Frequently Asked Questions
Camp Tumo will jump-start the skills you need to realize your projects or your educational and career goals. It’s also a place where you’ll make new friends with young people from different parts of the world. Your Camp Tumo experience will be a great resume-booster for when you’re applying to college, internships and beyond. And of course, you’ll get an interesting view of Armenia, whether you’ve been here before or not.
That’s what we do all year. The Tumo Center for Creative Technologies is an after-school learning center with a membership of five thousand teenagers who attend regularly, and over 100 staff members. We teach digital technologies and creative concepts using a special kind of hands-on, project-based learning. And all those resources are available for Camp Tumo over the summer.
You mean besides trekking the streets of Yerevan in the afternoons? Sure, we’ll have organized sports events after classes, like basketball and soccer games, for those who are interested. And if you skateboard or rollerskate, then you’ll love the Tumo plaza. It’s one of the most interesting places in Yerevan for that. Where else can you skate right through a fountain without breaking your stride?
Classes are taught in English, but we will have many bilingual staff members on hand who can handle Armenian, French and Russian as well. Besides, our educational system is very hands on, so you won't be listening to long lectures in any language. If you only have a rudimentary grasp of English, don't worry, we'll help you out.
Armenia has a long tradition of creativity and technological savvy. If you’ve been here before, you’ve probably seen the amazing ancient churches and cultural monuments. In that case, we’ll show you a different side of Armenia, more technological, more social, maybe even a little bit hipper. If this will be your first time here, then we’ll take you to see Armenia’s cultural treasures, which you might decide to include in your creative technology projects.
Tumo instructors are professionals in their respective fields from various parts of the world – the US, Canada, Spain, England, Armenia... Most of them are part of the team that designed the curriculum and educational content of the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies. And each of them is an artist or technologist in their own right. They’re mostly in their late twenties and early thirties. We think you’ll enjoy hanging out and learning with them.
Yes! We’re all about exploration. First, there’s the guided exploring you’ll do in the city, roaming around with your campmates and instructors in search of footage, stories and other material. But we also want you to explore your interests and hidden talents. If you sign up for animation but discover a talent for making game characters, we’ll help you explore that too. Or you start out with web design but become passionate about coding: perfect. Camp Tumo wants you to be an explorer.
Check this page to see if you need a visa, based on your citizenship. You can apply through your local Armenian embassy or consulate. If you’re an EU or US citizen you don't need a visa.
We actually provide you with short-term local health insurance during your enrollment in the camp. It's included in the camp fees. That way you’ll be covered while you're here, just in case. Take a look at the registration form for more details.
A lot of Tumo campers will be coming on vacation with their families and taking a one or two week side trip to Camp Tumo. If that’s your case, then you’re welcome to stay with family and come to Tumo during camp days. But many of you will be coming by yourselves. In that case, we’ll work with our trusted partners who provide dorm-style or hotel accommodations as well as tour packages depending on your preferences. We will make sure our supervisors and instructors are available to accompany you and help out 24 hours a day.
Sure you can. If you’re a minor, you just have to make sure you let the airline you’re using or your travel agent make what they call “unaccompanied minor” arrangements. In any case, once you land in Armenia, you’ll be greeted at the Zvartnots airport arrivals terminal by a member of the Tumo staff. You'll be chaperoned throughout your time at Tumo Camp, whether you’re on the Tumo campus or out and about in the city.
Bring any medicines, health products, or vitamins you need; your glasses (plus an extra pair if you can) and/or contacts with enough disposal contacts for the length of your stay; sun block and personal hygiene products. It might be a good idea to bring your camera, smartphone, tablet, notebook or your other favorite electronics. You might be able to use them during the camp for class projects. Clothing? Well, it’s very hot in the summer here so keep that in mind when you’re packing. Definitely bring comfortable every day clothing, plus one nice outfit, one swimsuit, and clothing suitable for athletics, hiking and weekend trips. Don’t forget your pajamas.
The safety and security of our program participants has always been, and continues to be, our highest priority. Our staff, coaches and chaperones will take care of the campers during their entire stay in Armenia. Excursion transportation will be by comfortable air-conditioned buses. If the campers don't have medical insurance, we will assist them in obtaining it.