The Camp Invention program is returning to West End this summer.

West End Elementary is hosting the Camp Invention INNOVATE program June 21-25, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for students entering first through sixth grades.

In this week of daytime excitement, children are immersed in imaginative play that both reinforces and supplements school-year learning through inquiry-based activities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as history and the arts.

America is currently facing a critical talent gap in these areas, known as the international “language” of innovation. The country’s economic and productive future depends on how well we educate our children and youth. The Camp Invention program helps cultivate the ideas critical to STEM by encouraging exploration and curiosity during everyday activities so children understand that science is everywhere – fostering “whole system” thinkers.

The premier program of the nonprofit Invent Now Kids, the nationally acclaimed Camp Invention experience has been inspiring the minds of children nationwide for more than 20 years. Renowned for the opportunity it extends to elementary-aged children to explore the unknown, tinker with ideas and satisfy an innate sense of curiosity, this unique program provides a safe, creative outlet for them to experience extended summer learning taught by familiar local educators. Each day of the program week, children rotate through five integrated modules that require creative thinking to solve real-world challenges. Working together, children learn vital 21st century life skills such as problem solving and teamwork through hands-on activities disguised in fun.

Since its inception in 1990, the Camp Invention program has grown to include nearly 1,500 sites in 49 states. In 2009, more than 65,000 children participated nationwide. “We’re getting to the root of innovation by providing motivation to learn, create and excel — particularly in the critical areas of math and science,” said Michael J. Oister, president of Invent Now Kids.

To learn more about how to secure a child’s spot in the program, visit the website www.campinvention.org or call (800) 968-4332.