Five years ago I was given the opportunity to instruct for a week at Camp Invention in Katy, Texas. It was such a fun experience, I can't imagine not being able to do it every year! Last year, when the world "shut down" due to the Global Pandemic, I was able to witness the amazing transformation that the National Inventors Hall of Fame made to their camp to allow it to be taught virtually. It was challenging, exciting, engaging and fun for instructors and students. This year, I jumped at the opportunity to be a National Coach again. It has been a highlight of my Summer!
Here are 5 things I have learned:
1) Collaborating gets kids excited. They learn so much from talking to each other (as humans, we all do, don't we?) Camp Invention Connect is devised in a way that guides me to help them collaborate. I'm not overloaded with curriculum to "shove at them", but just to spark interest and ignite their creative fires! The learning happens when they feel free to share with each other. They support each other and push each other all at the same time. Sometimes, I feel like I'm just an observer myself, often times learning the most from my students! I plan to remember this in the school year. I don't want to hinder my students by "teaching" too much. I want to make sure that I give them plenty of opportunities to collaborate to the fullest degree!
2) As a coach, I'm reminded of why I became a teacher in the first place. I really do get my energy from interacting with kids. During the school year, if I'm not careful, I can allow myself to be bogged down by data, grades, planning, intervention, TESTING, and blah blah blah. With Camp Invention, I'm given opportunities to support children growing, learning, exploring, failing, succeeding, trying, sharing and growing. It refuels my energy and excitement to teach again next year!
3) I'm constantly being pushed out of my comfort zone. Daily, I have to help students build, design, and trouble shoot their inventions. We work with motors, batteries, wires, solar cells, pulleys, and so much more. I'm not naturally a builder. I spend most of my personal "hands on" activity time being "crafty". The lessons of Camp Invention push me to reverse engineer and create things that I would have felt were too difficult for little kids (and maybe even me sometimes!). They give such clear instructions and guide me with trouble shooting tips. I also have all the supplies and make sure that on camera isn't my first time to experience the build so that I'm ready to support them towards success! Every student has been successful in every build this week. I'm so proud and happy for them. Some of them were skeptical at times too!
4) I love meeting new kids! It's funny, but all these years, I'm still excited to meet them with their quirky personalities (kids don't hide their quirks the way grownups do) and to enjoy learning with them. I'm so blessed to meet kids from all over through Camp Invention!
5) Hands on is important! Kids (ok, everyone) learn by doing! Camp Invention has designed a program where kids are constantly creating and building with their hands and I am witness to the powerful learning it creates. This inspires and challenges me to integrate more hands on creating and building in my classroom! Students work through the Design Thinking process in Camp Invention and I plan to incorporate this practice into my Project Based Learning in my classroom.
I want my students to love learning at school as much as they love learning from Camp Invention. To make this happen, I must be brave and inventive. Thank you Camp Invention for inspiring me and supporting me to be a better coach and therefore teacher.
By the way, if you have school age children you should check out Camp Invention and find a program for them either in person or online. (There are programs designed for Middle School and High School students as well) It will be worth it!
Check out the fun I had on Road Rally day!
And yes, I had fun with Duck Chuck too!
By the way, I'm super excited about this upcoming school year! I'll be opening a new building and learning every day with a new group of third graders. I'm going to enjoy my last few weeks of Summer, but can't wait for this new school year!
