Camp inspires creativity, teamwork
The “school supply” list for summer learning in the Kettering City Schools was pretty short and simple: water balloons, shaving cream, Nerf balls and a broken power tool or piece of equipment. Oh, yes, and trash ... can’t forget the trash. It was, after all, an integral part of the summer program.
Before arriving for Camp Invention this summer, the 400 incoming first-through-sixth graders were asked to raid their parents’ garages and tool sheds for broken tools and equipment that they would be taking apart and re-purposing during their week at camp. They were also directed to be on the lookout for and snag any trash that could be recycled and used for building and creating.
Backed by the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Camp Invention is an enrichment program rooted in STEM that is designed to inspire elementary age students to explore science, engineering, technology and math, while also tapping in to their own creativity, inventiveness and entrepreneurial-ism.
Camp Invention, which was held at Southdale and Beavertown schools, is broken up into five modules, and each module is taught by a Kettering City Schools teacher.
“Each teacher also has two camp counselors assisting them. The counselors are National Honor Society students from Fairmont High School, and they are involved in all aspects of each day’s project,” said Beth Frederick, a fifthgrade teacher at Indian Riffle School and the Southdale camp director.
During the camp, the concept of invention is brought to life for the students when they hear from individuals who are National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees and when they use the materials from the broken equipment they brought to camp to build their own video games. They also learn the importance of cooperation and problem-solving while getting exercise during a series of high-energy games that promote 21st-century thinking. They learn about teamwork and collaboration while building a freestyle race kart capable of traversing a very wet obstacle course.
“Each team was provided with a skateboard that they could use to build their race kart,” said Heather McManus, a first-grade teacher at Indian Riffle School and the Beavertown camp director.
A “Hardware Store” stocked with the recycled materials each student had contributed, was set up at each school, and the students were able to earn points that they could then “spend” at the store to buy materials to beef up their karts. Some type of shield was a must when the teams were designing their karts ... or the riders would get soaked and “slimed” by the water balloons and shaving cream that were tossed out as they made their way through the obstacle course.
“This is a fast-paced, fun, amazing experience for these kids,” said Frederick. “There is none of the ‘What-did-you-dotoday?’ ‘Nothing’ kind of dinner conversations between the kids and their parents. I’ve had parents tell me that their kids are just bursting with excitement at the end of the day and can’t wait to share what they are doing at camp and what they are learning.”
Camp Invention also is a great learning experience for the teachers who are involved. Northridge Local Schools students participate in reading activities at Freedom Schools.