Illuminate Your Child’s Unique Interests at Camp Invention

Summer is in full swing! In fact, you might find the coming months filling up with family trips, sports and warm weather adventures. But this break from school is also an opportunity for enriching experiences that will build upon the learning your child has accomplished this year in new and exciting ways – experiences like Camp Invention^®!

Every Kid Belongs at Camp Invention

Camp Invention is known for exciting challenges and real-world problem solving that builds invaluable STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills, but your child will find that there is even more to explore during their week at camp. This K-6 summer program encourages all children to make discoveries, try new things, learn from mistakes, collaborate with friends new and old and most of all, have fun!

At the National Inventors Hall of Fame^®, we know there is a place for everyone in STEM. To help your child find theirs, Camp Invention will introduce them to a variety of interesting STEM careers and innovative role models while providing opportunities to explore their own unique interests and talents.

Keep reading to learn about this summer’s four all-new Camp Invention experiences, designed to inspire curiosity for every kind of kid!

For the Animal Enthusiast

Let’s Glow^™ will spark your child’s creativity as they uncover the science of light, encounter illuminating inventions and even explore the genetics of an axolotl and jellyfish. Campers will work together to explore LEDs, fiber optics, ultraviolet light and more. They’ll also learn about natural sources of illumination as they investigate bioluminescence, which is the ability some living organisms have to produce and emit their own light, and how to apply gene-editing techniques to make other animals glow.

Your camper will engineer their own one-of-a-kind Glow Box in the biophysics lab. As they add new layers to their innovation, they will engage in hands-on circuitry exploration while blending science and art into one shining creation. By piecing together clues, they’ll uncover the mystery behind a cute creature with a unique glowing feature – Gary the axolotl!

For the Sports Superfan

Whether your child dreams of becoming a star athlete or prefers to cheer from the sidelines, they’ll score big during In the Game^™. Each day, campers team up to get their big ideas rolling with fun challenges. Combining athletics and invention, your child will bring to life and share their own awesome ideas. Finally, they up their game by learning about intellectual property and uncovering the skills it takes to build their brand.

Throughout the week, your camper will learn about the specialized materials used to create a variety of sports balls, and then they’ll dream up, sketch and prototype their own sports equipment. They’ll need this equipment to play their own one-of-a-kind light-up ball game, which they’ll design and construct after exploring the physics of gravitational pull and inclined planes. Your camper will be recognized for their innovative thinking and award-winning skills by earning a spot in The Game of Fame.

For the Planet Saver

Your child will find inspiration to help the planet as they explore the Earth and water in Operation: HydroDrop^™. Your camper will set sail on an epic global operation and use creative problem-solving skills to tackle real-world water challenges from floods to droughts to pollution. They’ll be introduced to creativity-sparking stories and patented inventions of some of Our Nation’s Greatest Innovators^™ – our Hall of Famers!

Your camper won’t face these challenges alone – they’ll team up with friends and build their very own lab-on-wheels, a light-up, mobile bot inspired by cutting-edge marine technology, to help them along the way. Discovering how they can make an environmental impact locally, they’ll also bring to life a tiny house and crop planting plan, complete with an eco-friendly irrigation system. By the end of the week, your camper will become a water hero and planetary change agent, seeking new ways to make the world a better place to live!

For the Talented Tinkerer

If your child loves to try new things, experiment with ordinary materials and make improvements to everyday objects, they will have a blast as a contestant in Prototyping Studio^™, a game show hosted by our very own NIHFty Bot^™! Equipped with a DIY toolbox and useful take-home tools, your camper will embark on an innovative journey to discover their own ultimate invention space.

Through rapid prototyping challenges, they’ll practice generating new ideas and bringing them to life in solo and group tasks. Your child will showcase their awesome ideas by pitching their prototype to an enthusiastic audience. They’ll also learn the importance of protecting their stellar ideas using intellectual property. By the end of the week, your camper will win with a valuable lesson – invention is all around us, and the best place to invent is anywhere and everywhere!

Secure Your Spot Now!

To learn more about our new 2024 Camp Invention program and find a camp location near you, visit our website.