News
Luna STEM planning ‘Math On The Fly’ camp
Learning, fun in camp for middle school students; LVCS, WLVS, Mora students invited to take part
To many middle school students – not to mention countless others of all ages – mathematics may seem like either a mystery or a subject confined to classroom learning without practical significance.
The reality, as Luna Community College STEM Director Francisco Apodaca points out, is that math is everywhere, an integral part of our daily lives whether we realize it or not. And learning math needn’t be a chore or a process limited to the traditional classroom environment.
“Learning math is important, but it can and should be fun,” Apodaca says. “That’s what we are emphasizing with our upcoming camp.”
The “Math On The Fly” summer camp is planned for July 27-29 and Aug. 3-5 at Luna Community College. It will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on campus. Students entering grades six through eight in the Las Vegas City Schools, West Las Vegas Schools and Mora Independent Schools districts are invited.
“Math is a part of our lives, from using a tape measure to figuring out how many miles we get per gallon to counting how many laps around the track it takes to walk a mile,” Apodaca said. “This camp helps students apply math. It helps them get over the stigma that ‘I can’t do math,’ and shows that math is essential for life — and it can be fun.”
Registration is open July 6-14. To register, please contact Luna STEM advisor Janice Varela, 505-454-2537 or jvarela@luna.edu. Snacks, supplies and a camp T-shirt will be provided to each participant. Enrollment will be limited to the first 100 students who register.
For more information on the camp, please call Apodaca at 505-454-2510 or e-mail him at fapodaca@luna.edu.
Luna Community College faculty members, primarily from the STEM department, will lead the instruction and daily activities that will help students gain knowledge and confidence in practical math skills, teamwork and critical thinking. Other local educators and presenters are likely to be involved as well.
Luna’s STEM Department has conducted similar educational summer camps in recent years but was prevented from doing so in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We are thrilled to be able to again host a summer camp on the Luna campus,” Apodaca said. “The purpose is to give these young people an opportunity to enhance their proficiency in math so they are able to excel in school – and so they get a clear idea about the importance of math to their lives and their futures. Our instructors are excited about making this a memorable summer camp for every participant.”
COVID-safe protocols will be followed.