By Amber Knox
On Oct. 1, 2024, the Roosevelt Science Center (RSC) at Eastern New Mexico University held its grand opening, marking the completion of renovations valued at over $22 million. The renovations improved the quality of hands-on learning by creating a new state-of-the-art science lab and updating technology and equipment for ENMU students.
The university is now sharing its new facility with the community. The Department of Distance Learning presents “Lil’ Hounds Science Camp” for children aged 8-12. Registration is now open. The camp will take place from June 10 to 12, from 8:45 am to 12:00 pm. The cost is $35 per student.
Christie Carter and Matthew Dale from the Department of Distance Learning explained that the reason for this camp, as well as others presented by the department over the past five years, is to connect the community with the university and provide professors with the opportunity to show local children what is being taught at ENMU. These camps offer children who have never been to campus not only a learning experience but a chance to experience ENMU and consider possible future degrees.
Carter stated that the campers will focus on germs, photosynthesis, and chemical reactions, with lab assistance and supervision provided.
Michelle Hughes, from the ENMU Biology Department, will lead the campers through these hands-on experiments in the anatomy and physiology labs in the RSC.
“As far as equipment they will be using in that lab, they will get an opportunity to use the microscope to look at bacterial cells. They will use other standard equipment like beakers. They will also use petri dishes filled with agar to do a germs experiment where I will autoclave their dishes to grow the bacteria for observation. They will be using UV light to look at simulated germs, and learn about how important handwashing is,” Hughes explained.
For more information, contact Distance Learning at (575) 562-2165 or by email at Portales.DistanceLearning@enmu.edu
Only twenty students will be able to participate in this year’s “Lil’ Hounds Science Camp,” but there are many other learning opportunities and camps taking place this summer.
From ENMU Distance Learning, available to individuals aged 18 and older, courses include Gardening 101: Gardening for Beginners, Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices, Cenare Con Te: Dinner with You – An Italian Dinner Cooking Class, Summer Yin Yoga with Melissa Maas, Introduction to Cybersecurity, and What is AI? How Does it Work? Should You Be Afraid? For ages 16 and older, they are offering the course Financial Literacy Bootcamp: Building Your Financial Future.
ENMU Golden Library, Runnels Gallery, and Roosevelt County Historical Museum will have free programs for the community including American Quilting: Create a 9-Patch Hotpad for all ages, Bookmaking Workshop for seventh grade and up, Camp Papercraft for eighth grade and under, Community Juried Art Exhibition for all ages, Creative Connections: An Evening of Arts and Crafts for all ages, Cribbage Tournament and Instruction for 13 and older, Homesteading in New Mexico for all ages, Slither & Learn: Snakes Uncovered! for all ages, Teen Trivia! for ages 13-18, A Wellness Program – Simple & Free for all ages, and a summer reading program.
Visit enmu.edu/SummerPrograms for more information.
Additionally, for 3rd through 12th grade, a “Summer by Design” Art Camp will be offered. For more information or to enroll, visit enmu.edu/ArtCamp.
And Theatre Arts Drama Academy Camp for kindergarten through 12th grade. For more information and to enroll, visit enmu.edu/TADA.
