How it Works
SummerTech runs weekly from Sunday to Friday, with options for both overnighters and morning/evening commuters. We tailor the experience to the individual, so you can come exactly as many weeks as you prefer. We maintain a 3:1 camper to staff ratio, and all instruction comes directly from an instructor – unlike some tech camps, there’s no “Watch This YouTube Tutorial, I’ll See You In 20” curriculum.
Some campers prefer to spend multiple weeks becoming experts on a single topic, others take the opportunity to try something new at the beginning of every week. Classes never sell out as long as you’re registered for camp.
Weekly and Daily Arrival and Departure Schedule
Commuters
Commuters arrive on Sunday at 2:30pm to check in and get oriented. Camp begins at 3pm with an opening ceremony, class and elective previews, class and elective selections, and, on alternating fortnights, gladiatorial combat. Dinner is at 6pm. Commuters may stay as late as 9pm for evening social activities, including games of both the Digital and Cardboard variety.
Monday through Friday commuters may be dropped off as early as 8am – some campers like to show up early and play games before their first class, which starts at 9.
Monday through Thursday commuters may stay until 9pm.
Friday ends at 2pm with a closing ceremony honoring the work campers have accomplished that week. We strongly encourage parents and family members to attend.
Lunch and Dinner are included Monday through Thursday. Friday is lunch only.
Weekly Camp Hours
Sunday: 2:30pm to 6pm (but we invite you to stay as late as 9pm for evening games and social activities!)
Monday through Thursday: 8am to 9pm
Friday: 8am to 2pm
Overnighters
Overnighters arrive on Sunday at 2pm to check into their rooms and get settled. Overnighters who arrive later than 3pm will be placed in the Haunted Dorm.
Camp begins at 3pm with an opening ceremony, previews, selections, and elective selections.
Plan to pick your overnighter up on Friday at 2pm, and expect to stay until 3pm for the closing ceremony. Their bags will be packed already!
Classes
Each session is generously staffed so there is a 3:1 camper to staff ratio (at minimum). That means each camper will receive the individual attention they require to make SummerTech a truly meaningful learning experience. Starting Monday, the first three classes each day consist of the camper’s main focus course.
The fourth course, Monday through Thursday, is the camper’s elective class. Electives are announced each Sunday, and based on staff’s personal hobbies and areas of expertise. Past electives have included Improvisational Comedy, Film Study, German Longsword, Arts And/Or Crafts, Magic the Gathering, Game Design, Intro to Anime, and Advanced Semiotic Constructions Of Meaning 301: Baudrillard By Way of Waluigi.
Computers
Another number we’re proud of is our 1:1 camper to computer ratio. This means that campers will ALWAYS have access to his/her own state-of-the art PC hardware and software at SummerTech. The camp is completely networked. Campers may also bring their own laptops if they choose but we don’t recommend it and can’t be responsible for lost or broken equipment.
Evenings at SummerTech
Every night from 6pm until 9pm, Sunday through Thursday, SummerTech hosts evening activities featuring a buffet of fun options for campers, including game “clinics” (tutorials in which staff introduce campers to some of their favorite games), game tournaments, arts and crafts, trivia, musical events and talent shows, sports (no, not just e-sports), and more. Every week, our staff collaborates to create a broad and entertaining range of events, and we highly recommend spending evenings with us for the full SummerTech social experience.
Meals
Just like college life, all campers eat hearty, nutritious meals in the college dining facilities. After our meet and greet on Sunday we have our traditional pizza dinner as we all get to know each other. Lunch and dinner are included. (Sunday is dinner only and Friday is lunch only.)
Sports and Recreation
At SummerTech, we have a two-hour outdoor activity break from 3pm to 5pm each day with a variety of activities to participate in that range from casual to athletic. No phones, screens, or electronics during this fresh air break in our day. Popular pastimes include dodgeball, drawing, playing music, frisbee, partaking of our world-class Boardgame Vault (which includes some cool weird ones you probably won’t find anywhere else), and complaining about being outside. There’s something for everyone.
Tuition and Fees
The base tuition for commuters and overnighters at SUNY Purchase is $1,300. This includes all instruction, technology and instructional materials, lunch and dinner, a camp T-shirt, all sports and recreational activities, total supervision, and overhead fees for maintenance of the Enormous Death Laser.
Overnighters must pay an additional fee of $600, which covers breakfast, dorm rooms, 24-hour supervision, and bog upkeep.
A $500 non-refundable deposit per week per camper must accompany each application. The deposit goes towards the full tuition. The balance must be received by May 1. Fees for campers leaving early for any personal reason are NOT prorated.
Refunds
Refunds are processed after a written request has been received at our main office. Campers who withdraw after May 1st receive a 50% refund. Campers who withdraw after the beginning of their camp session or who are dismissed for disciplinary reasons receive no refund. Deposits are non-refundable.