Schools
National Invention Program Was A Blast
Camp Invention displays a week's worth of work at a showcase.
More than 40 kids from the district embarked on a week of discovery and invention at
Camp Invention attracted 41 students entering grades one through six. The program, a national camp sponsored by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Dow Corning Foundation and Ford Motor Company, teaches kids to think outside of the box, team build, problem solve, and just have fun.
Greg Williams, a teacher in the Saline school district directed this year’s camp. He had participated in the program while teaching in North Carolina, and thought it would benefit Saline students too.
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“I knew it would be a great experience for the kids,” Williams said.
Students worked through five modules. The first was "Problem solving on Planet Zak," which was an imaginary crash landing on a strange planet. Students created shelters, designed clothing and gear, learned how to retrieve food across a “lake,” experimented with air pressure to make their rocket fly and then launched their space ships home.
In the "Imagination Point: Ride Physics" module students used Newton’s Laws of Motion to design roller coasters. The module was taught by Saline teacher Jennifer Leathers. Some of the coaster models were working differently, she explained a possible reason why.
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“Climate can have an effect on the paper and cardboard we used for the projects,“ Leathers said.
The third module was called "Saving Sludge City." In this teamwork unit, groups built a green city, complete with solutions to keep air, water and ground pollution out of their towns. Kids modeled solar panels, windmill factories, water towers, plant life and more.
Students also played games in the Game On: Power Play module which focused on creative problem solving and teamwork. Lastly, in "I can Invent: Edison’s Workshop," students transformed an electronic device of their own choosing into a completely new concoction with an action.
“I think the I Can Invent module is really important,” Williams said. “They work with tools, learn what tools are and how to use them, which is a skill they will have forever.”
Gadgets disassembled then reassembled into new creations ranged from boom boxes to alarm clocks to old VCRs.
Marcy Goyette is a parent who attended the showcase on Friday.
“I think it was wonderful,” she said. “It was fun to have him (her son) come home and tell me what he did, and have him so looking forward to going back the next day.”
Camp Invention will be back next summer as long as at least 35 students enroll. Modules are different each year, so kids can continue each summer as long as they are in an eligible grade level. The cost is $200 for five full days of inventing. Scholarships are available. The Saline Area Schools district plans to start promoting next summer’s Camp Invention early in the school year so parents can plan accordingly, or apply for payment plans or scholarship opportunities.
For more information visit www.invent.org.