When we opened our first summer camp in Palo Alto in 2002, you didn’t hear much in the education world about design thinking, creative problem solving or innovation strategies. The focus then was on academic subjects such as math and literacy, and less on the outlying subjects.

But our world needs innovators and problem solvers, and we wanted to create a summer camp that would complement what children learn during the school year with the mindset, knowledge and process needed to envision and create a better world.

Today, all of our Galileo Learning camps embrace that mission through our Galileo Innovation Approach. The families attending our summer camps tell us that their kids have developed a confidence they didn’t have before, have learned that mistakes are simply part of getting to a better design, and that they continue to create works of art and invent problem-solving contraptions out of household recyclables long after summer camp is over. Our camps are designed to bring out the Galileo Innovator in every camper—inspiring and empowering kids to make their creative mark on the world.

Who is Galileo?

Galileo Learning is named after Galileo Galilei (1564 ‒1642), an Italian physicist, astronomer and philosopher. Often referred to as the “Father of Modern Science,” Galileo is famous for his improvements to the modern compass and telescope, as well as the years he spent under house arrest due to his unpopular belief that the Earth was not at the center of the universe.

While Galileo's inventions and discoveries are worth celebrating, it is the spirit behind his work that we honor. Galileo was a true innovator, a man who had the courage to challenge perceived norms, the vision to blaze new trails and the determination to persevere in the face of any setback. His way of thinking influenced science, art and innovative thinking and is the inspiration behind our Galileo Innovation Approach.