Leadership Starts Here: Delaney DeMarco’s Camp Journey

“And just like that, our Camp Invention^® camper wrapped up her first week as a Leadership Intern,” Tammy DeMarco wrote on a social media post about her daughter Delaney.

With strong family ties to Camp Invention, Delaney DeMarco’s story shines a light on what’s possible as she continues to pave her way toward a bright future. Starting her Camp Invention experience as a first-grader, Delaney attended this national STEM summer camp for six years before stepping into new roles as a Leader-In-Training (LIT) and a Leadership Intern (LI).

In a recent interview with the National Inventors Hall of Fame®, Delaney reflected on how Camp Invention cultivated her creativity and leadership skills, and she shared her aspirations for a future filled with possibility.

Exploring Inventive Opportunities

An engineering enthusiast, Delaney developed a strong passion for STEM as she started her journey at Camp Invention. Looking back fondly at her earliest camp memories, the now high school sophomore remembers her first hands-on experience — building a custom robotic dog. 

“We took it apart and looked at the inside parts, how it worked and all the things that made the legs move. I thought that was really cool,” she said. As kids dive into the inner mechanics of things at camp, their fascination kicks in, sparking a curiosity that inspires them to keep asking questions.

Following in the footsteps of her brother Dylan, who also became an LI after his years as a camper, Delaney says she always looked up to the kids who took on leadership roles at camp.

While Camp Invention is designed for children in grades K-6, the LIT program is for kids in grades 7-9, and LI opportunities are available for high school and college students. In each of these roles, Delaney has grown more confident in following her curiosity wherever it leads her. In just three words, Delaney described Camp Invention as “fun, challenging and rewarding.”

Stepping Into New Roles

As an LI, Delaney guides campers just like her younger self to push through challenges, make new discoveries and solve problems as a team. “Getting to that endpoint of reaching your goal is really rewarding,” she said. “Seeing the kids get from point A to point B over the week is really great to see.”

With a longstanding connection to camp, Delaney has seen how each summer’s new curriculum brings innovative, hands-on challenges that inspire children’s curiosity and creativity. After several years of involvement, she noted one particularly memorable experience in which children constructed their own claw machine.

“I think a lot of the kids really liked the claw machine,” she recalled. “It was really cool to see them build it. Just seeing them go through the steps of making it and finding out how the mechanism worked, that was really interesting and amazing to see.”

From the very beginning, Delaney’s roles at camp have shaped her aspirations of continuing to explore STEM.  “I've always loved science, technology and engineering. Math, I've learned to love,” Delaney explained. “In more recent years, I've become really interested in biology, and I think the idea was introduced through Camp Invention — taking things apart and seeing what's inside and learning how things work has really progressed my love for engineering and propelled all aspects of science.”

Looking to the future, Delaney shared, “I really like biomedical engineering. I think working with prosthetics would be great.”

Sharing A Camp Parent Perspective

As a proud Camp Invention parent, Tammy DeMarco says that for her family, Camp Invention is “an inspiration station.”

“Our kids really love science, math and critical thinking activities, so [Camp Invention] is a great place for them to really explore and build on things they love and be exposed to new things they don’t normally get through their daily life,” Tammy said.

Moving from Illinois to Michigan, both Delaney and her brother attended Camp Invention in two different school districts. “The fact that they've been able to have such a great experience in two different school systems in two different states with Camp Invention really speaks well of the program, and how well it's designed,” she explained.

Tammy saw firsthand how tackling challenges at camp helped her kids build persistence and strong problem‑solving skills. Watching those strengths grow inspired them to step up as early leaders, guiding a new generation of campers with confidence.

“What I love is that through the program, they coach [kids] through how to get around hurdles, and you learn that they can do it. It’s built that within [Delaney], which I love.

Life sometimes does throw you a curveball. Delaney had to navigate [challenges] as a camper, and she's gotten to navigate them now as a leader, so it's been great to see that progress and that community of ‘you can do it’ — coaching kids through that is really exciting.”

Tammy also appreciates how the evolving roles available at Camp Invention have created a rare pathway for exploring new opportunities with STEM. “We've been really lucky that Camp invention does invest in Leaders in Training,” she explained. “I think there's very few programs where you can go through as a camper, and then go through as a leader. The fact that that's built into the program is really special.”

As a leader who is making a difference for budding innovators, Delaney fulfills Camp Invention’s LI role with a positivity that her mom knows well.  “Delaney's a ray of light,” Tammy said. “She brings so much warmth to everything she does. We've heard families in our community speak about how much their kids loved working with her. And I love seeing that she has this commitment to trying new things. I think programs like camp really helped to build that.”

Unlocking New Possibilities

Staying true to her belief that overcoming challenges benefits young minds, Delaney advises kids interested in STEM and innovation to keep moving toward their goals. “Be patient, keep persisting,” she said. “I think especially with younger kids, they might get discouraged if something doesn't work the first time. But keeping that thought of ‘just try and try again until it works,’ it makes the end goal even better when it's achieved.” From curious camper to confident LI, Delaney’s growth mindset is a true testament to the lasting impact of invention education.

Want to get involved with this transformative camp? Learn what new STEM adventures are coming to Camp Invention this summer and sign up for a summer filled with possibilities!