Camp Invention at West Madison to revitalize ‘Magnetropolis’

Camp Invention promises an exciting, hands-on adventure for children … a camp where kids have so much fun they don’t realize they’re learning.

West Madison Elementary School, 4976 Wall Triana will host Camp Invention on May 29 through June 1. Children who are entering grades 1-6 can attend. Daily hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Camp sessions satisfy a child’s “natural sense of curiosity after the school year ends,” coordinator Wendy Tibbs. She works as enrichment specialist at West Madison. “As an enthusiastic advocate of hands-on learning, I am thrilled to bring this opportunity to our community.”

“Camp Invention is a safe, creative outlet for children and allows participants to explore the unknown, tinker with ideas, and ultimately develop their leadership and entrepreneur skill set,” Tibbs said.

“This year’s theme is ‘Magnetropolis.’ We’ll be exploring the properties of magnetism,” Tibbs said.

In this module, campers adventure on the magnetic island as they explore STEM-based curriculum (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Students “are recruited to find a magnificent island by navigating hand-crafted ships to the last known location of the island. They explore skills, such as buoyancy, orienteering and magnetism,” Tibbs said.

One daily challenge will be building a light tower exactly 100 feet high to scale to safely guide ships back to Magnetropolis. “They use a compass to locate the northernmost point and last known location of the rare earth magnets,” she said.

The camp also includes physical activities, snacks and lunch.

Children will build long-lasting memories while discovering solutions for real-world problems. “Local, highly-qualified educators who believe in a team environment will lead the camp,” Tibbs said. One instructor will be Beth Bero from Horizon Elementary School.

Each year, one camp segment involves dismantling appliances. “Kids love to see how things work,” Tibbs said.”

Campers also will design new inventions. The contraptions’ components, true to cartoonist and inventor Rube Goldberg, will set one another in motion to complete a task, such as a marble off a tabletop rolling into a cup that falls onto a lever …

To register and for more information, visit campinvention.org.