Camp Invention to spark imaginations

TIFFIN —Creative sparks will be flying in Tiffin next week. For the ninth year, Camp Invention is returning to the area, offering a four-day summer school camp for incoming second-through sixth-graders in Seneca County. According to invent.org, the camp, sponsored by the National Inventors Hall of Fame, seeks "to recognize inventors, promote creativity, and advance the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship." Camp Invention serves 140,000 students each year, partnering with 2,600 schools and districts in the United States. Nicole Arnold, Tiffin's camp director and a third-grade teacher at Krout Elementary, said she has led the local camp for three years. "It's an awesome camp," Arnold said. "It really brings about a creative spirit in the kids." The camp takes place from June 16-19 and all 89 spots open to local students have been filled. "There's a waiting list," she said, due to the popularity of the camp, and approximately 80% of campers return each year until they age out of the program. Each day begins with students spending time at one of four "base camps," which offer kids the chance to delve into "imagination starter projects." This year's projects include building a boat, creating a free-standing tower out of paper, designing a ride and building a bridge. The rides can vary from a simple slide to a more complex roller-coaster project, and bridge designs compete for the longest project, the widest bridge and the design that can hold the most cars. Beyond the imagination-awakening base camp activities, camp attendees will take part in four themed projects under the direction of four teachers, an assistant director and leadership interns, Arnold said, as well as her oversight as director. Many of the leadership interns are former Camp Invention attendees who have decided to continue participating in the program by assisting camp staff. This year's projects include In Control, Illusion Workshop, Claw Arcade and Penguin Launch. Those themes and ideas change each year per the design of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The In Control theme includes control panels and AI; the Claw Arcade inspires kids to design a functional claw machine; Penguin Launch teaches flight and propelling; and Illusion Workshop focuses on the workings of the eye. Students work on each project for "a little part of each day," she said, striving toward completion of all four projects by the end of camp. Campers take their work home after camp is complete. The cost to attend Camp Invention is $270, but Tiffin attendees pay only $135 due to the support of Tiffin City Schools' Business Advisory Council and local donors. Financial supporters of Camp Invention include National Machinery Foundation, Inc., Webster Foundation, Inc., Tiffin Metal Products Charitable Fund, Tiffin Lions Club, Kiwanis Club of Tiffin, Inc., The Gillmor Charitable Foundation, Tiffin Community Foundation, Inc., White Family Charitable Fund, Tiffin Rotary Foundation and Kiwanis Club of Seneca County. A limited number of scholarships are available. While the 2025 camp already is full, Arnold said interested families and kids should watch for flyers to be distributed before the 2026 camp, which will contain registration information. She suggests families register quickly, due to the popularity of Camp Invention.