From Camp to IKOS!

Mina is a Park City High School Senior. She was a CIC camper for nine years, including two-weeks as a Camper in Leadership Training in 2012. In 2013 she was a Counselor in Training. She is returning in 2014 as a Counselor in Training II. Today, she shares with us a story we find fascinating and think that you will also. IKOS is an engineering project. The project is now raising money through Kickstarter to go into production. You’ll find the link at the bottom of the page to learn more. Congatulations Mina!

I was eight years old my first year at Catalina Island Camps. As a young camper, I was afraid to experience new things like snorkeling, rock climbing, and simply being away from my parents for two weeks. Camp placed me in a new environment and offered countless opportunities to go outside my comfort zone in a safe but challenging way.

Taking those experiences into my educational life, as senior year was approaching I was having a very hard time choosing what courses to take. A new engineering program at the Park City Center for Advanced Professional Studies (PCCAPS) was being offered. I had the choice to either play it safe or take a chance and participate in this new program.

After choosing PCCAPS, I met Mike Wong, the mentor and head engineer behind IKOS. Our IKOS team consisted of myself and two other high school students and we were challenged to invent something new and creative. And that’s how IKOS came to be.

Put simply, IKOS are a modular, spherical construction toy for inventors of all ages. They are named IKOS because of their geometry: icosahedrons on spheres. With one standard shape, users can create everything from a full sphere to abstract curved creations. When you want to enhance your creation, snap pieces together vertically to create anything you wish. You can design anything you can dream up by adding other items or painting the sphere to create a unique and customizable 3D puzzle.

Each day at IKOS I work to incorporate the principles I learned at CIC. Principles like respect for environment: because we are dedicated to making IKOS from 100% recycled HDPE, we are turning milk jugs and other plastic containers into the toy of the 22nd century. Principles like it’s important to think and venture into new experiences: IKOS are more than a building toy; they are a revolutionary way of thinking.

IKOS are perfect for any age or background because you can expand on your designs when you are ready and when you feel confortable. IKOS have no instruction manual or suggested creations.  A set of IKOS and an imagination can take you as far as you wish!

For a detailed presentation about IKOS check out our Kickstarter page. You can fund the project for as little as $1. Please support the spherical revolution by pledging or sharing this page with friends! Thank you!