Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark
Camp Invention: Spark at Matthews Middle School offers an engaging STEM day camp experience for K-6th graders, focusing on hands-on innovation and problem-so...
▌ Editor's read The provided URL loads successfully, directing to a specific Camp Invention program hosted at Matthews Middle School in Island Lake, IL. This is a day camp for children in grades K-6, running from June 10-14, 2024. The program, titled 'Spark', is developed by the National Inventors Hall of Fame, indicating a well-established curriculum. The Camp Invention website states that all program instructors are local educators and that background checks are conducted for all team members. While specific Google reviews for this particular Matthews Middle School location are not readily available, Camp Invention as a national program generally receives positive feedback, with a 4.8-star rating from over 1.2K reviews on Google. The camp is not accredited by the ACA, which is common for school-hosted programs. The Camp Invention Facebook page is 'CampInvention'.
Who thrives here Ages 5–12
Matthews Middle 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
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 with code SIBLOVE30.
Details → - Session lengths
- 5-day (full week)
- What campers take home
- Campers take home projects they build, such as a robotic capybara, a billboard boat, a DIY rocket, and a wearable cryptography device.
Details
- Category: STEM
- Ages: 5–12
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Address: 3500 Darrell Road, Island Lake, IL 60042
- 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 Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark
- What ages does Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark accept?
- Matthews Middle 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 Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark cost?
- Matthews Middle 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 Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark's hours?
- Matthews Middle 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 Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark's staff-to-camper ratio?
- Matthews Middle 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 Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark?
- Matthews Middle 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 Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark provide lunch?
- Matthews Middle 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 Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark offer financial aid?
- Yes — Matthews Middle 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 Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark eligible for Dependent Care FSA reimbursement?
- Yes — Matthews Middle 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 Matthews Middle School - Camp Invention: Spark with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- STEM summer camps guide · Compare projects, staff fit, and age-readiness signals.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.