Spark Student Engagement With STEM Fun and Creativity at Camp Invention
What is Camp Invention?
- What: A fun and engaging, standards-aligned STEM summer program created for schools looking to bring excitement to both students and educators. Since 1990, this program has helped K-6 students explore their natural creativity and gain confidence through hands-on, open-ended exploration, while empowering educators to do the same.
- Where: Camp Invention is hosted locally and led by local educators through a space provided by the district or host site. If a district building is not available, the program can be hosted in a community building, library or other local facility.
- How: While you focus on launching a week of meaningful learning and fun, our team will be there every step of the way to support your seamless program implementation. We ship all materials in classroom sets directly to your program location from our in-house warehouse, help educators navigate challenges with personalized, one-on-one support and provide every resource needed to bring four high-impact experiences to students.
- Cost: The program cost is covered by each participant, and there is no added fee to host the program. If your school is looking for financial support, our team can help find what programs you can qualify for!*
High-Quality Instructional Materials
Designed for hands-on engagement and open-ended exploration, Camp Invention encourages children’s natural curiosity and creativity. Our 20-month curriculum development process ensures students enjoy a quality experience.
Stress-Free Implementation
The National Inventors Hall of Fame® provides all the materials, resources and support you need for hassle-free implementation, including dedicated assistance with building your team, selecting your location and running your program from start to finish.
Core Subject Support
Educators across the country trust Camp Invention as an essential resource to supplement existing math and science curricula with fresh strategies that enhance STEM and 21st-century skill development. This collaborative program naturally combats absenteeism and reduces anxiety while accommodating learning differences through easy differentiation.
Pathways to Entrepreneurial Thinking and Problem Solving
Each program is filled with cross-curricular challenges that inspire original thinking and empower children to bring their ideas to life. From hands-on problem solving to exploring entrepreneurship, students engage with topics from art to sports through a STEM lens.
Embedded Professional Development
Through hands-on experience, you’ll gain strategies that can easily transfer to your classroom, helping you instill essential 21st-century skills, promote empathy and teamwork, and encourage students.
Evidence-Based Experiences
Independent evaluations show that one week of Camp Invention can produce short- and long-term improvements in creativity, interest in STEM subjects, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
Improved Attendance and Test Scores
Research shows that participation in Camp Invention leads to improvements in school attendance, test scores and GPA.
Funding Options
Camp Invention qualifies for federal, state and local district funding. Our team works with you to both identify and apply for funding opportunities.
What is Included in Camp Invention?
Program Preparation
Orientation, promotional tools including flyers, posters, social media and digital content, and exceptional guidance and one-on-one coaching provided by a dedicated National Inventors Hall of Fame support team.
Implementation Support
High-quality instructional materials, including a step-by-step curriculum and instructor guide for 32.5 hours of programming, daily schedules and prerecorded videos to supplement curriculum and classroom materials, a central registration system, and Camp Invention T-shirts for participants and Program Team Members.
Explore Our 2026 Program: Spark
Read on for a preview of this summer’s all-new program, or click here for more details.
The Infringers™
Campers team up with the Innovation Force® to solve challenges in their community and around the world! As campers spark their innovative superpowers, they’ll design and miniaturize top-secret inventions, create a wearable device that incorporates cryptography and race to file a patent to protect their intellectual property from The Infringers!
Fur-ensics™
Students team up with robotic capybaras to sharpen their detective skills and discover how real-life investigators use forensic science. As they explore DNA, fingerprints and curious clues, students create sleuthing gadgets to support their investigation.
Make Waves™
Campers catch their first big break as they ride the waves of entrepreneurship and invention. They practice persistence as they paddle through challenges, conduct hands-on buoyancy experiments and draw inspiration from ocean advertising to create their own billboard boats, setting sail to reach their target audience.
Space Morphers™
Students build a DIY space rocket and launch a mission to terraform a new planet for human habitation. They collect important data, make scientific observations in the Space Lab and build inventions for navigating the intense conditions of their exoplanet to transform its atmosphere, terrain and ecosystem.
What Educators Are Saying About Our Education Programs
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“I love that everything was included in the teacher’s guide. I knew I could reference that at any time. I also liked that the kids not only explored, but they had to present their ideas.”
Emily N.Castle Rock, CO
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“As a director, it’s fun to get to see kids of all ages really exploring their ideas, and having the opportunity to draw and build and try to create prototypes without the restrictions of state testing, etc.”
