Creativity and Innovation Camp Out in Simsbury

From July 8-12 at Simsbury High School (SHS), 32 students in Grades 1-6 had the chance to experience a high-energy, hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) day camp. During Camp Invention’s four exploratory sessions, students are taught not just engineering concepts and skills, but valuable life skills, such as creative problem-solving, innovation, and confidence. Inventive young minds are encouraged to exercise their imagination, as well as be empowered to “have big ideas” while they take on challenges that inspire them to question, brainstorm, and work as a team.

Camp Invention is a program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame®, a nonprofit organization “dedicated to recognizing inventors and invention, promoting creativity, and advancing the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.” This was the third year that the program has been offered by Simsbury’s Department of Continuing Education (DCE). SHS Engineering teacher/Camp Invention Director Dave Salonia and SHS Technology Education Coordinator Kurt Dougan, who is Simsbury’s Teacher of the Year, view the program as a way to extend STEM learning to elementary school students. In addition, it was an incredible opportunity for 11 engineering students, who volunteered as student leadership interns: Caroline Cordani, Liam Derick, Venkatanathan Kidambi, Jacob Michelson, Siddiq Mohaideen, Elizabeth Niedermeyer, Elizabeth Perlitz, Katie Perlitz, Sarah Perlitz, Ajeeth Vellore, and Madeline Zackeo. Each received a certificate of appreciation, crediting them with 30 hours of volunteer Camp Invention Activities.

Said Salonia, “I can’t say enough about how well the student leadership interns did in implementing the curriculum, labs, and supplies and working with the youngsters. As you know, it’s no easy task to keep 32 kids engaged and having fun with STEM activities! Kurt and I could not have done it without them!”

Camp Invention did not skimp on supplies and curriculum for the extensive array of hands-on projects. Every morning the students gathered at “base camp” to discuss what the day would bring during the four sessions, including Innovation Force™, where students teamed up to outwit “the Plagiarizer,” the Innovation Force’s arch enemy. The budding inventors learned about famous inventors, how to create a prototype, and how to protect their creation with a patent. Farm Tech™ showed children the business side of farming, as well as its high-tech side. They learned how to turn a polluted wasteland into lush farmland, including building machines and devices to prepare the soil, pollinate the crops, and launch bales of hay. Deep Sea Mystery™ took campers on a journey of discovery. In search of a mystery fish, the children excavated for fossils; learned to use nature such as the stars, wind, and currents, to navigate to an island; and designed innovative underwater equipment. Students designed, tested, and modified their very own robot during the DIY Orbot™ session. They earned several different “certification badges” throughout the week, including Designer, Civil Engineer, Choreographer, and Construction Manager, and finally earning their Bot Badge.

George Alcorn, inventor of the x-ray spectrometer, said, “An inventor changes, modifies, or adapts specific things to specific directions and recognizes connections.” To that end, each young inventor was given an “Inventor Log” journal where they could write their observations and notes for each activity. The logs were helpful as they went through the process of creating, testing, and then re-creating.

At the end of the week, families were invited for a celebration at which participants received a certificate and a personalized, wooden plaque manufactured by SHS rising seniors Aidan Turley and Shane Lutz. Families also toured the four classrooms and viewed the participants’ creations. One youngster beamed with pride as he held up his duct tape boat for his mom to inspect as Dougan commented on his engineering prowess, “That boat did its job. It was the most seaworthy!”

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Next summer will bring a WHOLE NEW Camp Invention, so save the dates for July 6-10, 2020!

Visit the Simsbury Department of Continuing Education website for more information.

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