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Steamboat Springs — When Kris Rowse and her family moved to Steamboat Springs two years ago, she wanted the ability to send her children to Camp Invention.

One problem. The summer day-camp, which provides creative problem solving and critical-thinking skills to first- through sixth-graders, wasn't offered locally.

"My kids attended the camp in Boise, Idaho," Rowse said. "They had such a great time, and it was such an incredible experience so we tried to figure out how to get it here."

And she did. Rowse worked with the camp's regional director to bring it to Steamboat. It will be held June 22 to 26 at Strawberry Park Elementary School.

Camp Invention was offered last year at more than 1,000 locations in 48 states. It was created in 1990 by a joint effort of the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The camp offers instruction and activities in math and science.

"It helps exercise children's minds," said Regional Program Director Annette Phillips, who oversees programming in Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Northern California. "They're immersed all week long in learning and inquiry-based activities, but it's all in a fun summer environment."

The camp emphasizes the STEM - science, technology, engineering and math - fields. Five local teachers, who were trained by Rowse in the program, will lead the different hands-on group activities. Phillips said activities include working to save a fictional city or figuring out how to get off an imaginary planet.

"All of the themes promote creative thinking skills," Phillips said. "They're science-based, but they incorporate math, art and history."

The final activity, Phillips said, involves some of the campers bringing in an old appliance to disassemble. The younger groups turn the pieces into an imaginary invention, while the older groups must reassemble the pieces to create a working machine to break a rotten egg in a frying pan.

Demand was so high for the camp -110 children are signed up - that no more spots are available, Phillips said. After it first was announced in January, Rowse said enrollment was full by the end of the early sign-up period in March.

Rowse's third- and fifth-grade children attend Soda Creek elementary. She said because the reception for Camp Invention was so positive from parents and the Steamboat Springs School District, she's already talking about bringing it back next year. They could be able to offer two camps to allow more children to attend, she said.

The camp has a base cost of $205, but discounts were offered for students referring friends and for signing up early. Rowse said partial scholarships were provided to five students who enrolled in the camp, through a combined $400 in donations from Wells Fargo, Wal-Mart and Moots Cycles.

Phillips encouraged interested parents to inquire about the camp. Sometimes, cancellations open up a spot or two, she said. For more information, call 800-968-4332 or visit www.campinvention.org.