Caitlin A.Fort Worth, TX
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“I love the freedom for kids to do whatever they want with the inventions. This opens so many doors for these kids to think outside the box and helps students who may not thrive in the classroom excel.”
Alanea E.Wichita, KS
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“I appreciate the quality curriculum and well-organized materials. Campers have fun while learning! I am a science teacher, and this promotes scientific and engineering processes in an engaging and fun way. ”
Connie H.Lonsdale, MN
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“The activities and the skills that they learn at Camp Invention really transfer to the outside world. They’re encouraged to come up with ideas, brainstorm, hypothesize and make mistakes — it’s all part of the learning process! ”
Tania G.Jacksonville, NC
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“I always love the curriculum we teach. There hasn’t been a module I haven’t enjoyed. I appreciate that everything is set up for me to present without me having to hunt everything down and plan it all out.”
Bethany V.Dallas, GA
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“Interaction with kids who want to learn is always the best part of teaching. Being able to talk with the kids as they thought through each challenge was easily the best part of camp.”
Steve R.Bay Village, OH
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“I love seeing the innovative and inventive creations campers produce and genuinely enjoy watching the older students step in as leaders and teachers throughout the week of camp. ”
Heather F.Sparta, NC
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“The most meaningful part is watching the campers step out of their comfort zone, make new friends and gain confidence. The campers who come in the first day hesitant to start are usually the ones who can't wait to come back the next summer.”
Kristine A.Tulsa, OK
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“The curriculum is easy to follow, modify (if needed), and teach. It is also very helpful that the supplies for each module are provided so setup is quick and simple. Great hands-on learning program for students!”
Stephanie N.O'Neill, NE
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“The directions were simple enough for my first-graders to follow along as well as challenging enough to keep my fifth-graders interested. This was extremely meaningful to me because I loved being able to see every student succeed in their own way.”
Amanda S.Orlando, FL
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“Seeing these kids come more excited to be there each day is powerful! Seeing them having those ‘aha!’ moments is the greatest feeling ever!”
Holly L.Eau Claire, WI
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“I wish Camp Invention would teach every curricula provider how to pack and organize materials! They do it right.”
Kathy K.Elyria, OH
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“Thanks for a great experience. We felt it had a very positive impact on campers and we, as staff, had a great time too! The resources and support were outstanding!”
Janice E.Lancaster, PA
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“Seeing kids love learning is why I became a teacher. I love to see their excitement and that is something I see daily at Camp Invention.”
Sara T.Warminster, PA
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“Organization, presentation and ease of use of the program is phenomenal. The kids really get a wonderful variety and exposure to STEM.”
Nancy Y.Albany, MN
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“I was very impressed with the quality of resource guides, videos, materials, packaging, etc. High quality, engaging, very impressive!”
Abbey F.Durango, CO
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“The organization and ease of implementation was paramount. For someone who has never done Camp Invention it was easy to figure out and implement with fidelity.”
Dana D.Blacksburg, VA
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“Students who attend Camp Invention gain more than fun and confidence. They grow valuable life skills, learn about new topics, find their interests, feel accepted and ultimately, have fun!”
Linda B.Rocky Point, NC
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“I love how organized and hands on each module is. Everything is laid out nicely for both students and instructors!”
Allison K.Parma, OH
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“I love how engaging it is every year, the activities are fun and stimulating, the kids are excited and I enjoy it every summer because it's easy!”
Abby H.Wooster, OH
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“The materials were of good quality, well labeled, and well organized. The modules included enough variety that kids with many different interests were engaged. I really liked the emphasis on problem solving using real-world challenges.”
Daisy S.Saint Charles, MO
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“There is so much wonderful support before and during the program. I always feel like I’m giving the students the best opportunity to engage in STEM thinking. The quality of curriculum is outstanding and engaging.”
Erica K.Jeffersonville, IN
We want to partner with more districts just like you!
Contact us at 800-968-4332, [email protected] or complete our form to bring transformative, hands-on learning to your school.
View Additional Information for Massachusetts Educators
*Camp can be implemented using a parent-paid model or purchased as either a full program or individual modules. It also can run as a unique, stand-alone summer experience or as the perfect complement to a larger summer learning program.
Bring Camp Invention to Your School