Camp Invention provides us, as inductees, the opportunity to inspire and challenge children through our experiences in youth and beyond. Developing future inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs, and instilling the core values of creative problem-solving, sets this camp apart from the rest. Children leave after a week with skills that will last a lifetime.
-- Steve Sasson, inventor of the digital camera and 2011 National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee
Accomplished link
Camp Invention summer programs have encouraged more than 800,000 curious young minds to explore, create and invent. Camp Invention reaches more than 80,000 children in 1,200 schools and 49 states nationwide each summer—and exponentially more through Camp Invention teachers who report transferring Camp Invention strategies to their classrooms during the school year. By combining learning and fun, the program has earned an approval rating of more than 90% among parents, educators and children.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The Al and Helen Free Foundation
The Amos E. Joel Young Inventors Endowment
The Burton D. Morgan Foundation
GAR Foundation
Invent Now® Endowment Children’s Education Fund
The Jochum-Moll Foundation
Motorola Solutions Foundation
Nordson
Northrup Grumman Foundation
II-VI Foundation
The programs in this database clear a high bar. STEMworks reviewed each program against the Design Principles for Effective STEM Philanthropy.
Identify and target a compelling and well-defined need.
Use rigorous evaluation to continuously measure and inform progress towards the compelling need identified.
Ensure work is sustainable.
Demonstrate replicability and scalability.
Create high impact partnerships
Ensure organizational capacity to achieve goals.
Offer challenging and relevant STEM content for the target audience
Incorporate and encourage STEM practices.
Inspire interest and engagement in STEM.
Identify and address the needs of under-represented groups.