Students celebrate final day of Camp Invention at emPowerU  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- After a week of creativity and discovery, the non-profit Camp Invention program is wrapping up its final day at emPowerU on July 10. 

Designed for students in grades K–6, Camp Invention encourages kids to explore their curiosity, think creatively and tackle real-world challenges through hands-on activities. 

Along the way, campers build STEM skills while gaining confidence, perseverance and the resourcefulness to keep trying new ideas.  

MJ Clapp, one of the instructors at Camp Invention, has been part of the program since it first came to town nine years ago.  

“It’s been really good. It is exhausting since we have so many kids here. So, there’s a lot of energy all day long, each of the days,” Clapp said.  

For Clapp, the energy is part of what makes the camp worthwhile. She said she enjoys working with kids and loves seeing their creativity come to life. 

Each year, Camp Invention introduces new hands-on learning modules, and instructors get a preview of the curriculum a couple of months before camp begins.  

“I am in forensics this year so it is like forensics but it is with the animals so they are learning about a Bio-park and the animals which exist there and they do some DNA stuff and fingerprinting,” she said.  

Volunteer Isaiah Hosler said helping out at Camp Invention has been a rewarding experience. 

He especially enjoyed working with both the campers and instructors while gaining valuable experience.  

“I wanted to get some experience here and I would recommend this to everyone who wants volunteer hours and I would do it again,” Hosler said.  

For 11-year-old camper Mirayah Patel, this was her first time attending Camp Invention, and she said it exceeded her expectations.  

“I loved how the camp had challenges I faced and then ways I could improve my inventions,” she said.  

She especially enjoyed the DNA and fingerprint investigations, along with activities that introduced campers to robotics.  

One of the investigations even required campers to wear gloves to avoid contaminating evidence.  

“At first it could get a little exhausting but once you get used to it is really fun and it goes by fast really fast,” Patel added.  

Another 11-year-old camper, Oliver Campbell, said the camp taught him an important lesson about invention.  

“Like to never give up if you fail on your invention. I learnt a little bit about surfing in the waves,” he added.  

He also enjoyed learning how boats are designed, how their structures work, and what it takes to build one. 

Camp Invention serves more than 140,000 students each year and partners with more than 2,600 schools and districts across the country. 

Families interested in learning more or registering for a future camp can visit invent.org/camp.