Bursting with creativity – Classes teach children to use their imaginations through science

Somewhere in the bottom of a lobotomized stereo, Graham Winger hit a snag.

“There’s a gooey substance down here,” he called out, prodding a wad of rubber cement holding some wires in place. “This stuff is way too advanced.”

Too advanced to return to working order, perhaps. But just right to inspire a summer camp full of young inventors to greater heights of imagination.

And on Monday afternoon, Graham’s goal was simply to dismantle as much of that old stereo as he could in 45 minutes. As the week goes on, he and 110 other youngsters at Camp Invention will devise ways to turn the junk into fantasy machines.

The camp is a partnership between Missoula County Public Schools and the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation. MCPS gifted education coordinator Shirley Lindburg said the school district provides the classrooms and the coordinator, and Camp Invention handles the rest. It pays certified teachers to lead the classes and provides the lesson plans and projects. Students pay about $200 for the week’s experience.

By ROB CHANEY of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/07/15/news/mtregional/news06.txt