(By Don Meador, Public Information Officer, Allen County Schools)
(June 11, 2018)
For 27 elementary-age students, last week
was filled with learning key science lessons, incorporating technology into
creative projects, and discovering real-world applications of scientific
principles. Camp Invention, held at the Allen County Intermediate Center,
provided the campers with a challenging and fun-filled opportunity.
Under the leadership of camp director
Barbara McClard, the five-day camp was filled with multiple activities to
introduce and cultivate scientific minds. The campers participated in four
modules---Optibots, Stick-To-It, Pet Vet Robotic Dog, and My Mod Mini Mansion.
“In Optibots, first students discussed and designed their ideal future vehicle,” noted science educator Shelby Fisher. “This discussion with the spring board for the exploration of sensors in the vehicles that we use today and predictions based on what technology may be included in future vehicle designs. Students designed prototypes of vehicles to test safety with a crash test dummy. Then, students designed an underwater cave course to explore motion sensors that would be triggered by the movement of their Optibot, a small robotic vehicle that travels along a black line. Students even learned that sensors are used to gather data and information about forest fires. Using their Optibots to simulate this data collection, students were able to put out the fire by designing a Bambi Bucket prototype.”
Fisher
also guided the students in Stick To It.
“The premise of this module is that students can be inventors/engineers,” Fisher added. “Students were able to learn about different inventors and were encouraged by their successes and the challenges they faced. Meanwhile, students could learn about different types of engineers, chemistry, and physics. In this module students were also able to create different prototypes for a variety of challenges throughout the week. Inventors were encouraged to always try new ideas and ‘stick to it.’”
The camp included a module in which a
robotic dog was created---introducing the campers to the subject of veterinary medicine.
“With our Pet Vet Robotic Dog, we started with sick dogs,” explained science educator Lesa Francis. “We ran urinalysis, checked bone marrow and white/red blood cells for viruses, and later in the week, we extracted debris from paws. We finally had a healthy dog. The campers worked on putting fur and decorating their individual dogs. Finally, campers built a dog park and put their dogs in there to play. The campers also learned about different inventors throughout history.”
Francis also guided students in creating “My Mod Mini Mansion.”
Campers learned about different types of power sources such as geothermal, solar, reuse water, hydro, and wind power,” Francis added. “Campers incorporated at least three of these in their mini mansions as well as smart technology items such as connecting the bed in their mansion with their TV or making their stove cook something from the sound of their voice (pretend of course), all in the name of smart technology. Campers decorated their mini mansion with recycled items such as straws, Duck tape, cardboard, etc. They really enjoyed created their mansions.”
Campers included Melia Emery, Thomas Boaz,
Brianna Monge, Caleb Smith, Cole Petty, Brooklyn Oliver, Tanner Reid, Rylan
Grapes, Amalie Seifrig, Riley Davis, Leyla Spurlock, Katie West, Tucker Stinson, Caden
Rogers, Dane Jones, Bryce Hardin, Daniel Huntsman, Ryan Wolfe, Connor Miller,
Joshua Wyatt Smith, Tugra Semerci, Kailey Gerteisen, Kaymin Wilkins, Nora
Boucher, Wessly Butler, Dalton Threet, and Carson Wimpee.
In addition to the 27 campers, Allen County-Scottsville
High School students Allie Byrn and Billy Lim served as leadership interims. Hoster
Slayton from Westmoreland was a counselor in training---a student who assisted
students on their projects. The parent volunteers, Tracy Butler and Julie
Spurlock, assisted the students and did anything else necessary, from first-aid
to technology. Tammy Wilkins was a camp parent who assisted with the
promotional aspect of the camp.
Camp Invention is a program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the future of innovation and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). The program’s activities are led by experienced, local educators, and inspired by the world changing inventors that have been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.