Where are the Mac computer camps?

I was born about forty-three years too soon. You see, when I was a kid, I dreaded summer camp. In my neck-of-the-woods (Chillicothe, Ohio), the camps available for my parents to send me were something less than four-star, in either amenities or activities. And the camp counselors all seemed as if they had escaped from the latest installment of a 'Friday the 13th' movie, only a step removed from the guy in the hockey mask with bloody butcher knife.

Creepy, to say the least. And not the least intellectually stimulating (or physically challenging for that matter).

Today, though, I'd love to go to summer camp, especially one of the new computer summer camps for kids. I'd learn how to program a computer, to design a Web page and build a Web site, and to use digital media editing tools. Unfortunately, at my advanced age, my mommy and daddy aren't likely to send me.

But you can send your kids and experience the fun vicariously. The top provider of computer summer camps for kids is the American Computer Experience (www.computercamp.com or 800-386-4223), or ACE, for short.

ACE, with the backing of Intergraph Computer Systems (Intergraph is providing all of the Pentium II-based workstations for camp classes in Basic, C, C++, Java, dynamic HTML and creative computer graphics training), will conduct one-week summer camps at 76 different college and university campuses. These include: American University; Amherst College; Bryn Mawr College; Drake University; Emory University; Johns Hopkins University; University of California Berkeley; and Stanford University.

Whither Apple?
What you won't find at any ACE camp, however, is a single Mac. And that is not good for the kids, nor for Apple. You see, ACE camps are training future computer users, programmers, even computer scientists. And these kids are going to learn the Microsoft Way, not the Macintosh Way, or other non-Windows alternatives. When I contacted several Apple folks about this, the answer I got was "What's ACE?"

Unlike the scary summer camps I dreaded, the ACE summer kid compucamps won't expose your kids to sunburns, bug-bites, scratches, poison oak, or spooky camp counselors. Instead, the ACE camps offer "camp-style education in computer programming, Web-page design, graphics, sound and music software manipulation, and interactive gaming to kids ages 7 to 16 during [their] one-week sessions," ACE told me.

"With the popularity of affordable, yet incredibly powerful personal computers in today's homes, schools, and businesses, it is very important that kids today receive early education in computer technology and use," said Jeff Edson, vice president, Digital Media Division, Intergraph Computer Systems. "With computer skills being vital 'life-skills,' we believe that ACE has found a creative way to teach these skills to our future thought leaders."

The ACE camps curricula were not just tossed together on a lark. With computer science teaching as my "day job" here at the University of Chicago, I was impressed by the ACE camp core curricula -- some of which mirrors summer programs we conduct here.

The ACE core curriculum focuses on teaching programming skills in languages such as Java, HTML, C, C++, while also using Interplay's Learn to Program Basic, and True Basic. The camps also conduct seminars in other languages as well as in trends in programming.

And unlike some camps that emphasize computer language memorization, the ACE camps focus on conceptual foundations. According to ACE, this "enhances campers' critical thinking abilities and enables them to work in any programming language." And ACE is right.

Doug Murphy, the cofounder of ACE noted that "providing these cybercampers with today's state-of-the-art technology gives them a powerful forum to enter the programming arena, allowing them to learn faster and quickly create their own virtual playgrounds. Intergraph's commitment clearly shows that corporate America understands that investing in our children's future is good for them and the future of our technology industry."

The ACE program has grown from 109 campers in 1993 to more than 10,000 expected for this summer's camps. The typical daily camp schedule, which is can be a sleep-over camp (using participating college and university dormitories) for out-of town campers, starts early and goes all day long. The first classes start at 9 a.m. and run until 8 p.m., with breaks for lunch and dinner and free time or sports.

The base tuition for both commuters and overnighters is $550. This covers all instruction, instructional materials, lunch and dinner, a camp T-shirt, all sports and recreational activities, and complete supervision. Overnighters also pay an additional fee of $300, which includes breakfast, dorm rooms with linens and towels, and 24-hour supervision.

But ACE also provides scholarships to families who need them. A scholarship contest determines all forms of ACE financial aid. Scholarships are awarded in each city and age group. Potential applicants must submit a 200-250 word typed essay on "Why I want to go to Computer Camp." ACE awarded 200 scholarships in 1997, worth a total of $80,000, and has increased the amount given in 1998.

While morning camp sessions focus on programming fundamentals, afternoon sessions focus on the use of graphics software, sound software, and music software. "Many of our campers utilize these applications in conjunction with their new programming skills to expand and explore their personal creative inclinations," said Jim Beach, cofounder of ACE. "Having just become a father, I'm even more aware of a parent's desire to give their child as many tools as possible to experience creative play. This camp is about creating a fun and safe non-competitive environment while kids learn life-long skills and critical thinking ability."

Planned activities also emphasize technological explorations like an Internet scavenger hunt -- so your kids come home from camp able to use the Internet to perform their own school or personal project research. The scavenger hunt helps them use the latest Net information available, while teaching them how to assimilate graphics, pictures and charts into homework, school projects, and papers.

ACE also plans to extend the experience outside of camp via online classes. Thoughtfully, the ACE camps also teach computer and Internet ethics, with presentations like "Hacking, Cracking, and Bag-packing" (what is hacking, what's wrong with code cracking and why, if you're caught doing these things, it's time to pack your bags!). These seminars cover computer etiquette, Internet "Netiquette" and briefly touches on trademark, copyright and software piracy issues.

Besides Intergraph equipment for your kids to use, ACE has lined-up other computer sponsors, including Intel, Microsoft, Philips, Kensington, Interplay, EA Sports, Sierra, Broderbund and MetaCreations, and their hardware and software is featured in some of the sessions, although the camps offer plenty of software and hardware for your kids that has not been "paid-for" by sponsors. Again, not an Apple among them.

ACE summer camp classes are small,so that hands-on experience with MIDI keyboards, art tablets, music software, and 3-D graphics animation tools is enhanced.

Originating in the summer of 1993, on the Stanford and MIT campuses, the ACE summer computer camp was designed for children with all levels of computer experience, from beginners to experts. Campers also receive a course-book that they can during camp and as a resource once camp concludes.

Apple needs to contact these ACE organizers to become a sponsor, to get Macs added to the curriculum, and to help balance out that curriculum. We should expect no less from "The Education Computer Company."