Camp Invention®

This national day camp, a brainchild of the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1990, is for children entering grades 2-6. Children participate in five exciting moduals each day. The camp has rotating curricula, so students can attend year after year and experience something new. Each year “Take Apart” is part of the curriculum, allowing students to take apart one or more objects to reuse the parts to create something new. Local teachers present the science and technology concepts in an informal learning atmosphere with hands-on activities and open-ended problem solving that encourage creative solutions. Student/staff ratios are kept low (~8-1). The camp has been featured in such publications as Parenting for High Potential, Technology and Children and Gifted Child Today.

Camp Invention® is held at various sites in the Twin Cities area during different weeks in the summer, with the closest location at Oak Point Intermediate School. (Students with conflicts may find a week that works at Chaska or Plymouth; check the website below.) Signup is through Eden Prairie Community Education. Cost is about $200 for one week. Early registration is recommended for this popular camp; look for information flyers or check the website in March.

For more information, see the Camp Invention® website at www.campinvention.org, call 1-800-968-4332, or call local coordinator Susan Clarke at (952) 937-8128.

Here are some past personal testimonials from Eden Prairie:

Nick (4th grade) really enjoyed the Take Apart section where he took apart an old radio and a megaphone, and he also liked making things that would take you somewhere. He didn’t know any of the other kids at the camp when he went, but made friends during the week. He would like to go again.

Director Pat thinks this program is fabulous, and she really enjoys being part of it. She said the units are excellent and give the students a chance to do what they love – getting their hands into things. She mentioned teachers who like it so much they come back to teach it year after year and her daughter who had so much fun as a counselor that she wanted to be a counselor for every camp she could.

Deb’s two sons (1st and 4th grade) went with friends, which made them feel comfortable and increased their enjoyment. They both liked taking things apart to build different things, and her younger son mentioned making giant bubbles and boarding a “ship” with unusual items as activities that were great. She said they went to camp every day happy and came home the same way.

Sydney (4th grade) really enjoyed the Take Apart section and the process of creating something, but didn’t enjoy the boat “skit.” Her mom was impressed with the “fantastic inventions” created by the kids.

Blake (4th grade) has attended Camp Invention twice and especially enjoyed the Take Apart process, but would probably choose a different activity than Camp Invention this year. His younger brother, Tony, carried over what he learned about the inventing mindset at camp to look for ways to make home tasks easier. Tony thought it was great to see what’s inside of different appliances.