| KEY |
Date |
|
|
|
P
e
r
s
o
n
a
l
A
t
t
e
n
t
i
o
n
|
M
o
n
e
t
a
r
y
V
a
l
u
e
|
Comments
|
|
|
7/11/25 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
paid $390 ($300 for camp, $10 donation to NIHF, $50 activity kit & $30 for camp cancellation insurance.) we arrived at the intermediate school to a cafeteria of all camp invention kids. My guy is 6, rising 1st grader and we were asked to wear a specific color. We checked in w/an adult at a table, and then were pointed to carts to leave backpack & lunches. That part was actually really organized, with a color flag for each group on a cart.. I walked my guy to his color table next and searched for a grown up. There were two doing registration, one talking to a parent at the cafeteria entry, and I made eye contact with one who was collecting the items we were asked to do a “scavenger hunt” for to bring for all to use. (Upcycles and such for building and creating) there was no one welcoming kids, no one sitting at the tables of the smaller/youngest kids, no one introducing kids to thier group and I couldn’t see any group leaders. I went back to the registration table seeking guidance. Sh
|
|
|
|
8/4/23 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
Touted as STEM camp for children up to 6th gr, when it’s not suitable for kids over the age of 7. Very Basic Stem concepts.There is no creating or inventing. My 9 YO was so bored. Staff had kids outside for an hour in over 110 heat - which is illegal. My child was upset that he was placed in a group with all 5 YOs, I reached out to the Director who told me flatly that it didn’t matter who the kids were grouped with because the curriculum was the same regardless of age.This means that they are teaching 5 YOs the same thing they’re teaching 12 YOs which is absolutely ridiculous. Perhaps based on camp counselor availability, they had two classrooms when they should’ve had three. They grouped 6 and 7 YOS together, and then 5 YOs with the 8-12 YOs. My son was looking forward to expanding hIs STEM understanding, and instead was babysitting kindergartners. we scheduled other camps around this very expensive camp and couldn’t have been more disappointed. For us, an utter waste of money.
|
|
|
|
7/29/23 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
It was the worth camp ever!!! Our girl came out crying after the camp. We had to stop attending it after 2 days. All they do is put kids in from of a big screen that "teaches" them how to do inventions. Ridiculous!!!
|
|
|
|
7/18/23 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
My kid is on his second time through Camp in ention and it's even worse than the first time. He a out to. He's about to be in the 3rd grade and they're doing 1st grade day care projects. They're set to make two diorama's of a skate park and a business idea. What does any of this have to do with inventing? I really thought they would be I don't understand how this costs so much. He won't be going back next year. I feel bad for making him finish out the week because he's so bored,.................
|
|
|
|
6/7/19 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Camp invent let us pay fee for LIT. But the kids can't involve in any project. They are treated as workers without pay. The camp use them as preschooler's teachers. I don't see any leadership training except two short videos. That is ridiculous. I won't recommend anyone to register this camp.
|
|
|
|
5/27/18 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Camp invention is basically children bringing card board recycling from home and making things. Not a great place to work either. Lessons plans are pretty basic. CITs are not paid even though they work 8-3:00 p.m. everyday. Workers compensation insurance is not provided to workers so don;t get hurt!
|
|
|
|
8/4/17 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
Does not punish properly. Children got away with bullying others and no one punished them. Not a professional run camp. Half the teachers don't know what they are teaching. Go to a real STEM camp for a good experience.
|
|
|
|
6/22/17 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Horrible Canp with no respect for anyone and the children there are all so spoiled and bratty and the head person over there was so partial to her child and let him get away with anything. My child got bullied over there by the other CITs I definitely do not recommend this camp
|
|
|
|
|
|
SYSTEM: 2 positive duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
|
|
8/16/16 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
My son got sick and needed to cancel. Booked him for the next week. rebated 170 of the 250. Camp ended up costing a future!!! Not worth it! Stay away
|
|
|
|
6/29/16 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
I wish I would have seen these reviews before signing up my math & science-inclined 6YO. Today is day 3 in a row that they didn't pick his idea, or let him help in the making of the team's idea. I don't want to just defend my son, but when I talked to the teacher, she couldn't have been more rude. Today when I picked up, the children were alone in the cafeteria with child "CITs" - it was a madhouse! My son said the same kids pretty much run the activities. Total bummer - and it has ruined his idea of "camp" so I can't talk him into anything else.
|
|
|
|
8/13/15 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
This was the WORST camp my daughter has ever been to. It was such a waste of money. I agree with everyone who said it is a home-craft camp. I can't believe they tout this as "inventing." My daughter's "invention," a table and chair, did not even stand up. There were no staples or tools to actually make something a kid can be proud of. It is all going back into the recycling bin. BTW the other thing about this camp is you bring an electronic and a big bag/box of items for your child to use and they take it and put it in a place for ALL kids. My child lost all her items. They made us put names on them and then they took them from the kids. I'm sorry I ever heard of this camp. I will make sure no one I know ever goes to it without being forewarned.
|
|
|
|
7/16/15 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
I was not happy with it. The kids basically made homely art projects, and did not invent anything real. Only one day was a take apart day and the kids did not learn anything. They should change the name to creativity, as they make no real inventions. 9 bucks an hour for daycare, really.
|
|
|
|
6/22/15 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
I wish I could give this a better rating, but unfortunately, we had a bad experience. The staff consisted of 4 (paid) teachers, 4 (unpaid) parent volunteers, and 4 (unpaid) high school students. We paid well over $200 for the week long camp. Were told to donate supplies, and bring in an old electronic. Why should we provide anything if we had to pay (that kind of money)? The material the camp actually provided was cheap, recycled stuff. My son did not get any help with his "inventions". Staff was taking stuff away from his group for piddly reasons. He came home each day saying he was bored and didn't want to come back. I feel like this camp is a TOTAL rip off. At least provide quality training to the staff and quality products for the kids to make. I'm almost leaning towards looking at this camp as a SCAM!
