Discovery Invention Camp a Huge Success at St. John School
St. John School hosted their first Discovery Invention Camp this past July with two main design challenges, an Incredible Echo-Island Park and Tomorrow Land where students learned literacy and mathematical skills while engaged in building challenges.
Teacher, Shaun Dufresne talks about one student's invention. "I was really amazed at the students' imaginations and creativity but one design really stands out in my mind and that was Gavin Yutzy's design. Gavin came up with the idea of designing a circular, moving sidewalk design that was very futuristic."
St. John School in Red Lake had 17 Discovery Invention Campers during the summer camp that ran for just over two weeks in July. Shaun Degagne and Tiffany Dietsch were the camp teachers along with Haley Yakiwchuk who was the camp assistant.
Tiffany talks about the feedback for their first camp. "We received a lot of really great feedback from our students' parents. Parents told us that their children had so much fun that they didn't want to leave the camp and wished it was longer."
The Discovery Invention Camp is a summer learning program designed around the premise of upcycling various items such as old CD players, DVD players, as well as other electronic items and allowing students to take those items apart, investigate them and then reinvent the parts into something new. Students get to use tools and wear personal protective equipment such as safety goggles.
The Discovery Invention Camps have been designed to include physical activities that boost confidence with meaningful building and invention challenges that spark critical-thinking, creativity, imagination, collaboration skills and communication skills.
Learning camps were also hosted in Kenora at Pope John Paul II School, St. Louis School and École Ste-Margeurite Bourgeoys.
Here are a few pictures from St. John School's Discovery Invention Camp: