Club Invention is a day camp for kids, boys, and girls, and my 7-year-old son did it for one week with two friends. They do a two-week stint in Newton, with various stops in other towns in our area, mostly in New England.
This is science that you don’t get in school. What exactly is Club Invention? I had no idea from what my son told me every day after school. Even from the extensive newsletters that I received daily, I still was pretty unclear about what they did. In my mind, it had something to do with Legos.
The last day is parent visiting day, and finally, I get it. (Thanks to my mom friend Lynn who worried I’d forget to come early!).
They have different segments every day.
Science Activities for Kids
1) Sports. They invent sports that they play. Today they played Infected Tag. They also made their own hockey sticks out of recyclables and played with them.
2) Simple Machines. They took apart an electronic and put it back together again. I forgot to send in my hand mixer but apparently, there were extra appliances and my son didn’t mind helping his friend Sam take apart a blender.
3) SMart. Art with math. Fractals, Tesserets, and patterns in nature. They drew triangles smaller and smaller to learn that fractals are the same shape no matter what size. My son said this was really boring. Can’t say I blame him.
4) Inventions. I think there were many segments of inventions. From his open house, he worked on a marble run with friends and created creatures and habitats. One creature was motorized for speed. The final day was a race between the creatures that seemed really fun. There was mention of circuits — which they needed to motorize their creativity. I also heard about baking soda and vinegar reactions as examples of reactions that can be harnessed into power.
STEM Camp Where Kids Invent
My son’s habitat has an operational door that he’s quite proud of. Also, he pointed out the bubble wrap carpet so his pets would be comfy.
His creature.
This creature my son made has a surprise that you’ll see in the video.
Teamwork. My son and two friends designed and built this marble run. He says they need to build up some ramps to get more speed though. A work in progress.
What is Club Invention? Hands-on science fun for kids.
I found these items on Amazon that my son might like!
Kit, Kid Inventor, Basic 120 Projects, Creative Electronics by Shinet Corp
Kid Inventor Basic Creative Electronics Kit – Using the materials in this kit young inventors can build over 120 projects, including a magnetic fan, a sound-activated musical doorbell, and a fingertip flashbulb. — Each project is constructed using components with snap connections that make assembly easy and secure, so there is no need for soldering. — Comes with manual. Four AA batteries are required, but not included.
The Kids’ Invention Book by Arlene Erlbach
Profiles eleven inventors between the ages of eight and fourteen describe the steps involved in inventing a new product and discuss contests, patents, lawyers, and clubs.
Snap Circuits SC-300 by Elenco Electronics Inc
Snap Circuits FM Radio by Elenco Electronics Inc
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p.s. Related posts:
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My Daughter’s Team Wins BlueGreen Innovation Challenge!
Visiting Carnegie Mellon University and seeing my father’s doppelgänger
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Science Fun on Pinterest.
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I cannot tell you HOW MUCH my son would love this camp! He LOVE inventing and LOVES taking apart our cast off machines. School should be more like this!
Hi Dee,
The organization is called Club Invention. They do classes after school and week long camps all around the Boston Metro area. It’s a very well priced camp. I just searched their website and they do have a camp program in New Orleans: http://inventnow-web.ungerboeck.com/programsearch/program_map.aspx
That looks so so so cool! I want to do that camp myself!
Hi Artchoo,
The invention part was fun but the downside was that it wasn’t very active which is hard for little boys. When I picked him up from camp, he was very hyper. I wish there was a little more outside time. Still, I think we are doing it again next summer for a week.
Both my kids would love that camp! Great kits too!!!
Hi Ann,
Thanks so much! I think Club Invention has a program in your neck of the woods.
Really?!
Hi Ann,
Darn it. I read their map wrong. No, sorry. Nearest ones are around Boston.
How fun–looks like the kids had a great time!
Hi Asian Mommy,
My son said that he really liked the camp and wants to do it again next year.
Hi Mia Wenjen–I enjoyed reading your post on your son’s involvement in Camp Invention. Cool videos too! I’m the author of Kids Inventing! A Handbook for Kid Inventors (wiley, 2005) which features dozens of stories of kid inventors at work along with tips on many aspects of inventing. Might be a good follow-up for your son. Also, I have lots of inventing activities on my website he might like to do. Glad to read of his wonderful experience. Your site is terrific!
Susan Casey
Hi Susan,
Thanks so much for the heads up on your book! I’ll let my son know about it! That might be perfect for him this summer to pull him away from the siren call of screens!