Camp Invention 2004
"I CAN INVENT!"
The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center in conjunction with Aiken Preparatory School hosted Camp Invention“, a national day camp that encourages children to develop their innate creative abilities. Fifty seven rising 2nd through 6th graders attended this week long camp, July 12-16th.
Camp Invention is designed to promote creative learning by providing children with hands-on, interactive activities that encourage creative solutions. Each program contained five modules of curriculum that have been carefully tested over several years. The curriculum is aligned with national education standards to ensure educational quality and integrity.
During the camp children became automobile designers, shipwreck
survivors and outer space pioneers. In Spills and Chills‘, they researched,
built and tested their new automobile designs by racing them down a ramp and
into a wall with crash dummies in place. During SOS: Suddenly Shipwrecked‘,
children had the opportunity to explore and experiment with materials to create
paper, produce chalk and construct maps to aid in their island rescue. Problem
Solving on Planet Zak‘ took children into the wondrous world of science
fiction where they enhanced their creative and critical thinking skills to survive,
and even thrive, on this planet.
Camp Invention is a project of the National Inventors Hall of
Fame, a nationally recognized, non-profit resource center for creativity in
Akron, Ohio. It is presented in partnership with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office. Schools in 43 states hosted Camp Invention this summer
We were so pleased to be able to bring a camp of this caliber and established reputation to children in the CSRA. The interactive activities sparked the imaginations of children while combining science, math, writing, art, and history.
The camp instructors consisted of Meredith Owens, Karey Santos
and April Fail all certified teachers from surrounding schools, as well as USCA
students and alumna Brenn Hartley, Jessica Walker and LaTasha Johnson who served
as counselors. RPSEC Staff John Hutchens and Elisabeth Schussler directed the
Plans are under way to host this camp again in the summer of 2005. Please look for more information in the winter and spring newsletters.