Camp Invention at Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School
Waverly Iowa
Spark New Ideas at the All-New 2026 Camp Invention at Waverly-Shell Rock 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.
Camp Invention at Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School :
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4 Reviews on “Camp Invention at Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School”
My kids thoroughly enjoyed Camp Invention. They were excited to be there every day. They had wonderful leaders that they looked up to and look forward to seeing next year. They made new friends. They love the inventions the made and couldn’t wait to show them to the whole family.
My child LOVED it. He was excited to work on the project throughout the week and to show us at the showcase. As a parent, and art teacher, I am highly impressed with the program and absolutely love the emphasis placed on process over product. Thank you for that!
After one of the days she was chatting with a friend & they were discussing a project, she goes what if you did this or this? It was so cool to hear her think about something different.
My sons attended camp invention for their second year this year. They LOVED getting to attend and I can tell a huge difference in their innovative skills and creativity even in their play at home. They get excited to create new things out of our recycling bin, they ask more questions about how the world works, and they are so much more interested in creative play. They were so proud of their inventions and couldn’t wait to tell me all about what they did each day at camp invention. The staff, volunteers, and program have been such a blessing to us.