injury, illness (including homesickness) or other such circumstance.
Class Time
Will my child have to share a computer with other participants?
No! Unlike some computer camps, one of the many advantages of Giant Campus is that each participant uses their own dedicated computer throughout their entire stay.
How are the courses taught? What if my child wants to move along more quickly than the other kids?
Building from a decade of offering the nation's most innovative computer and technology camps, Giant Campus Summer Camps and Virtual Camps are developed to make sure that every child can move through the course material at his or her own pace. Each course is delivered through an interactive tutorial program, which allows participants to proceed at a rate that is comfortable for them, without feeling pressured to either keep up or be held back by other learners. Our instructors are at-the-ready to work with participants one-on-one and help them as they move through the material.
What will my child have to show for his or her work?
Each participant works on one or more projects and then takes the finished product home on CD, USB or DVD to show or even continue to develop. As part of our program, all campers continue to have access to their courseware for a full year after the program. Additionally, there are software discounts for our campers so they can continue to use the software after they leave camp. Teens who participate in our camps will have access to Ahami, our creative community for teens. Ahami participants can upload their games, graphics, animations and videos and share them with friends and family. Regular contests are hosted with prizes and awards for creative projects such as logo design, stop motion video and online banners.
Can I visit a summer camp and see what my child is doing?
This is a common request, so we've made it a weekly event. Parents and family members are invited to join us on Friday afternoons for an open house and to attend our weekly awards ceremony! You'll have an opportunity to see what participants created during their stay and help celebrate their accomplishments.
What kind of computers do you use?
We use state-of-the-art, networked PCs at all our university sites. The skills learned on the PC easily transfer to the Mac. Many of the programs that we use in our courses are dual platform. Online Camp participants will be notified of the home computer and software requirements for each course. Software used for our Online Camps are trial versions provided by our partners and do not require a purchase.
Activities
Do you have sports and recreational activities?
Unlike some computer and technology camps you’ll find, Giant Campus Summer Camps promote a healthy balance between computer time and physical activities. It's summer and kids want to have fun, so each day is filled with short breaks, lunch and play times. During these times, there are a variety of activities available, depending on the specific campus location and weather. For the residential participant, there are additional times in the evening when they may have opportunities for sports, games and extra time on the computers, as well as network gaming time.
What about lunch?
Each location is different in how it handles lunch. At most locations, you can either pack a lunch for your child every day or give yourself a break and treat them to the wide variety of food from the campus cafeteria. Within the camp registration process, the lunch options for your location will be specified. If you have further questions or food needs, please call our camp assistants at 888.904.2267 . Residential programs for overnight campers include breakfast, lunch and dinner. We also provide snacks throughout the day.
If my child does a residential program, whom will he/she room with?
If participants desire to stay in a room with a friend, there is a space on the registration form to indicate roommate preference. Otherwise, we assign participants to a double-occupancy dorm room with a participant of the same gender, paired as closely as possible by age.
What does my child need to bring to a residential program?
A complete list of suggested items to bring is included in the program packet that will be available online prior to the start of the summer camp. This includes personal items, bedding (linens or a sleeping bag) and towels.
What activities do you have in the evening?
The intensity of residential summer camp encourages life-long friendships and builds positive self-esteem. The residential participants play hard, work hard and engage fully in the complete program experience. Participants may choose to squeeze an extra hour or two of lab time into their days and participate in other activities, such as gaming, Ultimate Frisbee or a movie night.
What kind of games will be available?
We know our participants want to have a little pure fun to go along with all this learning! We provide the latest and hottest age-appropriate games for them to try out. Teen-rated games will be restricted when the younger participants are present. The residential participants may have some time to cooperate or compete with their peers in network games.
Courses
Can I sign my child up for multiple weeks?
Yes! Recommended courses are designed for participants who want to immerse themselves in a specific topic and gain a variety of related skills.
What is the Teen Leadership Program?
Giant Campus believes in training teens for success in the 21st century. Our Teen Leadership Program focuses on fostering leadership, collaboration, communication and critical thinking in teens who have previously attended camp with us. The Leader-in-Training (LIT) program is a comprehensive training program that involves mentorship by the program director and specialized projects and work. Those who successfully graduate from our Leader-in-Training program can then apply to become Instructor Interns. We’re proud that many of our Teen Leadership graduates return to become staff for us. For more information, be sure to read more about the Teen Leadership Program on this Web site. Our unique program has sold out each year due to its popularity with teens and the high regard parents have for it.
Do the courses use software that is compatible with Apple operating systems?
Yes. Courses that feature software like Flash, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Blender, and Visual C++ Express are available in both PC and Mac versions. For all other courses, the software can be run on newer Apple operating systems using any number of virtual machine programs. You can learn more about virtual machine software for Macs here.
Schedule
What are the Summer Camp hours?
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Extended program hours are available at most locations.
What are the extended Summer Camp hours?
At day-camp-only locations, the extended hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. At locations which offer residential stays, the extended hours are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., which includes dinner. (Residential programs for overnight campers include breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
What are the Virtual Camp hours?
The hours for these camps will range based on the number of days and the specific camp. For convenience, we’ll offer two sessions per day for two hours each. This will allow the camper choice in a time slot that works best for them. Please check out the upcoming Virtual Camp offering for the latest days and times.
How much time will my child spend actually learning on the computer at a Summer Camp?
Participants in our Tech, Digital Media and Gaming Camps spend approximately half the day working on their own personal projects. Each day also includes structured collaborative activities where teens have the opportunity to share their strengths and learn from their peers. In addition, there is time each day for outdoor recreation and having fun with new friends. Our low student/teacher ratio allows great flexibility to take breaks as needed, and we like to break up the day to keep the kids interested and having fun.
I want to send my child to a Giant Campus Summer Camp, but I can't make that commute every day. What can I do?
Before you send your child to just any summer computer camp, consider a Giant Campus Summer Camp that offers a residential option. Overnight participants experience college living right on campus! All meals and dorm room accommodations are included. In addition to the day program computer time, overnight participants may log extra lab time between the fun and stimulating activities planned each evening. It's a great opportunity to build life-long friendships and spend valuable time with an instructor. If you can get your child to the campus on Sunday evening and pick him or her up on Friday afternoon, we'll take care of the rest!
Do you have an early drop-off or late pick-up?
Giant Campus Summer Camps offer extended-day options in the evenings for a modest fee, and is available at every location. We regret we are unable to offer early drop-off.