Nationwide STEM camp to be held at two Sammamish schools this summer
As summer vacation approaches and schools start to close, parents in Sammamish often go through the annual ritual of filling their kids’ schedules with enriching activities to get them out of the house.
Camp Invention, a summer camp for kindergarten through sixth grade students, provides one option for kids interested in hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities.
Camp Invention, a non-profit organization based in Akron, Ohio, sponsors summer camps at over 1,400 sites across the U.S., with 110,000 children participating nationwide. The camp aims to engage students in STEM fields, encouraging them to experiment and innovate.
The Sammamish sites for Camp Invention will run from July 8 to 12 at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, and from July 15 to 19 at Eastside Catholic School.
“The single largest purpose of our summer camp is to inspire curiosity,” Nupur Aror, the co-director of Camp Invention at McAuliffe, said. “We want both girls and boys to feel that science is something they can take on through experimentation.”
Each year Camp Invention has a different theme. This year’s theme, “Illuminate,” features four exciting modules. Campers will kick off their day with games and icebreakers before diving into hands-on activities. The first module is called “Where’s Campers,” where the campers will create light-up keyboards. In the second module, “Let’s Glow,” campers will build their own glow boxes using upcycled materials. They can also tackle global water challenges with robotic labs on wheels in the “Hydro Drop” module, and engage in the fourth module “Prototype Studio” to take on prototyping challenges in a game show setting. These activities not only teach scientific principles but also foster teamwork and problem-solving skills.
A unique aspect of Camp Invention is its emphasis on using upcycled items. Campers are encouraged to bring recyclable materials like cardboard boxes, bottles, and newspapers to create their inventions.
“The goal is to encourage students to collaborate with each other and use these items to shape them into amazing inventions,” Aror said. “Inventions don’t happen from exotic things, they happen from everyday items to fulfill a challenge.”
The camp incorporates content from the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the U.S. Patent Office into its curriculum. Over 80 inventor inductees — individual engineers and inventors who hold a U.S. patent of significant technologies — are integrated into this year’s program, providing inspirational stories and showcasing the innovation process.
Camp Invention is open to students from kindergarten to sixth grade and will divide kids into two groups — primary (K-2) and intermediate (3-5). The cost of the camp is $295, with a sibling discount and an additional $20 building fee.
While there is no strict deadline to apply, early registration is encouraged as spots fill up quickly. The McAuliffe camp will host up to 160 students. The camp at Eastside Catholic is currently sold out.
If you are interested in Camp Invention, please visit their registration page.
