Hannah and Riley James: Sharing a Lifelong Love of Camp Invention

As Hannah and Riley James prepared for their first year as Instructors at Camp Invention^®, the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® flagship summer program for rising K-6 students, their anticipation was coupled with their own childhood memories of STEM exploration.

Former campers and high school sweethearts, Hannah and Riley were married in 2024 and pursued careers as educators. Hannah, an English teacher at Salem High School in Salem, Ohio, and Riley, an intervention specialist at Faircrest Memorial Elementary School in Canton, Ohio, have both strived to empower students through dedicated approaches to academic success.

After their first week teaching at Camp Invention, Hannah reflected in an interview with the National Inventors Hall of Fame, “It was so much fun. It brings the fun back to teaching. You realize that you can do so many fun things and still be learning.”

Camper Memories

From glittery, upcycled tornado bottles to engineering and marble experiments, Hannah and Riley explained that at Camp Invention, there is something for everyone. The program’s hands-on approach to exploratory learning centers around creating memorable take-home items.

“My first [Camp Invention] memory was the tornado bottle because I kept it with me all the time. It had glitter and all the things in it. I remember keeping mine in my room, and every once in a while, I’d still give it a spin and watch the tornado,” explained Hannah.

As campers tackle STEM challenges each year, they learn the value of collaboration and making memories with friends. Riley’s earliest camp memories included engaging in take-apart activities and using everyday items to explore energy and momentum with marbles. “My partner in that [marble] activity when I was in third grade was the best man at my wedding,” he revealed. “We still talk about it.”

Behind the Scenes as Instructors

As first-time Instructors, Hannah and Riley described a positive preparation process of reviewing the Camp Invention curriculum and practicing for their instructional debuts together at home. With team support and high-quality instructional materials, both educators felt confident kicking off their first week.

“We read through the curriculum, looked at a lot of pictures, watched the videos and just talked a lot with the Camp Invention team, who really helped me to visualize what it would look like. Reading everything through, previewing the videos, checking out the supplies and just getting a feel for what we're going to be doing helped me a lot.”

Hannah said setting up the classroom for Fur-ensics^™, one of this year’s four brand-new STEM experiences, was a major highlight. Designed to spark critical thinking skills, campers conduct an epic investigation with the help of an adorable take-home robotic capybara. “I think this stuff is so much fun,” Hannah explained. “I have the forensics [experience]. I have a crime scene. I'm in the classroom getting so excited. It’s just as much fun for me setting it up as I feel like it is for students to walk in and see it.”

Hannah’s commitment to empowering students shined bright as she described watching campers build their skills throughout the week. “Each day, watching them get closer and closer to solving the mystery was super exciting. Even some of the theories they've come up with throughout the process — they had such complex theories and really good ideas about potential motives and things like that.”

Professional Development

Reflecting on their growth as educators, Hannah and Riley shared how Camp Invention shifted their personal and professional perspectives.

“I'm an intervention specialist,” Riley explained. “[At camp] I've definitely gotten a lot better at classroom management. It's been a really good experience for me. Every day, I'm learning new things about myself and how to be a better educator. As much fun as we're having, I'm also becoming a better person and educator too, which is cool.”

“The potential is just so exciting,” Hannah added.

Join a National Program Led by Local Educators

Are you looking to spark new levels of engagement with your students? Keep exploring our website to learn more about how you can bring Camp Invention’s hands-on fun and learning to your district.