Connect Students With STEM Superheroes

Inventors are everyday superheroes. They jump into action to solve challenges, making a positive mark on the world through their creativity, persistence and entrepreneurial spirit.

From healthcare innovations to technology advancements, the Inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® have made remarkable breakthroughs that are inspiring the next generation. Through hands-on STEM exploration, our invention education programs guide children to develop the same mindset our Inductees have used to change the world. Empowered by connecting with real-world role models through authentic educational experiences, students become active problem solvers.

As pioneers and innovators in their industries, Inductees are the perfect role models for kids – they broaden the scope for career exploration, demonstrate resilience and spark creative inspiration. By highlighting the stories of world-changing inventors, our curricula show students how they too can become successful innovators, creators and entrepreneurs.

So, what if students knew the names of inspiring inventors as well as they did their favorite athletes or singers? Read on to learn how partnering with Inductees informs the educational experiences brought to life by the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Inspiring an Innovative Curriculum

For over 35 years, our dedicated education team has developed exploratory learning experiences that embrace invention and innovation. Rooted in the belief that every child can invent, our STEM programs spark inspiration in rising K-6 students across the country. Sharing their stories of remarkable achievements, Inductees have inspired and even directly collaborated in the development of our invention education programs. Inductees like Disney Imagineer Lanny Smoot and NASA environmental engineer Jacqueline Quinn are among many who have contributed to our curricula, providing real-world examples that help students make authentic connections to STEM subjects.

Among the never-before-seen experiences developed for the new 2026 Camp Invention^® program, Make Waves^™ is inspired by Inductee Tom Blake and his surfboard innovations. In this exciting experience, students will explore physics through hands-on water experiments and dive into entrepreneurship as they conduct market research and design an innovative billboard boat to advertise their inventions.

Embracing an Innovative Mindset

Composed of nine essential skills and characteristics, the I Can Invent^® Mindset equips children to overcome challenges and reach their potential. Camp Invention is designed to boost confidence and spark STEM aspirations as students make self-led discoveries. Through thoughtful exploration of everyday STEM, phenomena and hands-on experimentation, students gain a new appreciation for the power of their ideas.

From creative problem solving to design thinking, Inductees like Eric R. Fossum, inventor of the CMOS active pixel image sensor camera-on-a-chip, demonstrate how the I Can Invent Mindset can lead to the invention of products that transform the global marketplace. A fixture in imaging, Fossum’s CMOS image sensor technology is used in more than 6 billion cameras produced each year.

As students build one-of-a-kind gadgets and design prototypes to solve real-world challenges at Camp Invention, Fossum’s story can inspire pathways to STEM interests. After making a personal visit to camp, Fossum explained, “As an inventor, I especially see the importance of encouraging youthful curiosity and interaction.”

So, how did Eric Fossum transform into this superhero?

The Innovation Force

Inventors are a heroic force in the world, so we decided to give them capes! At Camp Invention, when students open their Inventor Logs and learn stories of real-world innovation, they are introduced to Inductees who are animated as superheroes. These role models are members of The Innovation Force^® – a team of Inductees who demonstrate innovative superpowers and infuse a fun twist to STEM learning.

One member of the Innovation Force is National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee Sumita Mitra, who invented the first dental filling material to include nanoparticles – Filtek^™ Supreme Universal Restorative. Passionate about inspiring the next generation,  Mitra has influenced our curricula and made personal visits to Camp Invention sites, sharing stories that resonate with young learners and help them learn to see themselves as innovators.

Inductee Radia Perlman, inventor of robust network routing and bridging, has played a major role in driving the growth and development of the internet, making routing more resilient, scalable and easy to manage. One of several Inductees to visit Camp Invention sites to encourage the next generation of innovators, Perlman holds more than 200 U.S. patents.

Inductee Kerrie Holley invented service-oriented architecture (SOA), a software architecture and programming model for large enterprises. A precursor to cloud services, Holley’s invention guided the creation and use of business processes, defined the information technology infrastructure and has benefited organizations across industries.

Spark Student Superpowers

With real-world role models who are everyday STEM superheroes, bringing invention education to students reduces absenteeism, ignites meaningful learning and prepares students to develop lifelong skills. Ready to inspire the next generation? Partner with us today.