STEM Camp Registration Begins

By Misty Cryer

Registration for the summer STEM Camp for kids aged seven to 12 opens on May 1. This camp, held at Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC), is put on by Inspired by Science with the assistance of sponsors. Campers enjoy a variety of educational, hands-on STEM activities from 9 a.m. to noon on June 1-4, and there are two evening gatherings during camp week for families to join in on the fun.

“We limit it to 100 kids,” said Deena Antiporda, Executive Director of Inspired by Science. She said they advise people who want to get their kids in to register as soon as it opens because it fills up quickly.

While specific activities are intended to be a surprise for the kids, Antiporda shared an overview of what the campers have to look forward to. She said they are going to be doing a lot of things with physics, some electricity, and chemistry.

“I got some snap circuit kits that the kids are going to get to play with and keep,” said Antiporda. “I want to make sure that I get the physics and the chemistry in because those are always lots of fun,” she said.

The kids are going to build roller coasters with foam insulation tubing, which Antiporda described as a creative activity that involves open play; the kids have a lot of fun with it. “It’s a lot of fun to see their creativity come out in that,” she said, adding, “We learn a lot of physics and kinetic energy as we watch the marble and see what it does.”

Generally, the day includes two activities for the kids, and they get a snack in between. During downtime, Antiporda said, “We like to throw in some STEM challenges.” She described the STEM challenges as something to keep the campers engaged.

“I like to do things where kids work together. That’s what a lot of these STEM challenges are. It encourages teamwork and collaboration,” she said.

Sharing her experience, Antiporda said, “When you put a uniform on a kid, all of a sudden, they change. You put that camp shirt on those kids and all of a sudden, you see little engineers and little scientists running around.” She said they enjoy it, laughing and working together. “We just marvel over it,” she said.

“On June 2, we will have what’s called Cave Night,” said Antiporda. Cave Night is a special night with activities for the campers and families held at the National Cave and Karst Research Institute at 400 Cascades Avenue from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. “They will have extra activities set up for the families, so that’s an extra bonus,” she said.

“We also have a family STEM night,” said Antiporda. On the last day of camp, June 4, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the college, various organizations and businesses set up educational booths, give demonstrations, and offer hands-on activities for the kids, along with activities that Inspired by Science sets up. “We will have prizes for the campers, drawings, and giveaways. It is just a big celebration for the campers and their families for going through our camp and learning and collaborating,” she said.

Registration for the camp begins on May 1 on the Inspired by Science website (https://inspiredbyscience.org/). The cost is $65 per child and includes a camp shirt, snacks, and all the activities mentioned.

“We are very proud of the fact that we haven’t had to raise our cost for several years because we have amazing sponsorships,” said Antiporda, adding that the only way they can do this is through sponsorships. “We want to make sure, no matter what the family’s financial situation is, that kids can come and participate in our camp,” she said.

Platinum sponsors include SIMCO, Devon Energy, Xcel Energy, and Exxon Mobil, who sponsor the Inspired by Science activities for the entire year, including camp, said Antiporda. Additional camp sponsors may be added and will be listed on the Inspired by Science website with the camp description, she said.