The University of South Carolina Aiken’s Ruth Patrick Science Education Center once again hosted Camp Invention June 10-14 for children to learn the importance and fun of science and creativity.
Camp Invention is a nationally recognized summer enrichment program created by the National inventors Hall of Fame and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and features a new curriculum every year to keep returning children interested every day.
With this year’s “illuminate” theme, camp leaders sparked the curiosity of K-6 campers while teaching them the significance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through various themed activities.
For the 14th year, campers explored hands-on challenges and open-ended adventures specifically designed to test their problem solving skills while encouraging innovative ideas to ongoing issues.
Throughout the week, the camp revolves around five modules which focus on various STEM topics, such as: technology, brand building, robotics, water conservation, creating inventions and more.
Camp activities included creating prototypes of famous inventions, brainstorming to solve water challenges, creating glow box with a customized design and hand making a skeeball game.
Participating children completed challenges using an assortment of recycled materials from egg cartons to cardboard boxes.
Director of Special Programs John Hutchens said this year’s illuminating theme combines the real-world applications of science and engineering while teaching campers the importance of entrepreneurship.
Camp leader and Student Programs Specialist Kelly Galvarino, who led children through the exploration of earth and water, said she believes teaching campers about conservation of resources is important because it allows them to become more aware of other countries’ struggles and to be more mindful of others.
“Yesterday we talked about extreme floods and droughts, and they thought about rescue devices that could help people or a new way to collect water during a rainstorm,” she said. “… so it helps them think globally of water deficits and water problems and other things that they might not have otherwise thought about.”
Galvarino said she hopes Camp Invention leaves children, attending girls especially, feeling empowered in their individual creativity as she believes anyone can have the potential to invent something amazing.
“In our society, STEM has been a more male dominated field, so getting girls excited about it early and showing that it’s fun, that they can be creative and collaborative lets them know that it’s accessible to anybody,” she said.
Most importantly, Galvarino said she hopes every camper ends the week understanding the wonders that can occur when a person thinks for themselves and investigates outside-the-box solutions and ideas.
“Don’t follow the crowd and don’t be afraid of exploring those ideas and doing something different,” she said.
For some families, Camp Invention has allowed older campers to return as counselors and assistants to teach them responsibility.
Second year counselor Teddy Nichols said he believes the camp is significant because it teaches and empowers children to solve problems on their own.
“They don’t always need someone there to solve things for them – they can have some independence,” he said. “
To Nichols, a lack of instilled independence and confidence prevents children from successfully stepping into adulthood and the working environment because of a stifling dependence on one’s parents. Camp Invention is a step in the right direction to preventing those bad habits.
“It’s good that they can get a head start here, which can give them an advantage,” he said. “… there’s no opportunities in school [for creativity]. It should really be taught in school, but since it’s not this is a good that they have this experience with it.”
First-time camper Aubrey Miner, a fourth grader, said she loved Camp Invention because it allowed her to bond with friends while learning new things.
“Kids should come because it’s fun and you’re going to learn stuff,” she said. “I like that I can create stuff. You get help to do some things, but you also get to do it on your own, and it’s fun that you can also help your friends too.”
For more information about the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center and their programs, visit: https://www.usca.edu/rpsec/
