McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark
Camp Invention: Spark at McDougle Elementary offers an engaging STEM day camp experience for K-6th graders, focusing on hands-on activities and creative prob...
▌ Editor's read The provided URL loads successfully, directing to a specific Camp Invention program hosted at McDougle Elementary in Chapel Hill, NC. Camp Invention is a national program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, a non-profit organization. While the specific McDougle Elementary location is not individually accredited by the ACA, Camp Invention as a national program is well-established. The website mentions that all program materials are developed by the National Inventors Hall of Fame and that staff undergo background checks and training. The program is a day camp for grades K-6, running from June 24-28, 2024. The curriculum, 'Spark,' includes activities like creating a 'Marble Arcade' and designing 'Mini-Golf Courses.' Google reviews for 'Camp Invention' generally show a high rating, often above 4.5 stars, with parents frequently praising the engaging activities and positive impact on their children's interest in STEM. Social media handles for the national program are @campinvention on Instagram and CampInvention on Facebook.
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University programRun by an academic institution
Who thrives here Ages 5–12
McDougle Elementary - 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
- University program
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: STEM
- Ages: 5–12
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Address: 890 Old Fayetteville Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
- 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: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark
- What ages does McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark accept?
- McDougle Elementary - 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 McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark cost?
- McDougle Elementary - 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 McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark's hours?
- McDougle Elementary - 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.
- Who runs McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark?
- McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark is operated by a university program. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark provide lunch?
- McDougle Elementary - 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.
- How does McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark compare to other stem camps in Chapel Hill?
- McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark is one of 5 stem camps in Chapel Hill that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare McDougle Elementary - 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.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside McDougle Elementary - Camp Invention: Spark.
- Broadreach · Broadreach · Ages 12–20 · $2,830/week
- Broadreach Snorkeling + Sailing Discoveries · Caribbean: St. Martin + the Leewards · Ages 12–14
- Capitol Debate Summer Camp at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Ages 10–18 · $2,000/week
- Carolina Basketball School - Session 1 (Boarding) · Dean E. Smith Center · Ages 8–17 · $941/week
- Carolina Basketball School - Session 1 (Day) · Dean E. Smith Center · Ages 8–17 · $836/week
- Carolina Basketball School - Session 2 (Boarding) · Dean E. Smith Center · Ages 8–17 · $941/week
- Carolina Basketball School - Session 2 (Day) · Dean E. Smith Center · Ages 8–17 · $836/week
- Frank Porter Graham - Camp Invention: Spark · Frank Porter Graham · Ages 5–12