Adventures in Computing Camps Now a Division of InteractiveMinds
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - April 2, 2007– Adventures in Computing
Camps have been spun off by Digital Adventures into a new
company called InteractiveMinds. The new company retains
the existing managment and leadership which made Adventures
in Computing a success, and brings on board additional talent
to further enhance the existing program.
"Spinning off the computer camps program into its
own company allows us to focus more on delivering exciting
and educational computer and game design camps for kids,
while allowing Digital Adventures to pursue other opportunities",
stated InteractiveMinds President, Nevin Buconjic. The move
also allowed us to capitalize on our employees' interest
in sharing a greater stake in the success of Adventures
in Computing. Look for our new company website coming soon
at www.interactiveminds.ca.
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Digital Adventures President Nominated
for Northern Ontario Youth Entrepreneur Award
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - September 1, 2006 – Digital Adventures
is proud to announce that its founder and President, Nevin
Buconjic has been nominated and is one of two finalists
for the 2006 Osprey Media/Ontera Northern Ontario (Sault
Ste. Marie) Youth Entrepreneur Award.
The annual award is presented to an individual
under 35 years of age who has successfully started up and
run one or more businesses and has demonstrated innovation,
risk taking and determination. He or she has created a new
product or service, created jobs for the local economy,
and is a good corporate citizen and takes an active role
in his/her community.
The awards will be held September 21st in
Sault Ste. Marie. For more details visit www.northernontarioyouth.com
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Digital Adventures and Algoma U.
Launch 5th Season of Computer Camps
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - April 15, 2005 – Digital Adventures and
Algoma U. announced today the launch of the 5th season of
Adventures in Computing computers camps which begin July
4th, 2005. This season holds many exciting additions including
a brand new advanced video game design camp, entitled First-Person
Game Development.
The camps, which have grown not only in enrolment
each year, but in exciting content, have set the bar high
this year. “We are very excited about what we have to offer
this season,” states Digital Adventures President, Nevin
Buconjic. Not only have we developed an awesome new camp
to further our video game design theme, but this year we
are also excited to hold camps in Algoma University’s brand
new, state-of-the-art, $6 million dollar Information Communication
Technology centre (ICT) opening shortly,” Buconjic adds.
The brand new ICT centre is equipped with
new high-end computer lab resources a well as housing other
amenities such as a fully equipped lecture hall, student
lounge and the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre’s business
incubator.
This year’s lineup of camps include a fun introductory
camp entitled “Adventures in Computing”, a web page design
camp, and three different video game design camps. Each
camp is offered at least once over seven weeks. Camps are
one week in length and involve a mix of hands-on computer
instruction, videos and demonstrations, and recreation.
Digital Adventures recently took part in the Northern Ontario
Youth Science Forum, where they provided game design workshops
to four grade eight classes as well as participating in
the tradeshow portion of the forum. “We had the opportunity
to demonstrate several software programs used in the game
design camps, and I think the students were blown away with
what they could create,” said Buconjic. For more camp details
please visit www.computercamps.ca or to register call or
visit the Algoma U. main office at 949-2301 ext. 4723.
In celebration of their 5th season, Digital Adventures
is also offering an early bird special for those who register
before June 1, 2005. Registrants will be entered into a
drawing to win their choice of an Xbox or Sony PS2 game
console! Camps fill up quickly, so register today!
The camp schedule is as follows:
July 4-8, Adventures in Computing (Ages 8-11)
July 11-15, Adventures in Video Game Design (Ages 11-15)
July 18-22, 3D Video Game Design (Ages 12-16)
July 25-29, First-Person Game Development (Ages 13-17)
Aug. 8-12, Adventures in Web Page Design (Ages 9-15)
Aug. 15-19, 3D Video Game Design (Ages 12-16)
Aug. 22-26, First-Person Game Development (Ages 13-17)
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Digital Adventures Chosen to Participate
in Youth Science Fair
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - March 1, 2005 – Digital Adventures will
participate in the largest student science forum of its
kind in Northern Ontario, April 7-9th in Sault Ste. Marie.
Science: The Future is Yours is designed
to showcase future careers for students in the North if
they engage in science-oriented post-secondary education.
