Camp Invention – A Weeklong STEM Experience They'll Never Forget!
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What is Camp Invention?
- Who: Curious kids entering grades K-6.
- What: A summer day camp filled with fun, hands-on STEM adventures led by qualified local educators, designed to spark creativity, build confidence and ignite a lifelong love for learning.
- Where: Over 1,500 camp programs run nationwide in schools, community centers and other local facilities.
- When: Camp dates and hours vary by location. Some locations offer Extended Day hours to fit families' busy schedules – check your specific site for details.
- How Much: Pricing starts at $290 or ~$9/hour plus we offer many ways to save and pay. See your local camp for exact pricing.
- Why Choose Us: Kids thrive at camp as they jump into hands-on fun and grow through enriching STEM experiences carefully crafted to spark joy and ensure the development of persistence, adaptability and creative problem-solving skills.
In an all-new season of high-energy STEM challenges, this year’s inspiring program empowers kids to grow their confidence and creativity through authentic, hands-on exploration and creative problem solving. Campers take on a fresh adventure of fun-filled learning, collaboration and skill building with friends!
Campers step into the role of entrepreneurs and design an exclusive new product. As they compete in a high-energy prototyping challenge, earn Scrappy Bucks and explore every phase of product development, children visit the Sticky Situation Station for a spark of inspiration to keep their creative ideas flowing. After learning to take risks to earn big rewards, campers showcase their inventions at the DIY Expo.
Children take on the ultimate engineering challenge as they design and build a towering superstructure inspired by cutting-edge architecture. Engineering buildings that touch the sky, campers explore biomimicry and materials technologies and assemble a motorized elevator. After they construct, test and modify their sustainable masterpiece, they deliver a winning elevator pitch to investors and present their eco-friendly design.
Campers team up with friends and gear up to invent as they explore the inner workings of mechanical gadgets and find inspiration for their own innovative solutions! After children take apart a wind-up robot, they excavate a useful gearbox, discover idea-sparking creativity tools and repurpose parts for fresh creations. Next, campers design their very own Etch-n-Glow Wand™ — a dazzling gadget that lights up and spins!
Children uncover ooey gooey chemistry concepts as they ignite their imagination and investigate nature’s tiniest organisms in the Backyard Laboratory! Wading into the wonders of a freshwater pond, campers explore, observe and analyze slimy substances after collecting scientific samples. Celebrating nature-inspired innovation, they design a device to protect aquatic wildlife, build unique habitat features and create an insect-inspired bioinvention to control a new invasive species.
Payment Plans
Camp Invention payment plans are simple and easy, with an interest-free installment option. Pay a $95 deposit per child, then make scheduled payments until 30 days before your program begins. At 30 days, the remaining balance will be due. The earlier you register, the lower your monthly payments will be.
Company Reimbursement, Tax Savings and State Programs
Many insurance plans offer reimbursement on child care and extracurricular programs. Ask your employer if it offers benefits packages that include reimbursement on summer enrichment programs like Camp Invention.
Your registration confirmation can be used as a tax receipt. National Inventors Hall of Fame, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and our federal tax ID number is 34-1580038.
Also, be sure to check out your state’s education websites to see if there are state-level programs that offer savings or reimbursement on summer enrichment programs.
Our Parents Say It Best
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“[My daughter] went to visit Purdue University today to see the polytechnic school. I shed some tears today thinking about her experiences at Camp Invention. You all introduced her to another world she may have never even visited.”
Alana D.Dyer, IN
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“The staff was so welcoming and inclusive, and my son made so many friends at camp. He loved the whole experience and was so proud to bring home and show off everything he made. I would highly recommend this program to everyone.”
Kayla E.Manorville, NY
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“Camp Invention had a huge impact on both my children who attended! They came home with very detailed explanations of ‘symbiosis’ and how they built things. It was amazing! It was a wonderful experience from beginning to end.”
Heather P.Harrison, AR
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“My son has not stopped talking about camp since day 1 … He had a creative mind going into camp, but has found so many fun, new and interesting ways to repurpose so many household items.”
Caitlin O.Manhattan, IL
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“Every single day my child got in the car she told me so many exciting stories about the learning that happened that day. Her self-confidence was boosted in the way she made friends, and grew in her problem-solving skills and perseverance.”
Alicia L.Denton, TX
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“My son adores Camp Invention and begs to go every year! He has made new friends from other schools and loves the creative process, learning all kinds of skills he proudly brings home to teach us about!”
Amanda L.Arlington Hts, IL
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“Each afternoon, our son came home pumped about his day of camp. Love how it had his gears turning. We'll definitely recommend this camp to all of our friends!”
Danielle G.Bellingham, WA
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“Long ago I participated in Camp Invention. It taught me crucial social skills, but more importantly it gave me critical thinking skills that I’d have struggled to gain otherwise. Please keep providing amazing experiences for kids, it changes lives!”
Jaden S.Brainerd, MN
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“We have two kids in camp (9 and 7), and they talk about what they did in camp nonstop when they get home and build things together. They are always showing each other things that can be ‘repurposed’ for something else and building gadgets together.”
Dan O.Lowell, IN
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“My son is quite the engineer and inventor. When a neighbor raved about this camp, my husband and I immediately signed him up. We appreciate how kind, thoughtful, fun and safe the teachers all kept the entire camp.”
Sonya I.Indianapolis, IN
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“[My daughter] absolutely loves going to Camp Invention. She asked all year round, ‘When is it time for Camp Invention?’ The only complaint she has is it is not long enough; one week isn’t enough for her. She wishes it would never end.”
Tammy M.Dickinson, ND
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“My kiddo loves Camp Invention! He is extremely smart and creative but struggles in school due to his disability. He just finished his second summer at Camp Invention and had an amazing time without one issue.”
Leslie S.Cresson, TX
Here’s what an action-packed day looks like with Camp Invention
Morning Experiences
Led by qualified local educators, campers kick off each day with high-energy morning games that encourage creativity and teamwork. Next, they tackle two of the all-new experiences above to stretch their imagination and explore hands-on STEM challenges.
Games & Lunch
Campers refuel with packed lunches and head outside – or to the gym – to enjoy action-packed games with friends.
Afternoon Experiences
Campers keep the learning going in two confidence-boosting afternoon activities where they explore innovation and world-changing inventors. As their fun-filled day wraps up, children keep the inspired ideas coming as they wind down with problem-solving games before pickup.
The learning doesn’t end when camp is over! Camp Invention has long-term benefits, including better school attendance, a higher GPA, improved test scores and helps build essential skills like creative problem-solving and collaboration. Read the stories below to learn how campers have gone on to win national STEM challenges, become published authors, emerge as patented inventors and more!
The following sponsors help make our education programs possible:
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Overdeck Family Foundation
Army Education Outreach Program (AEOP)
Nordson
Department of War (DoW)(Previously U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) )
Intel
The Red Backpack Foundation by Sara Blakely
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
Walton Family Foundation
General Motors
Burton D. Morgan Foundation
The Weld Trust
John Deere
The Weissman Family Charitable Fund
Johnson Controls Foundation
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Shurtape
EQT
APS Foundation
H.B. Fuller Company Foundation
The Timken Company Charitable and Educational Fund
ABB
The Fossum Family Young Inventors Fund
Community Foundation of Lorain County
First Energy
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Greater Alliance Foundation
TE Connectivity
Camp Invention Parent Donations
