The Daily Dispatch

Thirty-two kids from the surrounding area are gathering this week at Central Elementary School in Wahpeton for Camp Invention, a week-long educational session. Jennifer Manstrom of Wyndmere is heading up Camp Invention's third year in Wahpeton. "It's a great program. Kids start to look at things differently," Manstrom said.

There are two pods — first through third-graders and fourth through sixth-graders. Each pod works in separate smaller groups to use reasoning, science and their own brain power to figure out new ways to do things.

For example, in a session called "I can invent," the students brought in old mechanical devices like VCRs or CD players, took them apart and found out how they work. Then from those devices, the students will take parts to build a machine to launch, drop, roll or push an egg three feet with enough force so it breaks.

Another session is all about reviving a failing comic book called Fly Jack and Jill Superheroes. Students have worked to draw their own comic strips and made models of their superheroes, Manstrom said. It's really a creative process, she added.

On Monday afternoon, the first through third-grade pod built viking ships out of any materials they had, provided by Camp Invention. The boats had to be able to float, hold 10 washers, or people, and then sail across the "ocean," which is a baby pool filled with water. Tuesday afternoon, the kids had to add oars and a masthead and then sail the boats across the ocean.

"Everything is provided for the program," Manstrom said. There are science experiments that include borax and corn starch. The viking ship program included a small blow-up kiddie pool and absorbent material to place around it. There were water balloons and regular balloons provided as well as numerous other items. Camp Invention provides all these items.

"Just add water and kids," said David Goerger, volunteer counselor.

The fourth through sixth-graders were building levers Tuesday afternoon and finding different ways to make them work better. Monday, they made shields, learned how they work and how to make them water-proof. They then took them outside to test with water balloons. "They had to figure out what works best and what didn't work," Manstrom said.

The camp costs $130 per child, which pays for the salaries of the teachers and materials. The camp runs from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each day this entire week. It is one of six camps in the state.

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