The forum will feature keynote speakers Dr. Roberta Bondar,
along with University of Toronto nanotechnologist Dr. Ted
Sargent and CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks Bob McDonald.
Digital Adventures will be leading four interactive
workshops on video game design, based on its highly successful
Adventures in Computing Computer Camp series.
Students will find out how to create impressive video games
utilizing software programs that limit the need for software
programming. Students will also be able to preview the newest
video game development camp, to be introduced this summer.
The forum, which will host over 1,500 grade
8 and 9 students from around the North, will wrap up Saturday
April 9th with a tradeshow at the Sault Ste. Marie Armories.
The trade show is open to all residents, and will feature
the organizations which took part in the forum. Digital
Adventures will have its own booth, and will be showcasing
video game creations and camp information will be available.
For more information visit www.ulern.on.ca
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Digital Adventures Launches NEW
Online Service
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - September 6, 2004 – Digital Adventures
announced today the launch of their new online service at
www.templatemaster.ca. The new site features professionally
designed website templates, logos and corporate identities...all
at very affordable prices. The site also allows clients
to customize the template of their choice for much less
than the cost of other web design firms. Clients can choose
from thousands of pre-made templates, searchable by categories.
"Digital Adventures is excited to expand
its website template services by launching TemplateMaster.ca,"
stated Nevin Buconjic, President. "The ability to offer
affordable web design services through our partnership with
the best template design firms on the Internet, allows us
to better serve our clients as we help create their online
strategies."
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Head of The Class - 10 Top Young
Entrepreneurs
Creating Web-wise kids (08/04)
By Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business)
Nevin
Buconjic knows the challenges of growing a business from
both sides of the ledger.
When the 32-year-old manager of the City of Sault Ste.
Marie’s Enterprise Centre isn’t counselling fledgling entrepreneurs
on starting up their own businesses, he is operating his
own Internet-based consulting and training company, Digital
Adventures, specializing in computer camps for kids.
Now in its fourth year, he expects to draw 85 students
to the campus of Algoma University College this summer.
“It’s roughly grown about 20 per cent per year in revenues.
To me it’s proven itself,” says the Sault Ste. Marie native
who developed the idea while tutoring at a local elementary
school.
After working in the mortgage and finance industry in Arizona
and Toronto, Buconjic, who holds a B.Sc. in marketing and
management, along with an MBA from Lake Superior State (Michigan)
University, returned to his hometown to take advantage of
Algoma University College’s one-year accelerated computer
sciences program. He had plans on someday starting his own
company.
While tutoring, Buconjic realized many kids were less than
enthusiastic about their computer training and created a
more fun-oriented program around Web design.
“Right away I saw the kids change. They wanted to stay
in at recess, lunch and after school, and they were finally
getting something fun to do.”
Today, his formalized Web design program walks kids through
the basics of producing their own personal Web site and
progresses through to video game design, a huge university
undergraduate growth area.
Although the computer camps remain only a seasonal venture,
this year represents a crossroads for Digital Adventures.
“I’m ready to grow if I want to take the next step,” says
Buconjic, who plans on spending this year evaluating an
opportunity to expand the camps to other cities in Northern
Ontario.
“I have a proven program...and I have it down to a science.”
To keep infrastructure costs low, Buconjic is hoping to
take his delivery model and partner with other post-secondary
institutions similar to U.S. summer computer camps.
As a certified Internet marketing and business specialist,
he is also looking to take on other future consulting work
and has talked with some local Web design companies about
packaging their services together in computer marketing
and consulting.
In dealing with many first-time entrepreneurs, Buconjic
says a common challenge is that many are not doing their
research in identifying their market, as well as securing
startup funding sources.
“It’s very important to plan out your business. Whether
its a formal business plan or not, it’s important to do
some research up front to make sure it’s a good idea.
“But you have to take some chances. That’s what entrepreneurship
is all about.”
Visit Northern
Ontario Business to view original article.
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Buconjic to speak at Internet Marketing
Seminar
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - May 28, 2004 – Nevin Buconjic, President
of Digital Adventures, will discuss Internet Marketing Strategies
at an upcoming SSM Chamber of Commerce seminar - June 3rd.
Topics will include website marketing, characteristics of
Internet marketing and the online marketing mix. A representative
from Lucidia Studios will also be speaking about web development
technologies. To register call the Chamber at 949-7512.
