This summer, students in grades one through six can travel deep under the sea, to strange planets, and to faraway islands, through a summer camp offered by the University of Missouri-Rolla Center for Pre-college Programs. With the addition of Camp Invention, a nationally acclaimed program hosted throughout the country, UMR now offers summer activities for first graders through seniors in high school.

“Camp Invention is a week-long summer enrichment program that fosters creativity, teamwork, inventive-thinking skills, and science literacy,” says Will Perkins, director of the UMR Center for Pre-college Programs. “Since its inception in 1990, the program has grown to include more than 850 sites in 47 states. With certified teachers leading the fun, students learn about science and engineering through simulated games, as they try to rebuild their rocket ship, cross a river of hot lava, or gather and contain sea creatures without causing them harm.”

The camp will be held June 25-29 on the UMR campus. The program runs from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each day. The cost of the camp will be $180 for children who register before March 15. The fee includes snacks and a T-shirt. Registration information, as well as more information on the camp, is available online at www.invent.org/camp_invention.

“This program was created for first through sixth grade students by the National Inventors’ Hall of Fame, with funding from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,” Perkins says. “This has been the only age group missing in our pre-college programs, and Camp Invention is fun, hands-on program that will get these young students excited about science.”

For more information on Camp Invention 2007, contact Perkins at perkins@mst.edu or call 573-341-4213.