Camp Invention at Ballard Middle School

Spark New Ideas at the All-New 2026 Camp Invention at Ballard Middle School, Iowa

For over 35 years, the National Inventors Hall of Fame® has brought hands-on STEM experiences to K-6 students across the country through our flagship summer program, Camp Invention®. This weeklong camp sparks creativity and boosts confidence as campers tackle fun STEM challenges inspired by real-world inventors.

This nationally acclaimed program is full of open-ended, hands-on exploration of science, technology, engineering and more! Each year, Camp Invention delivers an all-new program to ignite the spirit of innovation. As campers collaborate to take on fun, hands-on challenges, they uncover their potential to become creators, innovators and entrepreneurs while building persistence and creative problem-solving skills. In our all-new 2026 program, Spark, campers explore everything from adorable robotic capybaras to inspiring space exploration in four dynamic experiences.

Fur-ensics™

Campers sharpen their detective skills and team up with their very own robotic capybara to investigate a series of mischievous pranks. After exploring the inner mechanics of their capybara, children build sleuthing gadgets to support their epic animal investigation. From animal tracks to DNA and fingerprints, children practice persistence and creative problem-solving as they collect curious clues and conduct hands-on forensic science techniques to solve an animal mystery.

Make Waves™

Surf’s up! Campers dive into the exciting world of entrepreneurship and catch their first big break. Inspired by National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee Tom Blake and his surfboard innovations, children build confidence as they splash into hands-on physics experiments, paddle their way through salty challenges and pitch their prototypes to hook investors. As they transform inventions into popular products, campers design an innovative billboard boat to “make waves” in the market with ocean advertising.

The Infringers™

Campers spark their innovative superpowers and team up with the Innovation Force™ – National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees – to identify and solve challenges in their community and around the world. Exploring innovative security tools, from reCAPTCHA to iris recognition, children miniaturize top-secret inventions, create a wearable cryptography device and learn how to safeguard their designs through intellectual property against the Infringers, who are duplicating inventions!

Space Morphers™

Children stretch their imagination and launch a mission to transform a new planet’s atmosphere, terrain and ecosystem for future habitation. Igniting their creativity, campers build a DIY space rocket and experiment with trajectory. After a high-energy Rover Race to collect important data and samples, they design and build inventions for navigating the intense conditions of their planet. In their space lab, campers make new discoveries and record observations as they hatch an animal egg and grow a dazzling crystal tree.

Register today

Led by qualified local educators, Camp Invention combines hands-on learning and unforgettable fun. Children find a fresh take on STEM each time they join us. We can’t wait to see campers spark new ideas this summer!

Early registration discounts are available! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 off the registration fee. Families with multiple campers can share in the savings! Bring on the sibling love and save $60 using SIBNAT30 when you enroll two campers or save $120 or more using code SIBNAT40 when you enroll three or more campers. Spots are limited! Visit invent.org/save/camp or call 800-968-4332 to secure your child’s spot today! Interest-free payment plans are available at check-out to make camp affordable for all families.