Comments on: The Genius of Apple Camps for Kids: A First-hand Experience

By: kathy

kathy — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:42:14 +0000

My kids attended an apple camp (presentations) this morning. Mixed Review. The camp was great for my 9 year old, but horrible for my 11 and 12 year olds.

The camp is definitely geared toward the 8-9 year olds that have never done much of anything on a mac. It was very basic instruction and got my 9 year old excited about using the software.

For my 11 and 12 year olds, they covered absolutely nothing that they did not already know. Additionally, the camp description said to bring your own laptop, photos, music, etc if you have them. They were excited to create cool presentations with their material. They didn’t touch what they brought. The camp had 15 kids and was broken into three groups so the 8 year olds were in the same group as 13 year olds. They could have equally broken the kids into experience level groups, but did not. Instead, 5 kids were huddled around one Mac in the store using the stores photos and music. Only the younger kids were allowed to work on the Mac. My 12 year old got 30 seconds of computer time (which my 9 year old even noticed and thought was unfair) My eleven year old left the group after an hour and sat with me for the rest of the session. The thirteen year old hung in for duration, but was really dissapointed.

In summary, great for the elementary school novice. Waste of time for middle school age kids that have done presentations for school work. Nothing new for them.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:05:53 +0000

The Apple Camps are great. My two children attended the Music and are currently attending the Photo Camp. The things they are creating have amazed me. The instructors work well with the kids. I am definitely an Apple Camp fan.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:00:23 +0000

My 8 year old son just attended the iMovie camp and today is attending the Garage Band camp. He had a great time, made a friend, received a very cool t-shirt, learned, and became more interested in making and editing movies. My son is so proud of the movie he created we had to watch the dvd about 5 times last night.

I just received a text from my wife… she told me he is so absorbed in the music lesson he hasn’t looked up once. Bravo Apple!!!

By: Partners in Grime

Partners in Grime — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:31:05 +0000

Definitely turn off One-Click! :)

By: awedri

awedri — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:24:15 +0000

I would have loved to have my mom or dad spend that kind of time with me. Lessons and camps were rare in my family of 6 plus. Any freebie trips, outings and adventures should be grabbed.

By: awedri

awedri — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:21:49 +0000

Carnz may not have had much interaction with parents in his or her childhood. maybe a little jealousy here? I think ANY quality time with parent and child is terrific. Tech skills are mandatory to make it in this world. I suppose the child would have had a better time in an arcade with druggies hanging about or alone in his room? I support any parents who make the time to engage with their kids.

By: Apple User

Apple User — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:40:31 +0000

I’m afraid brain-washing is a bit unfair in regards to using Apple products and software. Sure, Apple Camp is a great marketing tool, but what about the great opportunities now made available through a simple, powerful, easy to use application? Would you really call fueling a child dream brain washing?

Garage Band does not only allow you to create music using loops. You can record music using real instruments, and share them with others. This is were the lessons come in handy. Apple makes sure to walk with the consumer every step of the way.

Its one thing to brain wash, its another to inspire. I don’t think we have the extermination of these children, or their dreams, in mind.

By: Nick Santilli

Nick Santilli — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:33:53 +0000

I believe they were 8 to 14 years old

By: STL

STL — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:57:32 +0000

One reason we have teachers in school because it is easier to learn when an individual trained in teaching shows you how. Do we get brainwashed because with the advertisement of the publisher on the book? Heck no.

Having someone provide an overview and then bore in on some details is a quick way to learn about a computer application.

carnz is obviously a troll, exceeding jealous of everything Apple. Such a shame to miss the wonders of this great company.

By: gretchen

gretchen — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:53:35 +0000

how old were the kids? were the participants teens?

By: carnz

carnz — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:48:26 +0000

@Barry:
I don’t make anyone a nazi. I’m just saying that they used the same methods. Maybe you are right and this is a bad comparison, but they are still brainwashed somehow.
If you teach kids how to buy your products in such a manner, that they would think it is a cool thing to do, than this is brainwashing for me. This is more a subtle brainwash and
not the brute force kind of brainwash.
People think that they live free and have access to free press in the western world, but they don’t. This is another topic though, but you are being brainwashed every day. Me too..
I just can’t understand what the benefit would be in being a good apple customer. Because this is the more important thing he learned.
If working with Garageband is such a great thing to know why not trying to show it yourself to your kid?

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:11:48 +0000

I for one think that these camps sound great. I would much rather have kids get excited about computers and technology, beyond just games. I have a son and have tried to sign him up for a camp, but both times they have been full.

Carnz – your an idiot and it looks like you could have benefited from a free camp focused on word processing, especially spell check.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:42:48 +0000

I’m not usually a spelling- or grammar-nazi, but to misspell the word “genius” is a more than just a little ironic.

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:22:19 +0000

Carnz- I think that’s really uncool… A child’s exposure to technology at a young age, adding to his/her comfort level, and being engaged at something that will benefit him in any arena, whether he goes on to be a musician or not is a very positive thing. They are involved in a project there that they normally would not be and saying this is somehow ‘brainwashing’ or being a “nazi” is plain idiotic.

You’ve apparently not used garageband if you think it in any way is supposed to replace ‘a real instrument.’ It is in fact used as a tool to teach using a real instrument and in mixing music.

By: carnz

carnz — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:40:57 +0000

Are your serious?
Your are ok with your kid being brain washed? Even the Nazis used this methods.
Come’on, exactly what benefit do you see in teaching kids Garageband instead of a real instrument? What benefit do you see in educating your kid being a good customer?