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Adventures in Computing Launches
New Website
SAULT
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - May 1, 2004 – Digital Adventures
announced today, the launch of their new Adventures in Computing
website. The site was developed to differentiate itself
from the corporate site, and promote the computer camps
exclusively.
According to company president, Nevin Buconjic, "the goal
was to promote the 'Adventures in Computing' brand and specifically
to utilize the www.computercamps.ca
domain to our advantage. We also wanted to create a more
exciting site with more pictures, multimedia and other value
added content to let parents and their children see what
our camps are all about." Click here to visit www.computercamps.ca
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Adventures in Computing 2004 Season Launched
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - May 1, 2004 – Digital Adventures announced
today, the launch of their 4th computer camps season on
the campus of Algoma University College. Seven weeks of
camps begin on July 5th.
The camps which began in 2001, provide approximately 80
children aged 8 - 16 with fun and exciting learning opportunities.
Focusing on topics such as video game and web design, as
well as studying computer operating systems and viruses,
campers are able to test out new technologies, have fun
and make friends during each week-long session.
Campers don't spend the whole day in computer labs either.
They enjoy a nice mix of computer time, videos/lessons,
outdoor activities and sometimes end the week with an Xbox
tournament for good measure!
To register for please call or visit the Main Office at
Algoma U. Call (705) 949-2301 ext. 4723 today. Don't miss
out, camps fill up fast! For more information visit www.computercamps.ca
or call (705) 257-1691.
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Digital
Adventures Assists Young Entrepreneurs
Volunteerism opens door for Web business
(11/03)
By Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business)
Clients
may do a double take when the brains behind Force-Network
Designs walk into the room.
Steve Sauve and Kevin Rusnell. But Steve Sauve and Kevin
Rusnell, two talented, teenaged Sault entrepreneurs, are
years ahead of their time, having already launched their
own Web design company. Force-Network Designs offers Web
design, hosting and content management solutions. All their
layouts are custom made.
Steve, 15, does the eye-catching graphics, design and
layout. Kevin, 14, does the PHP scripting, database work
and content management systems. “Together we can create
some pretty crazy things,” says Sauve, a Grade 10 students
at Sir James Dunn Collegiate.
The pair met two years ago at a computer summer camp hosted
by Nevin Buconjic, the small business advisor at the city’s
Enterprise Centre.
Buconjic, who acts as their mentor, says it was clear
they were the most advanced in the class and had the best
handle on the topics. They love making Web sites and began
asking questions of him about how to start a business. It
eventually led to the point of registering their company
in early October.
To get their feet wet, the two young entrepreneurs began
volunteering to build the Web site for the Norgoma Marine
Heritage Centre. They are also doing some paying jobs including
designing the subscriber up-load system for an online editing
service.
The two work from their homes but they are investigating
leasing some business incubator space at Algoma University
College’s proposed ICT centre, hoping to share a joint office
with Buconjic’s company, Digital Adventures, an Internet
consulting and computer training firm. “Clients might come
through me,” says Buconjic, “but I’ll be sub-contracting
work to them.”
Both have aspirations to stay in the industry.
“I want to work for or own a major (computer) company,”
says Rusnell. “If we can get this going, maybe we can expand
but I definitely want something in the field of computers,”
says Sauve. For more information visit www.force-network.com
Visit
Northern
Ontario Business to view original article.
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Digital Adventures - Algoma U. Scholarship
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - November 1, 2003 – Algoma University College
thanks Nevin Buconjic, President of Digital Adventures for
the creation of the Digital Adventures Entrance Scholarship
at Algoma U. Click
here to view Sault Star ad.
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Digital Adventures - Algoma U. Scholarship
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - September 2, 2003 – Digital Adventures
announced today, the creation of a $500 entrance scholarship
at Algoma University College. The scholarship, which will
be awarded in November of each year, will go to a first
year Computer Science student with a minimum entrance average
of 80% and who best answers the question "Why am I
excited about a career in Computer Science?" in 100
words or less.
