What ages does Game Design accept?

Game Design is open to children ages 14–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.

How much does Game Design cost?

Game Design publishes $2,000/week for the standard session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.

Who runs Game Design?

Game Design is operated by a university program. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.

Does Game Design provide lunch?

Yes — Game Design includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.

How does Game Design compare to other academic camps in Stanford?

Game Design is one of 54 academic camps in Stanford that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

▌ Academic · Ages 14–17

Game Design

Stanford · $2,000/week

Pre-collegiate program at Stanford for high school students to explore game design principles and development.

▌ Editor's read The Stanford University Summer Institutes website loads successfully, detailing pre-collegiate programs for high school students. The Game Design program is a two-week residential experience, focusing on game development, design principles, and collaboration. The website mentions that all staff undergo background checks, and the program is run by Stanford University, indicating a university owner type. While specific staff-to-student ratios are not published, the program emphasizes a supportive learning environment. The program is not listed in the ACA directory. Google reviews for 'Stanford Summer Institutes' show an average rating of 4.5 stars from over 100 reviews, with participants often praising the academic rigor and the opportunity to experience university life. Social media handles found are @stanford_spcs on Instagram and StanfordSPCS on Facebook.

⌬

University programRun by an academic institution

Shortlist in planner → Visit website

Who thrives here Ages 14–17

Game Design serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in academic, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.

Facts & Credentials

Program type: Overnight camp
ACA accredited: Not verified
Established: Not listed
Operator: University program
Staff-to-camper ratio: Not listed

How we verify these →

Details

Category: Academic
Ages: 14–17
Address: Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: (650) 723-2027
Email: [email protected]

Logistics

Lunch provided: Yes
Transportation: No
Financial aid: No
Setting: indoor

Frequently asked about Game Design

What ages does Game Design accept?: Game Design is open to children ages 14–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
How much does Game Design cost?: Game Design publishes $2,000/week for the standard session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
Who runs Game Design?: Game Design is operated by a university program. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
Does Game Design provide lunch?: Yes — Game Design includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
How does Game Design compare to other academic camps in Stanford?: Game Design is one of 54 academic camps in Stanford that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

Planning guides

Editorial checklists to use before you compare Game Design with other camps.

How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
STEM summer camps guide · Compare projects, staff fit, and age-readiness signals.
Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.

Browse similar camps

Indexable directory cuts for families comparing Game Design against nearby options.

ages 12–13 camps in Stanford

Camps near here

Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Game Design.

Stanford Jazz Workshop · Stanford · Ages 12–17 · $1,750/week
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) · Palo Alto · Ages 16–17
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) · Stanford University · Ages 16–17
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes · Online · Ages 14–17 · $1,600/week
iD Tech Camps at Stanford University · Stanford University · Ages 7–17 · $2,300/week
iD Tech Camps at Stanford University · Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA · Ages 7–17 · $2,600/week
iD Tech: All Girls Python Coding & AI Agents · Palo Alto · Ages 13–17 · $1,409/week
iD Tech: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning · Palo Alto · Ages 13–17 · $1,409/week