Bright Futures Begin with Hands-On Experiences

One of the most powerful ways to grow children’s confidence and skills is to give them access to hands-on learning. Your gift to the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® (NIHF) Annual Fund does just that.

Your support allows Camp Invention^® programs across the country to provide each camper with hands-on learning materials that turn STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) concepts into firsthand experiences. For each year’s all-new program, it takes high-quality materials to bring the experience to life. From basic supplies like paper, scissors and crayons to exclusive take-home items that help spark imagination, these materials make it possible for children to engage in active learning at every camp.

By funding the behind-the-scenes costs of keeping camp running, you ensure equitable access to opportunities that empower children to become creators, innovators and entrepreneurs. You can see the impact of your support in the stories of campers like Travis Root, who recently earned his first patent.

Turning Curiosity into Action

When Root was a kid, he loved to tinker. From science kits to model rockets, some of his fondest childhood memories involved taking things apart to learn how they operated. When his parents enrolled him in Camp Invention starting in the fourth grade at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Norwalk, Ohio, the experience was a perfect fit.

“I thought it was the greatest thing,” Root said in an interview with NIHF. “Camp Invention was the first time where it became clear to me that you could do stuff with the things you build — from starting a business to changing the world. It was really exciting!

Through hands-on experiences, Camp Invention also introduced Root to the power of intellectual property. Today, Root exemplifies both inspiration and firsthand knowledge NIHF programs are designed to provide to all children.

Today, Root is working as a military product and customer requirements manager at ForeFlight LLC, a company that creates flight navigation software for personal, business, military, commercial and educational uses. He recently earned a patent for the “Bullseye” technology used in the company’s flagship product, ForeFlight Mobile. 

In collaboration with engineer Luis Manuel, who is also listed on the patent, Root developed a digital bullseye that pilots can share in confidence with other pilots who are using the app. As a U.S. Air Force veteran himself, Root explained that while the concept of sharing a private location with other friendly pilots as a way of determining any ally’s location is common practice, having this functionality integrated in an app has allowed for additional, innovative functionalities.

“The fact that we included backward compatibility for ‘Bullseye’ is something I’m particularly proud of,” Root said. “This means that you can tap anywhere on the screen, and the app will tell you where your location is relative to the bullseye.”

Root also has two more pending patents: one that aids pilots in managing collections of geospatial information, and another that accurately maps military training routes. “ForeFlight is very supportive when it comes to helping their employees apply for patents,” Root said. “Ultimately, they helped make it happen, and I owe them a debt of gratitude.”

When asked if he had any advice to share with students today who might want to follow a path similar to his, Root expressed the importance of finding work that is both interesting and meaningful to them. “Go work in a field that you really care about, because that will sustain you. Find a job that is intrinsically fulfilling,” he said.

He recommends programs like Camp Invention because from a young age, participants are given both the freedom and the hands-on learning materials they need to be able to explore and create in a boundless way.

“It’s really important to have open-ended problems to figure out because that’s how business works,” Root said. “Programs like Camp Invention better prepare kids for what life is actually like.”

Provide the Practical Learning Resources Children Need

With a meaningful gift to the Annual Fund, you can help more campers like Travis Root engage in hands-on learning that can shape their future. Your support will provide the high-quality materials that allow children to turn their ideas into tangible creations at every Camp Invention program.

Use the link below and select “Area of Greatest Need/Annual Fund” as the program you would like to support to reach children across the country.

When you give today, you can change tomorrow.