Last Chance: Things You Gotta Do the Week of May 28

Thursday, May 31: Last day to sign up for one of four week-long camps and get $15 off the base price of $319. is coming to Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, San Clemente, and Ladera Ranch this summer.  First started in 1990, Camp Invention is a summer day program for students entering grades 1-6 which engages children to discover their own innate creativity and inventiveness through hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) content. 

Camp Invention was created in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which continues to support Invent Now’s mission to inspire creativity and inventive thinking in children of all ages. 

Each day, children rotate through four integrated modules that employ creative thinking to solve real-world challenges. Children learn vital 21^st century life skills such as problem-solving and teamwork through imaginative play. Local educators will facilitate program modules, and enthusiastic high school and college students will serve as leadership interns – ensuring that one staff member is in place for every eight children.

There are four week-long camps. The “Create” program will be offered at in Mission Viejo July 16-20 and  in San Clemente, August 6-11. In this summer’s Create program, children will spend their week rebuilding an eco-friendly city, “reassembling” a crashed spacecraft from a variety of common objects, and much more.

In this summer’s “Envision” program, offered at Ladera Ranch Elementary, July 23-27, children will spend their week visiting a faux island to study magnetism, taking a fantasy adventure on the Ci6000 Space Modulator Time Machine and inventing a balloon-bursting machine.

In the “Innovate” program, offered at  in Aliso Viejo July 30-Aug. 3, children will spend their week studying electricity, learning how to power direct current (DC) motors and more

To register a child for these programs or to learn more about Invent Now programming, visit www.CampInvention.org or call 800.968.4332.  Every registration includes a free Camp Invention t-shirt. 

 Since Camp Invention’s inception, the program has grown to include more than 200 school partnerships in 49 states.  In 2011, some 76,000 children participated nationwide. Regional program sponsors include Southern California Edison.

Friday, June 1: The deadline to submit applications to the serve on the city's Youth Advisory Board has been extended to Friday, June 1.

Sixteen youth member vacancies and two adult advisor seats are available on the board, which acts as a liaison between youth and city government. The board submits recommendations to the City Council for special events, programs and fundraising events.

Board members meet at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of the month in the City Council Chamber, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. Applications are due to the city clerk's office by 4:30 p.m. June 1. The City Council is expected to appoint new board members in June. Members would serve until Aug. 31, 2013.

For more information, contact the clerk's office at 949-493-1171. Applications are available on the Youth Advisory Board web page and at the clerk's office at 32400 Paseo Adelanto.