According to Nevin Buconjic, President of
Digital Adventures, "I created the scholarship because
I wanted to give something back to Algoma U. They have been
nothing but supportive and encouraging with our Computer
Camps program. Without the help of Dr. Celia Ross and many
of the staff at Algoma U., the camps may not have become
a reality. Secondly, I wanted to do something to reward
a student for being excited about taking Computer Science
at Algoma U. As a graduate of the program, I was very satisfied
with the education I recieved, and I would like to see more
of our young people staying in Sault Ste. Marie for their
education."
Officials at Algoma University were very excited
to accept the scholarship on behalf of future students,
and are expected to make a formal announcement shortly.
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Most successful
camps season wraps up
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - August 29, 2003 – Digital Adventures completed
the third season of its popular "Adventures in Computing"
camps today. This season was the most successful to date,
with almost 80 young computer campers taking part over the
past 7 weeks.
The program continues to expand and evolve,
essentially going from three to five different camps over
the last three years and enrolment continues to increase
each year. Children aged 9 - 16 have the opportunity to
learn about the Internet, the insides of a computer, how
to create web pages, and even design there own video games!
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CBC Radio Interview
SUDBURY,
ON - July 7, 2003 - The President of Digital Adventures,
Nevin Buconjic, was interviewed by Dan Lesard of CBC Radio
North, regarding the summer computer camp program at Algoma
University College. The interview reveals how the program
began in 2001, the different camps available and what some
the campers have gone on to do since taking part in the
Digital Adventures' camps.
Click to hear
interview. (Windows Media Audio file requires Windows
Media Player - 2.64 MB)
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Summer camp gives kids a taste
of tech
By SALEEM KHAN
FOR METRO TORONTO
TORONTO,
ON - June 12, 2003 – Children and teenagers attending summer
camps in Sault Ste. Marie will have the chance to learn
how to design their own Web sites and program three-dimensional
(3D) computer games.
Computer training company Digital Adventures of Sault Ste.
Marie has teamed up with Algoma University College to offer
this year’s programs, which have added courses in advanced
web and 3D game design, both for children age 12-to-16.
Returning this year are a general computer camp and a Web
page design camp for ages 9-to-15, and a video game design
camp where children aged 11-to-16 years can learn how to
create two-dimensional (2D) games.
Algoma U. connection
The video game design programs are a particularly good
match for Algoma University, which plans to introduce a
Masters of Science in Computer Game Technology degree program
in co-operation with the University of Abertay in Scotland
this September. “While the computer camps are not directly
linked to the M.Sc. program, the intent is certainly to
have activities for youth that link up with our computer
science and IT fields,” said Krista Yetman, Algoma’s director
of external relations. “It is also an excellent way to demonstrate
partnerships and educational options in the area of computer
science and information technology.”
The camps start in July and registrations will be taken
on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information,
visit the Web site www.digitaladventures.ca/camps.htm, or
call (705) 257-1691. Registrations will be taken in the
main office at Algoma University or by calling (705) 949-2301
ext. 236.
To
view the original article in the Toronto Metro newspaper
please click
here.
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Digital Adventures and Algoma University
Introduce 3D Video Game Design Camps for Kids
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - June 9, 2003 – Digital Adventures and Algoma
University College officially announced their 2003 summer
computer camp lineup. In third year of operation, the computer
camps program has continued to grow in popularity and also
to evolve in content.
The program began two years ago after Digital Adventures’
President Nevin Buconjic, a graduate of Algoma’s Accelerated
Second Degree in Computer Science, was tutoring for the
Algoma District School Board. "I was so impressed with
the interest and enthusiasm I was seeing from the kids using
the computers. But I also saw that they weren’t being taught
how to use computers for fun and exciting projects such
as web design or video game creation," acknowledges
Buconjic. "I saw an immediate need for such programs
locally, and Algoma University and, specifically, Dr. Celia
Ross, welcomed the idea with open arms." Added Buconjic.
The camp lineup has changed slightly since it’s inception,
with the adding of the Adventures in Video Game Design camp
last year and new this year is an Advanced Web Design camp
and 3D Game Design. "By far the most popular topic
has been video game design. Last year we offered three sessions
of the game design camp and they all sold out. This year
I am excited to introduce a 3D Video Game Design camp which
is very cool. The kids are going to have a blast creating
their own 3D games!" stated Buconjic.
