Imagine this: your teen is standing on the renowned campus of MIT or Stanford, surrounded by some of the brightest young minds in tech. They're diving deep into a project, ideating, tinkering, and problem-solving. Around them, their new group of friends is just as dedicated and immersed in the project as they are. The excitement of discovering and creating drives the entire team to dream up bigger ideas. Together, they’re collaborating, learning, and building something that didn’t exist before. This is Academy NEXT. And for students like Nolan T., it’s more than just a summer program—it’s the next step toward a bright future.
The spark that started it all
Nolan T. is a sophomore from Arizona whose journey into tech started like many others: with a love for video games. “My first camp with iD Tech was Minecraft Coding with JavaScript,” he says (check it out here!). “I was really into playing video games then. I really enjoyed that course, and that’s what got me interested in coding and inspired me to look into it more.”
That simple curiosity eventually led him to Academy NEXT, where he took that passion to a whole new level. “During my NEXT project, I was in a group of three. We were working on a driving simulator. We printed a 3D steering wheel and linked up a machine piece to it so we could send the rotational angles from the wheel to the computer. Then we took a digital car we made in Godot, a video game software, and made that car drive in tandem with our 3D wheel. It was so fun.”
It wasn’t about just the project itself—it was about the process. The after-hours brainstorming sessions, the problem-solving, the thrill of finally getting something to work. It was about the friendships built in between debugging code and the mentors who helped push ideas further.
Learning from the best to become the best
The mentorship at Academy NEXT is unlike any other. For Nolan, it was a game changer. “The instructors give you so much freedom. You can build whatever you want, and the mentors are there to help you. They’re very knowledgeable, not only with iD Tech topics but about the future. I talked to my mentor a lot about colleges. They made the experience.”
For students like Nolan, it’s about more than what you learn during the two-week experience—it’s about what you take with you when you leave. “NEXT gave me so much insight. I talked to my mentor about the world of tech. Based on my interests, I learned what fields I could go into or what colleges offer programs for that. Academy NEXT is so awesome because of the mentorship and that piece of considering what my future could look like.” With NEXT, there are no limits to where your teen’s dreams can take them.
Dream bigger, dream abroad
This summer, the Academy NEXT experience is expanding beyond the hallowed halls of MIT and Stanford. Academy NEXT: Costa Rica is iD Tech’s newest travel program, offering something entirely new. It’s the opportunity for your teen to push the boundaries of technology while immersing in a different culture. Picture them designing and developing a capstone project inspired by visits to local businesses and nonprofits that are shaping the future. One day, they’ll be brainstorming with peers in a high-tech learning environment, and the next, they’ll be hiking through a rainforest, inspired by nature’s own design.
Academy NEXT: Costa Rica is a one-of-a-kind STEM program. Every detail has been carefully planned. Every day will bring a new adventure. One where your teen can explore volcanoes, volunteer at a sloth sanctuary, and push their ingenuity while surrounded by fellow innovators with big ideas. And with only 30 students per session, it’s a special bonding experience that a select few will remember forever.
A summer that changes everything: your journey with Academy NEXT
Some summers are fun. Some summers are memorable. But a summer at Academy NEXT is life-changing. It’s the opportunity for your teen’s ideas to become reality. The chance for them to be a part of something bigger. The place where students don’t just learn about the future of technology—they help create it.
“NEXT taught me to dream big. Anything you can think up, you can do,” Nolan says. “When you have an idea, go for it. You have two weeks to bring your idea to life and the support of your mentors who are knowledgeable. There’s so much you can do. It’s awesome.”
Is your teen ready for their NEXT adventure? Empower them to apply for Academy NEXT today for the next step toward their bright future: https://www.idtech.com/next