Supporting Academic Achievement and a Love of Learning
“The future of the world is in the hands of the people we are training today.” – Carolyn Bertozzi, National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF) Inductee
As children grow, they have an entire world around them to experience and discover. The friends they make, the opportunities they access and the subjects they explore will all shape who they are and how they develop. Taking risks and making mistakes in a healthy, supportive environment becomes a valuable way for children to grow. When kids stretch their thinking, they learn what’s possible while building critical skills that will benefit their academics and overall future.
NIHF education programs like Camp Invention® provide an encouraging atmosphere of acceptance of people and ideas that cultivates a love of learning. When kids build a positive relationship with their education, their academic outcomes improve significantly. From better attendance to higher academic achievement, learn how NIHF education programs promote lifelong learning.
Fostering Impactful Learners
Camp Invention is a high-energy K-6 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) summer camp designed for curious kids. It keeps kids engaged in hands-on challenges that involve creative problem solving, design thinking and collaboration.
The skills campers develop and apply reach far beyond their time at camp. After just one week, Camp Invention participants have been proven to show significant gains in creativity, STEM interest and the ability to use problem-solving techniques. Over the long term, repeat campers continue to show growth in these fields, demonstrating positive results as they pursue their interests and passions.1
Supporting Academic Growth
In addition to helping children develop valuable skills, attending Camp Invention is proven to have significant effects on their academic outcomes. Research has shown that camp participation leads to improved in-school attendance, increased test scores and a better GPA.
The positive effects campers enjoy during the summer lead to confirmed benefits in their performance and engagement the following school year. Excelling in these academic elements helps to ensure a child is prepared for a successful path after high school into college or a career.
See What Educators and Families Are Saying
As research has shown, families and educators are seeing the academic and skill-building value of NIHF education programs. Check out how Camp Invention fosters academic and achievement and a love of learning directly from a camp parent and teacher.
“Both of my daughters love Camp Invention, and this was our fourth year! We even participated remotely during 2020. The ability for children to learn patience and determination through constructing, testing, analyzing improvement opportunities, redesigning and reconstructing are valuable life skills and bring them so much confidence!” – Melissa F., parent, Dade City, FL
“I loved digging into the curriculum with my Instructors, getting to do games with the kids after lunch, showcasing the projects to the families on the last day, and having my past fourth graders come back as high school Leadership Interns! It was great to see leadership and learning come full circle, the smiles on campers’ faces, the excitement from the Instructors and the inspiration all around!” – Amanda W., educator, Ann Arbor, MI
Benefits at a Glance
- Children with multiple Camp Invention experiences show higher gains in creativity, STEM interest and problem solving than those with limited or no previous experience1
- Participating in Camp Invention during the summer increases performance and engagement the following school year2
- Camp Invention contributes to better attendance, a higher GPA and improved test scores — three key steps to ensuring a child is prepared for a college-going path2
- Parents who have enrolled their children in out-of-school time (OST) programs are more confident that their child is prepared for the next school year, that their child is prepared for college and that they understand their child’s academic performance compared to parents who have not enrolled their children in OST programs
Experience the Benefits of NIHF Education Programs
Learn more about what NIHF programs, including Camp Invention, can do for your child.
1 Falk, J. (2018). Camp Invention Evaluation Report.
2 Summit Education Initiative. (2019). National Inventors Hall of Fame Camp Invention.