
Camp Invention at Smithfield Elementary School, North Carolina
Charlotte North Carolina
Camp Invention’s all-new 2025 program: Discover
For 35 years, the National Inventors Hall of Fame® has brought hands-on STEM experiences to K-6 students across the country through its flagship summer program, Camp Invention®. This weeklong camp sparks creativity and boosts confidence as campers tackle fun STEM challenges inspired by real-world inventors.
Each year, Camp Invention delivers an all-new program to ignite the spirit of innovation. In our 2025 program, Discover, campers explore everything from arcade games to penguin habitats in four versatile experiences.
Penguin Launch™
Campers embark on an eco-expedition in Antarctica and become penguin experts! With help from their team’s small but mighty robotic research assistant, campers develop problem-solving strategies to help protect the environment. Whether they encounter a patch of ice floes, microplastics in the water or stranded penguins in need, campers uncover their unique role in protecting our ecosystem. By exploring the science of physics and air pressure, students have a blast launching their stuffed penguins on an epic, planet-saving mission.
Illusion Workshop™
Guided by National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee and Disney Imagineer Lanny Smoot, campers discover the mesmerizing world of optical illusions and the science behind special effects. As children explore STEAM careers connected to crafting the next wave of innovative entertainment experiences, they’ll practice illusion techniques, create moving pneumatic props, and even build a Spin-o-scope™ to demonstrate the illusion of motion through physics, electrical engineering and neuroscience.
Claw Arcade™
Campers realize their dream of owning their very own claw machine — by building it! Children unleash the power of creativity as they construct their own functional claw machine, exploring physics concepts in easy-to-reach ways. Finding inspiration from claws in nature, they build, test and adapt their “claw-some” machine before filling it with one-of-a-kind prizes. As children jump into the world of entrepreneurship, they’ll create marketing materials, pitch their ideas and pursue a trademark-worthy logo to hook investors and secure a licensing deal for their awesome new arcade experience!
In Control™
On this innovative journey, campers are challenged to invent their way around every bump and twist in the road. As children develop navigation skills by reading a map and using a compass to investigate the magnetic north, they’ll explore the role of artificial intelligence in everyday items such as GPS. In this hands-on experience, campers customize their very own control panel as they wire a radio transmitter and receiver. They’ll even learn to decode secret messages using Morse code clues!
Register today
Led by qualified local educators, Camp Invention ignites the spirit of innovation for an unforgettable summer of exploratory learning.
Early registration discounts are available! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/20 to save $25 or CIFUN15 by 5/15 to save $15 off the registration fee. Families with multiple campers can share in the savings! Bring on the sibling love and save $60 using SIBWEB30 when you enroll two campers or save $120 or more using code SIBWEB40 when you enroll three or more campers. Availability is limited, so visit invent.org/camp or call 800-968-4332 to secure your child’s spot today! Payment plans are available.
- Academics
- Business
- Engineering
- Environmental Studies
- Leadership
- Math
- Science
- STEM
- Art
- STEAM
- Technology
- Robotics
- Technology