Camp · STEM · Ages 5–12
Directory · United States · Illinois · Glen Ellyn
▌ STEM · Ages 5–12

W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark

W. M. Hadley Jr. High School · ★ 4.0 (1 review)

Camp Invention: Spark at W. M. Hadley Jr. High School offers an engaging STEM day camp experience for K-6th graders, focusing on hands-on innovation and prob...

▌ Editor's read The provided URL loads successfully, directing to a specific Camp Invention program hosted at W. M. Hadley Jr. High School in Glen Ellyn, IL. Camp Invention is a national program by the National Inventors Hall of Fame, offering STEM-focused day camps for children in grades K-6. The website details the 'Spark' program, which includes activities like creating a 'bot-animal' and designing a 'Marble Arcade.' While specific reviews for this particular location are not readily available, Camp Invention generally receives positive feedback, with a Google rating of 4.8 stars from over 1,000 reviews for the national program. The Camp Invention website states that all program staff undergo background checks. The camp is a day program, and the host site is a school, indicating a school-based owner type. Social media handles for the national program are @campinvention on Instagram and 'campinvention' on Facebook.
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Who thrives here Ages 5–12

W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark fits middle-elementary campers — old enough for skill-building to land, young enough that friend-group dynamics and counselor warmth still matter more than program rigor. Parents at this age band tend to prioritize a balanced rhythm of structured activity and unstructured play, which is the actual differentiator inside any given stem program.

Facts & Credentials

Program type
Day camp
ACA accredited
Not verified
Established
Not listed
Operator
School program
Staff-to-camper ratio
1:8

How we verify these →

Money & Policies

Financial aid
Available · Need-based Apply →

Awarded based on financial need on a first-come, first-served basis.

FSA eligible
Yes — FSA / DCFSA accepted
Sibling discount
$30 off second child

Save $60 on 2 registrations, or $120+ on 3 or more registrations.

Details →
Session lengths
5-day (full week)
What campers take home
Campers create various projects including a sleuthing gadget, a floating billboard boat, a DIY rocket, and a wearable cryptography device.

Details

  • Category: STEM
  • Ages: 5–12
  • Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Address: 240 Hawthorne Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
  • Cost notes: Pricing starts at $285 or ~$9/hour. Payment plans are available. See local camp for exact pricing.

Logistics

  • Lunch provided: No
  • Transportation: No
  • Financial aid: Yes
  • Setting: mixed

Frequently asked about W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark

What ages does W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark accept?
W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark is open to children ages 5–12. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
How much does W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark cost?
W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark doesn't publish a flat per-week rate — pricing varies by session. Pricing starts at $285 or ~$9/hour. Payment plans are available. See local camp for exact pricing. Contact the camp directly for the current schedule of fees.
What are W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark's hours?
W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark runs 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
What is W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark's staff-to-camper ratio?
W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark publishes a 1:8 staff-to-camper ratio. ACA recommends roughly 1:6 for ages 4-5, 1:8 for 6-8, 1:10 for 9-14, and 1:12 for 15-18 in day camps; tighter ratios than recommended usually signal more attentive supervision but can also reflect smaller program scale.
Who runs W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark?
W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark is operated by a school program. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
Does W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark provide lunch?
W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
Does W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark offer financial aid?
Yes — W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark offers financial aid or scholarships. Most camp aid is need-based, application-based, and awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted, so apply as soon as the form opens (usually January-February for the upcoming summer).
Is W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark eligible for Dependent Care FSA reimbursement?
Yes — W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark qualifies for Dependent Care FSA / 401(k) Dependent Care reimbursement under IRS rules covering work-enabling childcare for kids under 13. Save the camp's W-9 / EIN; you'll need it for the IRS Form 2441 filing in April.

Planning guides

Editorial checklists to use before you compare W. M. Hadley Jr. High School - Camp Invention: Spark with other camps.