The IMAGINE Program
Saving Sludge City™
The adults and businesses in Sludge City have polluted their town, and it’s up to the Camp Invention team to rebuild a cleaner, more eco-friendly city for its residents! Before constructing the new Sludge City, children must demonstrate some of the actions that polluted the city and methods for cleaning it up. During the first two days of the Saving Sludge City module, children attempt to clean up toxic water pollution by building a new pollution-free landfill for the town and successfully filtering water. On Days Three through Five, children create a new, cleaner version of Sludge City and design transportation that won’t pollute the city’s air.
Art Park™
An eccentric supporter of Art Park, a local art museum, has threatened to stop donating money to the museum unless it designs a new sculpture garden, and it is up to the Camp Invention team to lead this project! Throughout the week, children design different types of sculpture that help them create Art Park’s new sculpture garden. During the first three days, children build totem poles with meaning, mobiles with movement, and found art with recycled materials. During the last two days of the program, children assemble their ultimate sculpture pieces that combine meaning, movement, and materials to satisfy both the public and the museum’s largest donor!
M.A.R.S. (Moving at Rocket Speed)™
The Camp Invention team has been challenged to provide the first astronauts to land on Mars, and there is only one week to complete the necessary tasks! Children experience everything from liftoff to final return, as well as planning and preparing the supplies needed for the trip. During the week, children determine how to travel while on the planet and how to communicate with each other and friends and family back home on Earth. They also assemble spaceships for their voyage to Mars, design living quarters and rovers for traveling on the planet, and create communication devices.
I Can Invent: Fantasy Inventions & Complicated Machines™
Imaginations run wild as children take part in two different versions of the I Can Invent module. During the first two days, both younger and older children take apart broken household appliances that they’ve brought from home. Younger children continue taking apart on Day Three, while older children begin building complicated machines that will launch a water balloon at a target. On Days Four and Five, younger children build fantasy inventions using the pieces/parts of their take-apart items, as well as other supplies and items from the recycle room. Older children continue using pieces/parts of their take-apart items and other supplies to build their complicated machines. Finally, older children set their multi-step machines in motion to launch their water balloons! All children then display their inventions at the Inventor’s Showcase.
Recess Remix™
Combining physical activity with creative problem solving, the Recess Remix module invites children to participate in fun, energetic games that require teamwork, cooperation, coordination, and inventive thinking. In the Recess Remix module, children use their inventiveness and creativity to modify aspects of familiar games and then play their new versions!
Different from other Camp Invention curriculum modules, Recess Remix allows the instructor to choose the games to play depending on factors such as the age of players, whether games are to be played indoors or outdoors, and whether children are to get wet or stay dry. Each day, children invent and play a different game to demonstrate their creativity and originality!