by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
If you are looking for a camp where your child can experience creativity and problem solving and can invent things, then Camp Invention might be a good summer camp option for your child to explore.
Camp Invention is a week-long science, summer day-camp program, returning this summer June 22-26 to the College of St. Benedict.
Students entering grades one through six can participate in the camp to explore hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while building self-esteem and team work.
During the week-long camp, children work together to creatively find solutions to real-world problems while exploring technology and more. They alternate through four classes or modules each day, working on individual and group projects, and evaluate and revise those ideas. The program also incorporates outdoor activities into its curriculum.
Camp regional consultant Susan Clarke said children can sharpen their 21st century learning skills as they rotate through the four exciting modules each day.
This year’s camp program is called Illuminate. In the KartWheel module camp participants build, enhance and upgrade their own freestyle racing cart. Children will learn about prototyping products from scratch as they become entrepreneurs during the Design Studio: Illuminate module.
During the I Can Invent: Next Level Gamers module participants will experience taking apart broken or unused appliances using real tools to create a 3-D video game model. In the Inducted module, campers are introduced to video challenges from National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees, as well as hands-on activities such as constructing mega-towers, assembling space rockets and more.
Campers will investigate circuits, explore a nature-inspired design challenge, explore math creating origami flight models during team exercises and more.
Clarke said it’s a new curriculum, so past participants are eligible to participate in the camp even if they have done so previously.
“Camp Invention is a great chance for kids to experiment with hands-on STEM activities in a team environment,” Clarke said. “The program inspires a passion for science and engineering, which will be so critical in the future.”
The June CSB camp will be directed by Missy Tellinghuisen, from Milaca Elementary School, and taught by qualified local teachers with a one-to-eight staff-to-student ratio.
A limited number of children entering grades seven to nine may register as counselors-in-training. There are also options for high school and college students to volunteer as leadership interns. These interns help guide campers through the four daily classes.
Last year, 45 children participated in the CSB camp.
Camp Invention is supported by the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
To register, call 1-800-968-4332 or visit the website at campinvention.org for more information.
A week-long science day program, Camp Invention, is returning again this year June 22-26 to the College of St. Benedict. These children are building with circuits during last year’s Camp Invention.
