January 17, 2023
Every year invention education experts at the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) collaborate with NIHF inductees to develop an all-new curriculum for Camp Invention. By integrating 21st-century learning with fun, hands-on activities, the NIHF team ensures that each STEM education program not only aligns with state and national K–6 education standards but also provides the next generation of inventors with skills to last a lifetime.
Visitors to the NIHF website can explore some of the primary- and intermediate-level adaptations built into the 2023 Camp Invention program. This year’s program, called Wonder, has four new modules:
“Catching Air”: Taking a confidence-building ride through physics, engineering, and art, children design and build a skate park. Throughout the week, they gain momentum and learn perseverance by taking on ramps and other features with their mini skateboards, and practice tricks of creativity and invention.
“Invention Celebration”: Children take on the role of event planners as they throw a party celebrating creativity and innovation. They invent a Party Assistant to help with their plans, explore the science of color with bubble art banners, and experiment with sound vibrations as they make their own musical instrument.
“MimicBot”: Children show their unique style when they transform a robot that mimics sounds into a one-of-a-kind animatronic “stuffie.” They explore biomimicry, genetics, and adaptive creativity, and they learn how to use both inspiration from nature and the power of intellectual property to protect their creation from the idea-stealing Copy Cat.
“Pop-Up Venture”: Big ideas pop up as children design their own mini pop-up business. Building their entrepreneurship skills, campers learn how to make strong financial decisions as they use their startup funds. Then they develop creative marketing strategies to attract customers and achieve their business goals.
Visit the website to find a camp near you.