Camp Invention - Big Experiences for Young Minds
Camp Invention - Big Experiences for Young Minds
April 6, 2020
Camp Invention is a weeklong summer program created by the National Inventers Hall of Fame for rising kindergarten through sixth grade students with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. The program, which is facilitated by local educators and high school interns, allows students to unlock their creativity and innovation skills by rotating through a series of hands-on activities that encourage collaboration, confidence, persistence, and inventive and creative solutions to real-world problems. The Camp Invention program is one of many STEM enrichment activities sponsored by the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP). AEOP strives to provide both students and teachers a collaborative and cohesive portfolio of Army-sponsored STEM programs that engage, inspire, and attract the next generation of STEM talent; ultimately exposing them to Department of Defense (DOD) STEM careers following the completion of their studies.
Brand new programs for 2020 are listed below:
Camp Invention Flight Lab
- Learn about flight with paper planes, gliders, rockets, heliballs, and hand-copters
- Build a cityscape out of upcycled materials
- Navigate planes through a storm
- Take apart and then rebuild a robot to bring home at the end of the program
Design Thinking Project
- Learn the value of creativity while bringing big ideas to life
- Create sketches, build prototypes, and design logos
- Become sucessful entrepreneurs by marketing products and protecting intellectual property
Rescue Squad
- Use teamwork and probelm-solving skills to protect the Earth's ecosystems
- Compete in zipline races and explore energy conservation
- Learn about eliminating pollution and helping wildlife in habitats across the country
Camp Invention Champions
- Discover the great inventors behind your favorite sports
- Apply ingenuity and design thinking by trading inventor playing cards and creating high-energy hover-ball games
- Design and build the ultimate sports complex
Interested in hosting a Camp Invention program at your school?
- If so, email USArmy.Detrick.MEDCOM-USAMRMC.Other.Educational-Outreach@health.mil and your local U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) will be notified of your interest and help determine your eligibility.
- Or, visit the AEOP website https://www.usaeop.com/program/camp-invention/ for more information.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Become a Volunteer Leadership Intern! High school students, college level students, and AEOP alumni are welcome to participate as Volunteer Leadership Interns. Participants in this internship get hands-on leadership experience, gain valuable communication skills, and are eligible to earn up to 40 volunteer hours.
Program Cost:
- For AEOP sponsored locations: There are many Camp Invention programs across the United States, some of which are affiliated with DOD military installations. These programs are sponsored by the Army Educational Outreach Program and are of no cost to student participants. AEOP has sponsored locations in the following states.
- Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas
- Please visit https://www.usaeop.com/program/camp-invention/ to see a full list of locations.
- For non-sponsored locations: There are non-sponsored locations in all 50 states, and program costs vary. Please visit https://www.invent.org/programs/camp-invention for more information.
Local Events Affiliated with the USAMRDC
*The following are locations sponsored by the AEOP and affiliated with USAMRDC subcommands
Frederick, MD | Fort Detrick
- Whittier Elementary School | July 13th – July 17th
- Monocacy Elementary School | TBD
- Waverly Elementary School | July 20th – July 24th
Fort Rucker, AL | USAARL
- Rucker Boulevard Elementary School | TBD
- D.A. Smith Middle School | June 8th – June 11th
Natick, MA | USARIEM
- McCarthy Elementary School | July 27th – July 31st
San Antonio, TX | USAISR
- Brooks Academy of Science & Engineering | June 8th – June 12th
- Harmony School of Innovation | June 1st – June 5th
