Camp Invention (NIHF)

Provided By

Participants work with an adult to solve problems

Camp Invention is a summer STEM enrichment program for students in grades K–6 that uses hands‑on, inquiry‑based activities to develop creativity, inventive thinking, and problem‑solving skills. Through structured invention challenges, participants engage with core STEM concepts, explore a range of STEM fields and careers, and build foundational entrepreneurial skills related to ideation, design, testing, and iteration.

Logic Model

Program Activities

Students

Enjoy hands-on STEM experiences
Learn about STEM, intellectual property, and invention
Explore and gain awareness of STEM fields

Program Near-Term Outcomes

Students

Strengthen STEM competencies
Develop a positive attitude towards STEM
Increase awareness of STEM fields

DSEC Near-Term Outcomes

Students

Increased student engagement and interest in STEM (formal and informal)
Increased participant STEM competencies (skills, knowledge, abilities, and confidence)
Increased participant awareness of, and interest in, STEM research and careers

Participant Perspectives

Participant perspectives reflect survey responses from 2025-2026, the first year of survey administration.

Of 1433 student participants, 815 responded to the survey.

Students

Grades K-5

Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree

I had fun making prototypes.

28% 67.3%

n = 814 valid responses

I know how to test my protype to make it better.

45% 44.8%

n = 815 valid responses

I talked to others about the prototype I made.

12.6% 40.1% 42.5%

n = 815 valid responses

I felt good about the prototype I made.

28.5% 63.5%

n = 813 valid responses

I learned about how inventions are made.

35.3% 57.5%

n = 812 valid responses

I explored new STEM jobs.

8.3% 41.7% 45.4%

n = 809 valid responses

Program Data

Program data includes participants from both years of Base Period (2024-2025 and 2025-2026).

Students

2,791 total student participants

Student Grade Level

Military-Connected Students

Category	Count	%
Military-connected	1,322	47.4%
Not Military-connected Student	1,469	52.6%