sending a child to "apple store summer camp" to sit inside with a tablet is depressing

[cobpol]

Hi,

A friend of mine has been sending her son to the apple store to do their summer camp. This involves using a mini tablet all day in a back room in the shop. Sure they might be doing educational stuff.

But aibu thinking this is a depressing and sad way to spend some of your summer? Probably. Expensive too but didn't ask

We didn't go away so he did that instead. Went daily. Not staying over

I signed DS (12)up for this but then withdrew when I realised I had to attend with him and be present for the whole duration the whole point to me was that it was something he could go and do on his own.

And yes it's free, but limited no of spaces/courses. They have to film footage to make a video from before they attend & get a free Tshirt.

Can 'old' people sneak in ? Sounds fun to me :)

It looked fun to me, and it wasn't all day as my friends were all taking their children out for lunch after it.

Wish I knew about this sooner, ds would love it.

That apple camp sounds fab! So YABU and make yourself sound like a luddite. I would love it if DD wants to go but she is only 3yo. Can't see the tech camp linked as on phone.

Learning Linux and JavaScript is definitely great for 11yo. Hopefully other mums can see it now thanks to the OP and more kids will go to tech camp and such like. (But supposedly it's pricy)? I guess I just have to do my own with DD!

and cobpol never posted again

Most unanimous YABU ever?

DS went to The Hive in South London - he had a great time this summer, kept asking to go back
for extra days.

They did a good combination of outdoor stuff (building fires, woodworking, gardening, forensic science!), and using technology to solve crimes and rescue planets from destruction. All in a day's work...

Tech camp looks great! (If rather pricey) the Royal Institution have been doing some fab camps and day events over the summer.

you do get what you pay for with tech camp, I would say, in their defence. daily update emails - photos, meals and snacks etc all included.

Don't be such a judgy butt.

DS would love this! I have just signed up for notifications for Summer 2015. DS wants to be the next Steve Jobs/Bill Gates ( my lad has lofty aspirations). Sounds like a winner to me.

It's free and lasts a whole three days out of the summer.

YABVVU

The Summer camps are 2x2 hr workshops, with a 3rd session with parents for a grand viewing of all the videos that the kids have made an edited. They are free, the kids get to use the latest software and technology - like they will in school.

My kids did it last year - they came home from the 1st session absolutely fired up, with a story board for a film. They spent the rest of the day outside shooting footage for their film. They returned to the Apple store the next day and edited their film, added a soundtrack, titles, credits & special effects.

It was fab to go along together for the 3rd session and see the films shown (they bring out a huge screen and each child / group bring their film out & revel in the applause.)

They were given USB drives with their films on to take away, along with headphones and t shirts. Not a penny changed hands.

They took their film into school after the holiday & showed it to their classmates. I notice from FB that several of their peers have done it this year.

Nothing depressing or sad about it at all.

Stop judging other people and their choices - you obviously don't know anything about it.

Actually if you looked into it properly you would realise the following

It's free

It's 3 1.5 hour sessions, first one they draw a storyboard for a short movie they want to film, they film it wherever they want (can do it in store if they don't have a camera) and then the second session it's using a Mac to edit it, then the last session is watching all the videos.

They get a free tshirt and braceket which is a USB stick.

It was in the main store in a bit that was seperated off in Leeds.

My 8 year old loved every second, oh and did I mention its free

So perhaps before you judge in future find out the facts!

Aldo, you do realise how technology is all over our lives now? This site, your iPad or laptop or whatever, someone had to develop them. IT is a massive, growing field, what's wrong with learning a bit more about it when you're young. This is the year of code where they are specifically trying to get young people interested in coding.

Wow, marking my place to save this for later. My youngest would be in heaven!

The Summer camps sounded amazing... but we were busy. Otherwise DS would have been on them BOTH if possible. There was limited space. I think they were 1.5 hours for 3 mornings. And I remember them being FREE.
I was gutted he couldn't do at least one of them. If you're registered with Apple, you should get e-mailed about them in advance... (though we are and were and lots were already fully booked!).

My girls would LOVE this. DH and I have techie jobs. We encourage our DDs to do a techie type summer camp every year. They love it, and we see this as an investment in their future.

I think it sounds great, thanks for bringing it to my attention, I've asked to be informed about the 2015 camp.