Invention is the name of the game for Island Lake campers

Viking treasure treks and sand and sea inventions are some of the adventures taking place this week at Camp Invention at Cotton Creek Elementary School in Island Lake.

The National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation runs the nationwide camp, which uses science for a fun one-week program for first through sixth graders. The Island Lake event is one of more than 30 camp locations in northern Illinois.

The program has been successful in Island Lake with 62 campers enrolled, up from 51 last year. Camp director and teacher Julie Lochen said she was inspired to bring the camp to Wauconda Unit District 118 after hearing about it at a conference.

"The opportunity presented itself and a few of us thought it would be a great program, and that this is something we should do here for the Wauconda (community)," Lochen said.

The camp aims to foster thinking outside the box and group problem solving through science-based experiments. Projects include crafting ships out of tin foil, mixing chemicals and building basic machines. Each experiment leads campers closer to fulfilling a goal, such as finding hidden treasure chests or getting a person through an obstacle course.

"Campers constantly use their imagination no matter what activity (they're doing)," Regional Coordinator Danute Krebs said.

For information visit www.invent.org/camp. Kids may still be able to register for Camp Invention at the following locations this summer:

•Antioch: W.C. Petty Elementary School. June 22-26.

•Grayslake: Frederick Elementary School. July 13-17.

•Libertyville: Butterfield School. July 20-24.