1) The children had a fun and educational week at Camp Invention learning about geology, invention, and other topics through hands-on activities. 2) On the last day, the children completed various modules by uncovering fossils, launching rubber ducks, designing solutions to global challenges, and discovering ice samples in Antarctica. 3) The document praises the children, instructors, counselors, volunteers, parents, and sponsors for making the camp a success and continuing creative learning at home.

1. Friday in Geo-Quest
REMember!
Welcome to the Inventors’ Showcase program!
The Camp Invention program teaches Children
Everyone has had a great time brainstorming ideas, academic content (like geology, invention, and
exploring concepts, and constructing inventions this week velocity) and it also helps children think
at Camp Invention! They never cease to astonish us with creatively and critically about solving
their innovative ideas and amazing enthusiasm for problems. When you see your children’s work
discovering and learning through hands-on fun. It’s hard products made of appliance parts, boxes, tape
to believe that the week is over; here’s a recap of what we and more, they represent immersion into
did on our last day… creative problem solving, innovation, teaming
and collaboration, vital 21st century skills.
On our final day in the Ecoverse™ module, we prepared to
dig down deep as we investigated clues indicating nearby We encourage you to recognize and praise your
fossils. We invented super digging machines and used children’s creative efforts. Your children are
them to uncover hidden fossil treasures. We became full- learning that science is fun and are developing
fledged expeditioninsts and received our final glyph to
the self-confidence to think like scientists and
complete our petrosphere, having mastered the Earth’s
inventors. These skills will serve the children
elements!
well in future academic work and in their
Victory! Our ducks made a splash as they flew home today everyday lives. Children realize that they are
in the I Can Invent: Launchitude™ module! We showed off capable of finding solutions and answers to a
our Duck Chucking Device by launching our international wide variety of challenges.
rubber ducks and destroying competitor duck territory! Be
sure to take a picture of our machines in action after the
Inventor's Showcase!
Yesterday’s answer to the
It was the final day in Cache Dash™ and we
finished designing solutions to our nature question of the day…
extreme global challenges. We then received Answer to “What is the longest known cave
a message from Hawaii thanking us for our
outstanding inventing and solution-finding and
system in the world?” At 390 miles, the
we earned a final cache. We used its contents Mammoth Cave System in Kentucky is the
to design our own personal signet ring that we longest known cave in the world.
can use in future outdoor treasure hunting to
log in and to leave our mark on the world!
This week, we’ve had lots of fun making
connections between teamwork and creative
problem solving in the Geo-Games™module.
We learned to play old games in new ways and
new games in old ways and realize that games
can be whatever you make them!
At last! In Amazing Atlas™, we found our journey ended in
the extreme cold as the latitude and longitude coordinates
revealed we were in the middle of Antarctica, one of the
most uninhabited places on Earth! We invented a “glacier
digger” and discovered how challenging it is to bore
through ice and examine ice samples. Our training is
complete, and we are ready to take on new challenges
wherever we go!

2. • 1/2 cup water
• shallow glass or plastic bowl or dish
Participants… for the creative ideas you shared this • sponge (optional)
week. By working together, opening your minds and
respecting other people’s ideas, you became a team! • food coloring (optional)
Instructors… for the time you’ve invested in the
The challenge: Grow your own crystal
program, making it such fun for everyone involved. garden!
From crazy costumes to super storytelling, your
commitment to our curricula helped bring each Have an adult bring the water to a boil on a
module to life. stovetop or in a microwave. Remove from heat,
Counselors and/or Leadership Interns… for the
and add the Epsom salt to it. Stir the salt until it
guidance and support you showed the children this is completely dissolved. Pour enough salt
week. Your patience and willingness to actively solution in the bowl or dish to cover the
participate in the learning process will leave lasting bottom. Set it in a warm or sunny place. As the
impressions in the minds of our participants.
water evaporates, crystals will form.
Volunteers… for your dedication to the program.
Without your gracious help, this week wouldn’t have You can place a sponge, or piece of sponge, in
been possible. We are extremely appreciative! the bowl before adding the dissolved salt and
Parents… for allowing your child to be a part of this water. If you wish, put a couple of drops of
enriching experience. This is an incredibly bright food coloring on the sponge in different
group of children – of which you should be proud. places. As the crystals form, they will become
Sponsors… The Camp Invention program is made colored by the food coloring.
possible through the assistance of a number of
organizations, businesses and individuals that truly The science behind it:
believe in the importance of inspiring our next
generation of inventors. Special thanks to the The salt hasn’t gone away when it is dissolved
following sponsors: in water, it has just changed from a solid to a
liquid. As the water evaporates, the Epsom salt
is left behind and becomes solid again. Once
TRY IT AT HOME! one crystal starts forming, it acts like a ‘seed’
for more crystals to form around it. The sponge
Continue your child’s explorations at home provides a surface for more ‘seed crystals’ to
What you will need form. Many crystals in caves and in rocks
• 1/4 cup Epsom salt (magnesium formed when water dissolved a mineral, and
sulfate) Epsom salt is available at many then evaporated, allowing the crystals to grow.
stores in the drug or laundry section.
Did your child have a blast at Camp Invention this week? Don’t forget to
become a fan on Facebook and write a recommendation!
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
With the program coming to a close today, we’d just like to remind you that your
feedback is very valuable to us. We encourage you to visit:
http://survey.campinvention.org/index.asp
All module titles and creative content are the intellectual property of Invent Now Kids.
Camp Invention and Invent Now are registered trademarks. © 2012 Invent Now, Inc. All rights reserved.

3. Share what you liked or didn’t like about the program. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete, but your
input may make all the difference in years to come. Thank you for helping us make the Camp Invention program
the best possible experience for your children!