|
|
|
|
6/12/15 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Camp Invention was a major disappointment. It was held in Orlando Fl. Princeton Elementary. It was disappointing how they put more importance on competition and winning instead of team building and children's self-esteem. Kids were allowed to act rude, treat each other badly causing my child to feel hurt, frustrated, unengaged and left out by his "team". He was told he needed to feel sorry for accidently making his team lose and he had to accept his team was annoyed for the rest of the week hurting his self-esteem. The directors did not have my child’s best interest at heart lacking empathy to his feelings and frustrations. They did not care to ask why he was acting out and asked him to leave. High school kids were the counselors who did not know how to facilitate a team work environment where kids treat each other with respect and kindness to work together. It was not a good environment for him. I don’t care about the money I care about the damaging experience my son had to endure..
|
|
|
|
|
|
SYSTEM: 2 negative duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
|
|
7/11/14 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
Do not go to this camp. It is not worth the money. The LI's are so rude. At basecamp activities(recess), their idea of fun is tossing a wet sponge back and forth. The crafts are all junky.
|
|
|
|
7/2/14 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Was very happy to sign my children up for this initially. Never again. I have a education doctorate and I found that all the staff was interested in was the money. Staff lied to me, gave me guidance that was countermanded my the home office after the fact. I got the impression to staff expected "do-overs" when they made mistakes. Asked for a refund - was told I would receive one IF I pulled my children from camp (1 day) - then - AFTER camp ended - told I would NOT receive one.
|
|
|
|
6/30/14 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
My child attended at Harrisburg academy in June 2014. She loves to up cycle at home and is creative with her organization and modifications to her toys and various household items. I thought this camp would foster growth. It turned out to be a waste of time and money. The projects at the camp paled in comparison to anything she does at home. Her creativity actually did a backslide. She was placed inappropriately with too young children. She had little interaction with actual teachers rather the program seemed to be run by student counselors. The building was under renovation and posed safety hazards to the campers.
|
|
|
|
6/19/14 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
WORST THING EVER! Never coming back. The people there were so rude and snotty. The junior counselors (CIT)'s didn't even get to do half the stuff the kids were doing. That's not fair. The staff were mean too. I don like this camp. It makes me uncomfortable and left out.
|
|
|
|
6/8/14 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
I wish I could give this no stars. After signing up for CAMP invention, getting a scholarship for it, and paying, my son was thrilled. A week before the Camp started, I get an email saying that not enough kids registered, and it is being changed to Club invention, and the scholarship no longer applies, so I owe more $ to keep my son registered. A family member helped me cover the cost difference. When I pick him up from his first day of Camp invention, he's not nearly as happy as I thought he would be. Then, he starts showing me the projects they did that day. The projects are made from drinking straws, cheap putty, masking tape, and construction paper. Most of it was destroyed even before it got home. NOT a single item he made is something worth saving.
The ideas behind the clubs are sound, the kids are given problem scenarios, and 'found' items to create prototypes that can solve the problems. My problem is with the quality of the items used. DO NOT waste your money!
|
|
|
|
8/6/13 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
Now I don't know where everyone else was doing their reviews from but my 6 year old son went to a camp in the suburbs of Dallas Texas. My son loved it!!! I loved that he had to learn to take something apart. He came home with a big scratch on his arm and was proud to tell me he did it while taking apart the keyboard he had to bring. They let him build things and learn about the solar system, there was also a presentation at the end of the week. They sent home a flyer each day about what was done and teaching ideas. I am so excited to see the independence it has given him. He is always taking apart toys and putting them back together now. When I told him he would have to wait to put together his LEGO toys, he took the initiative and sat down for over an hour to make 2 of them himself!!! That started immediately after the program. I am very excited and plan on trying to get him to 2 camps a year!!! LOVE LOVE LOVED!!
|
|
|
|
7/22/13 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
This camp could teach children a lot of great basic engineering skills in a fun way, but instead it just lets kids be totally free to do what they want. Thus the loud kids get to run the show and the other three or four kids in a group spend a very frustrated week!
|
|
|
|
7/18/13 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Low level activities. Not challenging enough. My kids hated it and they will not refund..... Not even a partial refund. Not worth it at all!
|
|
|
|
6/22/13 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
Not a good value. It essentially took a week to build a paper box with holes. My son who is 7 thought it was too chaotic and noisy. He loves noise though. Would not go back or suggest to anyone its worth a shot.
|
|
|
|
5/22/13 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Would not recommend, this is a org that driven by short term profit
|
|
|
|
2/8/13 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
I think that this camp is too big for their attept to create. Most camps that have too many kids in a small area really can't convey concepts of creativity or much else. They become mob managment programs. Pick camps that are run by local colleges or organizations and you get a vested interest component that these national camps cannotcapture. They are for short term profit. They are oporated that way. It is unfortunately what you expect to get.
|
|
|
|
6/25/09 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
This camp was a waste of time and money! The staff complained that my child was not interested in the activities, and they tried everything to get her involved--ultimately they said she was maybe "misplaced in the camp". My child told me she was ignored in her group when working on group activities, and finally on the third day was allowed to be the "tape-cutter". When I tried to find out what was going on, I was treated very poorly by the head staff who spoke badly about my child and talked over me when I tried to speak. We withdrew our child from the camp, but when asked to meet with a person who spent the day with our child we were told no, that the counselor was herself a child and was not old enough to speak with us and also she was too busy. When I asked about my child's "take apart item" the parts were shared with others, so they would see what they could scrounge up. This camp was a joke and we will never go back! The whole thing was just frustrating!
|
|
