Programming
TIC has taught programming to kids of all ages for 25 years. Kids as young as 7 create their own games, intuitively learning very powerful concepts. Kids as old as 16 do their own thing while getting a jump start on skills taught in college. Programming sharpens analytical skills and inspires creativity. In LOGO, BASIC, Visual BASIC, C++, or Java, campers begin with a vision of what they want to create and bring it to life on the screen. For campers who want to learn GAME DESIGN, programming is the way to go, but campers also create drawing programs, sports games, dating surveys, poetry generators — whatever they like!

Robotics
Robotics is an excellent option for campers who have taken programming. Junior campers use LEGO Mindstorms (based on the LOGO programming language) and Seniors use LCSI's MicroWorlds EX Robotics (using a version of the C++ programming language) to construct and program robots which adapt to changing circumstances. Campers learn to collaborate in problem solving.

Video Production
Budding movie-makers collaborate in small groups to brainstorm a project, write a script, direct, act, shoot, and edit an original short video. They learn teamwork as well as cinematic techniques, shoot with digital camcorders, edit digitally with Final Cut Pro, and take home copies of their finished projects on DVD or videotape. [Campers must be at least 9 years old; limit: two sessions of Video per summer.]

Animation
Animation attracts kids who love to draw and are excited about the impressive special graphic effects they have seen on TV or in movies. Campers can do “frame by frame” cartoons or "claymation," or work with sophisticated software to create amazing 3D projects. [Prerequisite: at least one session of Programming OR Graphic Design at TIC.]

Web Design
Campers learn to design their own personal webpages. They express their ideas in text, images, sound and animation effects, learning HTML, the language of the Web, as well as Internet navigational skills. Some campers learn Javascript, and those who know C++ or Java do even more advanced projects. [Limit: two sessions of Web Design per summer.]

Newspaper
Newspaper is for those who are interested in journalism — writing, photography, layout, editing — and who want to see their ideas in print. Our campers produce TIC TALK, the camp newspaper, using InDesign and PhotoShop. They do investigative reporting or human interest stories, take digital photos, and then publish their work for the whole camp to see. Many later put these skills to use on their school newpapers and yearbooks. [Campers must be at least 9 years old; limit: two sessions per summer.]

Graphic Design
Graphics is for kids who have artistic talent and want to learn Photoshop and Illustrator. They electronically "paint" and "draw," alter photos, and create collages. We display their art in our gallery and feature it in the camp newspaper. At the end of the session they take home their artwork in print and on disk.

Digital Music
Musically talented campers who want to create classical, techno, or pop music in a new way love this option. They use professional music composition software, an electronic keyboard, and their own creativity. They burn CDs which they take home at the end of the session. [Prerequisite: two years of music lessions, preferably piano.]

Digital Photography
Senior campers practice still photography as an art form. They learn to "see" as a photographer sees, as well as how their own digital cameras work. They master retouching and other sophisticated techniques in Photoshop. We display their images in our gallery, and they take home their digital photographs in print and on disk. [Only seniors may enroll in Digital Photo.}

Media Mix
We allow our youngest juniors to try out several different media in one session. They either do a few short projects that capture their interests or a truly multi media project. [Only 7- or 8-year-old campers may enroll in Media Mix, but note that it is NOT the only choice available to our youngest campers.]