Camp Invention At Home Delivers More Than You Might Expect
In response to the unique needs of families across the country, the National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF) has developed our most flexible Camp Invention® experience to date. This summer, we’re offering both in-person and at-home versions of our all-new Recharge program! Our at-home options include local Camp Invention At Home and national Camp Invention Connect™, which offers all the same benefits while allowing kids to collaborate with friends from across the country.
Wondering how our camp formats compare? They’re more similar than you might think! Read below to learn how our at-home camps offer many of the same qualities families have come to expect from our traditional in-person experience.
Live Collaboration
Children joining Camp Invention At Home have the opportunity to attend multiple live sessions throughout each day, so they can team up with their friends to solve real-world problems. Together, campers collaborate and help each other improve their invention prototypes through brainstorming and iteration.
“My daughter and son loved completing the Camp Invention activities and engaging with the other children and Instructor online. Weeks later, they are still busy making, building and bringing their ideas to life!”
— Jennifer S., Camp Invention At Home Parent
Hands-On Activities
Featuring the same engaging hands-on activities as our traditional Camp Invention program, Camp Invention At Home includes challenges and projects that campers work on throughout the week. Each day, campers are invited to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) topics in ways that embrace their natural curiosity.
“There were so many activities to do! It was so nice to finally see people and have friends again. I loved seeing everyone on the screen as a group when we got to talk about our inventions.
I was really happy and I could see everyone else was really happy too. I loved it.”
— Lydia F., Camp Invention At Home Camper
Expert Instruction
Just like our in-person program, each at-home camp is led by a certified educator who has been personally selected by NIHF to lead children through a week full of creativity and exploration. These professional instructors keep kids engaged, encourage teamwork and help campers build confidence and persistence every step of the way.
“Our Camp Invention experience was amazing. The virtual sessions really set us up for success. It was just the right amount of instruction and resource sharing. Our 9-year-old needed almost no help from us afterward. The activity books give simple and clear directions on the parts that help children build their STEM skills.”
— Pete C., Camp Invention At Home Parent
Independent Learning
With many parents working from home, we know families are looking for fun ways to keep children engaged and learning. Camp Invention At Home is designed with this in mind. Our hands-on activities can keep kids busy throughout the day, with exciting challenges and options to join live collaboration sessions or rely on the provided Inventor Logs for step-by-step instructions to complete each activity independently.
“The content was very organized and easy for a 7-year-old to read and comprehend the concepts with little help from an adult. Online coaching sessions help establish a collaborative environment. My son was super excited from opening the box to trying out all the new experiments every day.”
— Divya R., Camp Invention At Home Parent
Creative Materials
Before the program begins, NIHF ships an Innovator’s Toolkit directly to each camper. Inside, children will find all the creative materials they’ll need throughout the week, neatly organized in color-coded bags. They’ll also find an Innovator Workshop — exclusive new tools that allow children to create their own space for inventing! This includes:
- Maker Mat: A special surface where campers are encouraged to create and experiment.
- Pegboard: A customizable board where children can attach their Inventor Logs and additional creative supplies.
- Toolbelt: A wearable toolbelt kids can use to keep their supplies on hand as they work.
“Our Camp Invention experience was great! My son enjoyed everything, even opening the box to see what was inside. The amount of materials and instructions given made it easy and fun for him to create and design.”
— Amanda F., Camp Invention At Home Parent
Tested STEM Curriculum
With over 30 years of experience offering STEM programming, NIHF is a national leader in providing innovative programming that has inspired millions of children across the country. Each summer’s brand-new Camp Invention program undergoes a rigorous 20-month development process and is extensively tested to ensure a quality experience, both in person and at home.
“This was different from our online school because we got to talk to other kids and I didn’t have to just figure things out on my own. It was nice to be led by someone who helped me understand it. There were so many activities and they were really fun. Camp Invention At Home is so cool, it’s my most favorite thing to do in the summer.”
— Lydia, F., Camp Invention At Home Camper
Sign Up for a Camp that Works for You
We invite you to visit our website to learn more, find a program that adapts to your family’s needs and register to save your child’s spot today!