Camp sparks children's imagination

Posted: July 7, 2009

enlarge photo

Carol Spaeth-Bauer/Staff Photogr

ELECTRONIC WIZ - Luke Siewert, 7, studies the inside of a computer during Camp Invention as he reuses parts to create his own invention at Camp Invention.

more photos

Carol Spaeth-Bauer/Staff Photogr

ELECTRONIC WIZ - Luke Siewert, 7, studies the inside of a computer during Camp Invention as he reuses parts to create his own invention at Camp Invention.

Close

They came carrying old, broken keyboards, computers, electric mixers, adding machines, VCRs, fans, anything their parents would let them rip apart.

But before they could don safety goggles and grab screwdrivers and pliers, the campers learned about a hidden Viking fortune waiting to be found, the brainstormed super science powers for a new super hero, started creating a vehicle to race through an extreme obstacle course and looked at ways to reinvent old games.

It was only the beginning of the fun and exploration the campers would experience during the week at Camp Invention's Invention Connection at Rolling Hills Elementary School recently.

It was a camp like no other camp 10-year-old Danny Larson had ever been at.

"It's a lot of new stuff," Larson said. "It's a lot more building and a lot less talk. You're more independent."

Larson had been to sports camps and camps at Camp Timberlee, but at Camp Invention he helped his group create a Rube Goldberg-type of invention that would break a plastic egg in at least four steps using parts from the broken machines they brought from home.

Camp Invention instills creative problem solving and critical thinking skills to encourage future success for kindergarten through sixth grade aged children. Each day is broken into components such as the quest for Viking Treasure, Comic Book Science, Land Sled X-treme, Recess Remix and Fantasy Inventions and Complicated Machines. From creating new games to dealing with challenges in their search for Viking fortune to taking apart machines and creating their own invention, the camp calls on skills the children might not use every day.

Mukwonago Area School District teacher Pat Fiene sees that as the biggest benefit to the participants.

"It's that higher-level thinking," said Fiene, who has been an instructor with Camp Invention for five years.

First-time Camp Invention instructor Josh Fischer said it offers something the students don't always get in school.

"It lets kids be creative and have a lot of hands-on activities," Fischer said. "It's all about science, creative thinking and hands-on learning."

"It's very fun because you don't get to use your brain a lot in summer," said Jack Shortreed, 10. "You swim a lot and don't use your brain as much."

Partnering with FIRST Robotics

Camp Invention director Cindi Harris, a sixth-grade teacher in the Mukwonago Area School District, has run the camp for several years. Harris was excited about a new aspect for the program this year: guidance from members of FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Team 930 the Mukwonago B.E.A.R.s during the invent portion of the camp. Young inventors divided into small groups, and each group received assistance from a robotics team member, which Harris said increased the campers' understanding of machines and inventions.

While the partnership with the Mukwonago Robotics Team helped participants at Camp Invention, it also provided insights for robotics members as they tried to simplify complex machines to allow the younger children a better understanding.

"They understand things differently. They see a computer and don't see there is something really complex inside. They just think it's cool," said Team 930 member Neil Greenwald. "They only base it off what they see, and they don't see the inside. All they see is a box."

However, the process of teaching also involves learning.

"It helps me understand it more trying to get them to think of it," rookie robotics member Brian Scharles said.

The campers' learning was fueled by their excitement of discovery.

"I think it's cool when they get all excited when they open something," said Team 930 member Josh Santarelli.

Robotics rookie Christa Carini found herself as excited about the inside of the machines as the campers she was helping.

"I was kind of like all the little kids," said Carini. "When I was trying to help them help themselves, you have to explain it in a different way so they could understand."

Adam Jagdfald, 10, was familiar with the robotics team from his experience in FIRST Lego League last year. He is also familiar with the skills Lego League and Camp Invention foster.

"I really like Camp Invention because you do a lot of different stuff. There is a lot of variety," said Jagdfald. "It's fun."

Returning camper 8-year-old Mark Goodden's favorite part of Camp Invention was taking apart the broken machines and building something with the parts. Goodden sees the benefit of the program beyond his elementary years.

"I think it's an experience for kids that might give them an idea of what they want to be when they grow up," Goodden said.

After a week of brainstorming, building and tweaking, Camp Invention participants unveiled their creations to parents and siblings. Built from recycled products, computer and electronic innards and lots of duct tape, the inventions illustrated the creativity, from simple to complex, of each individual.