2024 Summer Innovation Experience at Purdue Northwest

Leadership and innovation skills are highly coveted in today’s society. We must prepare students for an innovation driven workforce and put them in the best position to be successful. Community and economic growth will depend on leaders equipped to remake the world in an uncertain future.

Set on Purdue University Northwest’s Westville branch campus in La Porte County, the Summer Innovation Experience day camp provides an engaging introduction to leadership and innovation. Throughout five days of fun, hands-on activities and learning, students will practice 36 key skillsets that will help them become more confident, curious, creative, critical-thinking, and collaborative leaders.

Summer Innovation Experience students will:

• Learn what innovation is and how the future depends on it
• Practice communication and collaboration with their peers
• Build self-confidence and rediscover their creativity
• Improve their problem-solving skills
• Learn about different leadership styles and add skills to their leadership tool kit
• Develop and present solutions to real problems in their own communities
• Have fun!

Our aim is to guide each participant on their development journey to become a more authentic, vibrant and innovative leader who can then share their gifts with communities across Northwest Indiana.

All students – regardless of their background – should be equipped for success in the future economy. Everyone must be given an opportunity to be an innovator.

Participation is open to rising high school freshman and sophomores. Snacks and lunch will be provided each day.

Student drop off begins at 9:00a each day. Student pick up is at 2:00p.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Accumulated from a variety of academic research, industry studies, and job skills reports, the Society of Innovators and Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest have identified 36 key skillsets that underlie all of our programs and activities. Our goal is to build a successful future for Northwest Indiana by fostering better problem-solvers of all ages and present dynamic innovation-related development programs for leaders at all levels.

The Summer Innovation Experience is hosted by the Society of Innovators and Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest.

LEADERSHIP

Leadership is highly valued for both business and personal success, and strong leadership skills are important now more than ever!

The Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest is the hub for leadership development in Northwest Indiana. This year's summit will give attendees evidenced-based learning experiences to strengthen their leadership skills and give them strategies to be better leaders in their careers, communities and personal lives.

INNOVATION

Unforeseen challenges are inevitable in both life and business. As a result, today's ever-changing landscape relies heavily on innovation. Business and community leaders must constantly look for new ways to innovate because you can't solve many problems with old solutions.

The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest aims to contribute to economic and community development throughout the region as the champion of innovation in Northwest Indiana. The summit will encourage attendees to rethink their commitment to innovation and help them blend their leadership with innovation to foster robust and agile problem-solving at all levels.