Registration is now open for Camp Innoventure, a unique day camp run by New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center, which offers a week-long experience in innovative thinking and entrepreneurial development for middle school students.
Now in its seventh year, the camp offers students a chance to learn creative-critical thinking skills that are applicable inside and outside of the classroom. Students are encouraged in areas of creative problem solving and collective brainstorming. In addition, students gain practice asking questions and learning the basic tenets of entrepreneurism.
Camp leaders include local educators, entrepreneurs and businesspeople.
This summer, there are three Las Cruces camps that run from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The camps will be offered from June 5-10, July 17-22 (co-hosted by the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce), and July 31-August 5. The cost is $40 per participant, and includes materials for students’ projects and a curriculum workbook.
There are a limited number of need-based scholarships available. Online Registration is available; camps are limited to 12 students each, so early registration is encouraged.
Camp Innoventure allows students to learn about elements of starting a business while gaining hands-on experience in developing a product. Campers will spend the first half of the morning engaging with curriculum and the second half creating a marketable product. Past campers have also created jingles, packaging and marketing campaigns.
At the end of the week, students partner with the Las Cruces Farmers’ and Crafts Market for public, hands-on customer discovery and interaction within a community-specific demographic. This year, Camp Innoventure will also hold day camps in nine other locations across the state. Like the Las Cruces camps, students in these cities will partner with local markets to display and sell their products.
“On the leadership side, it’s shown us how creative our youth are and how much potential they have. It’s inspiring to us,” says Cassie Arias, economic development director for the City of Deming and Deming Luna County Economic Development (DLCED).
Program coordinator Lydia Hammond said last year’s expansion of Camp Innoventure has allowed organizers to provide the camp’s offerings and opportunities to many new students.
“The popularity of the camp in Las Cruces, specifically, has encouraged us to add a third session. It’s enriching for campers to learn new skills while having fun and interacting with the public. We’re excited to see what innovations they produce this year,” Hammond said.
For more information, please contact Hammond at 575-646-5230.
Author: Lauren Goldstein – NMSU