The Video Game Design theme fits well into Algoma U’s plans
to introduce their Computer Gaming in cooperation with the
University of Abertay in Scotland. "The computer camps
delivered by Digital Adventures provide a great opportunity
for Algoma U to introduce the young students to our campus,"
Krista Yetman, Director of External Relations, shared. "It
is also an excellent way to demonstrate partnerships and
educational options in the area of computer science and
information technology."
The computer camps begin July 7 and there are five different
camps offered over seven weeks. Adventures in Computing
for ages 9 - 15 (July 7 - 11) is a general computer camp
which touches on a number of topics, including learning
to use the computer effectively, making a video game, and
making a web page. Adventures in Web Page Design for ages
9 - 15 (July 21 – 25) focuses strictly on learning to create
an interactive website. Students will create their own website
with pictures, sound, video and simple JavaScript. Adventures
in Video Game Design for ages 11 - 16 (July 14 – 18 &
Aug. 18-22) steps kids through the process of video game
design. Participants learn elements of game design, use
software programs to make cool 2D games, and will create
their very own. New this season are Advanced Web Design
for ages 12-16 (Aug. 11-15) which covers more advanced web
design topics and 3D Game Design for ages 12-16 (July 28-Aug
1 & Aug. 25-29) teaches aspiring game designers the
principles of game design and, examines design issues and
utilizes powerful 3D gaming software to create amazing video
games.
Camps are limited to 14 students for optimal learning and
hands-on instruction. It is recommended that students enroll
early. For more information please visit www.digitaladventures.ca
or call (705) 257-1691. Registrations are taken in the main
office at Algoma University or by calling (705) 949-2301
ext. 236.
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Digital Adventures to Display Video
Game Projects
at Algoma University College Foundation Dinner
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - October 10, 2002 - Digital Adventures,
a local Internet Consulting and training company has been
asked by Algoma University College, to display video games
created this past summer at AUC Adventures in Video Game
Design Camps. The move is to show guests of the Algoma University
College Foundation's annual fundraising dinner, what our
local youth are capable of when provided with fun and educational
computer training.
The Dinner and Digital Adventures Video Game display will
coincide with an official announcement regarding Algoma
U's innovative Master's in Computer Game Technology program,
which is set to begin in the fall of 2003. Honoured guest
and speaker for the event is Sault Ste. Marie's own Dr.
Roberta Bondar.
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Digital Adventures & Algoma
University Offering
Second Year of Summer Computer Camps
SAULT
STE. MARIE, ON - July 8, 2002 - Digital Adventures, a local
Internet Consulting and training company is following up
on the success of its Adventures in Computing computer camps
series, in cooperation with Algoma University College.
The company is building on last season's curriculum by
adding an Adventures in Video Game Design camp for 11 -
16 year olds. "Video game design was a topic we touched
upon last year as part of our regular computer camp, and
we found it was one of the favorite topics with the kids",
states President, Nevin Buconjic. "Because of the response,
and because video game design aligns well with AUC's upcoming
Masters in Computer Game Technology program, Digital Adventures
created an eight week course on the subject." Digital
Adventures offered the course at AUC, early this year and
it completely sold out. The company has now taken the course
content and created a one week video game design camp to
round-out their computer camps series.
Four different computer camps will be offered over seven
weeks, as part of Algoma U's summer camp line-up. Adventures
in Computing - Junior Discovery Series for ages 9 - 11 (July
8 - 12) and Advanced Computing Fundamentals for ages 12
- 16 (July 15 - 19) are general computer camps which touch
on a number of topics, including learning to use the computer
effectively, making a video game, and making a web page.
Adventures in Web Page Design for ages 9 - 16 (July 22 -
26 & August 12 - 16) focuses strictly on learning to
create an interactive website. Students will create their
own website with pictures, sound, video and simple JavaScript.
Finally, Adventures in Video Game Design for ages 11 - 16
(July 29 - Aug. 2, August 19 - 23 & August 26 - 30)
steps kids through the process of video game design. Participants
learn elements of game design, use powerful software programs
to make cool games, and will create their very own game
project by the end of camp.
If last year is any indication, the camps will fill up
fast, as each camp can only accommodate 14 students. It
is recommended that students enroll early. For more information
please call 256-7731 or visit www.digitaladventures.ca.
To register, please go to Algoma University's main office
or call 949-2301, ext. 236.
