Going Camping

Instead of packing tents, backpacks, cook¬ ing gear, the ol’ fishing pole, and hiking into the wilderness this summer, many thousands of youngsters are camping out with the TIMEX Personal Computer and hiking into the enchanted wilderness known as “hi-tech” computerology.

To find out what’s been cooking this past summer, we took a fast peek at a couple of local TIMEX Computer Camps.

SUMMER COMPUTING FESTIVAL

During July and August, Online Computer Education of Salem, Connecticut hosted a summer Computer Festival for youngsters 8-through-16. This five-day (Monday to Friday) computer camp ran from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in eight-locations across Connecticut.

Small class size (16-18 campers) and thoroughly knowledgeable instructors permit individual attention. Lectures and “hands on” experience provide a well-rounded program. Campers are introduced to programming, games, graphics, machine functions, and prerecorded software. Director Robert M. Valuk explains, “Campers are encouraged to establish their own objectives and to utilize the computer to achieve these goals.”

Tuition of $195 includes T/S 1000 computer, course materials, FESTIVAL T-shirt, special awards, milk, juice and snacks (lunch is brought from home), and a $10.00 gift certificate.

“By learning about the computer — its capabilities and potential uses, these kids are preparing themselves for the hi-tech job market of tomorrow,” adds Mr. Valuk, “and in that respect are way ahead of the game.”

MEET THE COMPUTER

Post College in Waterbury, Connecticut, ran a summer camp program called Meet the Computer. In the morning, the campers work with the TIMEX Sinclair Personal Computer and after lunch, the youngsters are treated to sports, social activities, and local trips. Two week-long sessions were held; the July gathering was for younger campers aged 10-to-13 and the August powwow was geared to the 14-16 age group.

Speaking about computer camps, Post’s Educational Director Roger LaFrance tells us, “The computer camp is an ideal bridge between the technology around us and the camper’s desire to learn; unfortunately, computer curriculum is still not well defined in many schools.”

Professionally-planned instruction and “hands-on” experimentation stimulates camper exploration of the TIMEX computer, its characteristics, language, and graphic capabilities. Limited enrollment and a four-to-one student-to-instructor ratio promotes one-to-one dialogue to inspire the camper to independently learn to utilize the computer to his or her own best advantage.

All activities, trips, lunch, snacks, and T-shirts are included in the $175.00 daycamp tuition. Campers can purchase TIMEX computer equipment at a special, low, educational-program price.

Camping out with the TIMEX Personal Computer is a totally exhilarating summer vacation — one that’s well received by campers and parents alike.

Joan Donald, Director of Summer Programs at Post College, describes camper enthusiasm in this manner, “Because the campers became so absorbed with their TIMEX Computer, it was difficult, at times, to pry them loose — even for lunch and their afternoon of recreational activity.”

Here’s what campers had to say about summer computer camp at Texas Wesleyan College at Fort Worth, Texas (special thanks to Mark Wasicsko for letting us reproduce this material):

WHAT PARENTS THINK ABOUT COMPUTERS

BY DARLA DELETE AGE 12

HI, MY NAME IS DARLA DELETE, AND I AM GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT PARENTS THINK ABOUT COMPUTERS. I WENT ON AN INSIDE INTERVIEW WITH MY MOM AND DAD, AND HERE IS WHAT THEY THINK.

MY DAD THINKS COMPUTERS ARE VERY HELPFUL BUT, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEM. THEY GET MAD AT THEM AND BLAME THE COMPUTER, WHEN IT IS REALLY THEIR FAULT.

MY MOM THINKS COMPUTERS ARE INTERESTING AND WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM.

WELL, THAT IS WHAT MY PARENTS THINK ABOUT COMPUTERS. I HAVE GOT TO GO NOW, BECAUSE I HAVE HOMEWORK TO FINISH ON MY TIMEX SINCLAIR 1 000 COMPUTER.

GOODBYE AND THANK YOU FOR READING MY ARTICLE.

-DARLA