Camp Invention opens
minds at local school
By larry ramer
Staff Writer
MARLBORO — Camp Invention is definitely one program where youngsters have fun and learn at the same time.
Last month, Camp Invention was held at the Asher Holmes School and 115 children from the area had the opportunity to acquire important skills and work on innovative projects. The one-week program used games and activities to teach campers about problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking and socialization, said Marilyn Kravetz camp director.
In one of the activities, "I Can Invent," the children developed imaginative, interesting products from common household materials.
Andrew Kim, 11, of the Morganville section of Marlboro, created a submarine made of bottles and suction cups that sinks in water.
"I had fun inventing the submarine," Andrew said.
Alexis Donoso, 10, of Marlboro, glued together cups, a wire and a hook.
"People can use my invention to get things that are really high up," Alexis said.
A very practical invention, made especially for children, was created by Joshua Ma, 11, of the Morganville section of Marlboro. Joshua invented a soft massaging instrument which he adapted to children’s’ bodies.
Another invention made by a team of children was the product of a great deal of imagination, creativity and adaptability.
Scott Weinberger, 10, of Marlboro, said he and Cole Abramson, 9, of Marlboro, collaborated to invent a time machine.
"You set the time with a clock and then press a button," Scott said. "It doesn’t actually work."
Like many inventors, Scott and Cole adapted to a changing situation.
"We started off making a robot, but then someone asked, ‘Oh, is that a time machine?’ So we decided to make it a time machine," Scott said.
Brandon DePalo, 10, and Manny Blasco, 10, both of Middletown, invented a mock product with great commercial potential. They placed a clock, a Gameboy video game, a steering wheel and built-in controls for a Sega Play-station on one platform. Their invention also contains a portable telephone and a place for people to write down phone numbers.
In other activities at the camp, children took apart appliances and learned about the gears inside them, Kravetz said. They also learned about ancient civilizations, weaving baskets, conducting mock fossil hunts, and shaping and decorating pottery.
In another activity, the children pretended they were riding on a spaceship that crashed on a planet. They were then confronted with a series of problems that had to be solved.
Kravetz said about 75 percent of the children who attend the camp return for a second year.
All of the students who were asked said they really enjoyed their experience at Camp Invention.
Joshua Ma seemed to sum up the feelings of many of the children when he said, "I like having to think about things and then creating things. I learned a lot of new things. We learned a lot."
When asked if he plans to come back next year, Joshua smiled and answered with an emphatic "yes."