Building Confidence at Camp Invention

For students, one of the greatest impediments to learning is a lack of confidence and self-esteem. Because of this, something as simple as an academic setback or poor grade can cause a child to question their ability and even their self-worth. Known as contingent self-esteem, students can find themselves constantly proving their self-worth through accomplishments and the approval of others. While originally intended to connect people, studies have shown that the rise of social media has exacerbated this problem, causing children to frequently compare themselves to their peers.

At the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® (NIHF), our experienced education team understands how important confidence is to the development of young learners. Because of this, all our education programs provide safe spaces where students are encouraged to take risks and go outside of their comfort zone. Lessons and stories from our revolutionary Inductees are embedded directly into our entire curriculum, inspiring students to not let doubt or fear get in the way of exploring ideas that excite them.

Confidence Building in Design Thinking Project

While all four of the modules in Elevate, our all-new 2020 Camp Invention^® program, are designed to help develop students’ confidence by inviting them to embrace their creativity, Design Thinking Project™ does this particularly well. Participants are invited to transform their ideas into products, and by using our very own inventor-informed Design Thinking Process, campers collaborate to solve real-world problems. Once a child identifies a problem, they will sketch their idea, construct prototypes, design a logo and pitch their invention.

This step-by-step approach to evolving an idea into a product is fundamental. According to psychologist Angela Duckworth who studies grit and perseverance, small signs of success over time are critically important reminders that we are on the right track. In an interview with Quartz, she reiterates this fact and cites evidence of progress as a crucial confidence builder. Built into the structure of the program, Design Thinking Project provides this experience by tracing the steps of our NIHF Inductees have taken to create and market their world-changing inventions.

Sign Up for Camp Invention today!

To learn more about our all-new 2020 Camp Invention program, Elevate, and reserve your spot today, we invite you to visit our website.