The Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science will offer free Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs for children and families this May. Admission to the museum and programs is free.
The STEM programs include:
“Nature & Science Discovery PreK”
Thursdays, 10 a.m.
Nurture your little one’s love of science. Investigate dinosaurs through hands-on explorations, stories, and crafts on Thursdays in May. No registration required. Recommended for ages 2 to 5 with a parent or adult caregiver.
“Saturday Science – Volcanoes”
Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m. to noon.
Learn about the volcanoes in and around Las Cruces and experiment with chemical reactions to make your own eruption. No registration required. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Parent or adult caregiver participation is required.
“Live Animal Feedings”
Saturday, May 6 and Saturday, May 13 at 11 a.m. each day.
What we eat is important to our health and for the animals in the Nature Center it is no different. Learn about the enrichment activities we use during mealtimes and more while you watch the animals display their natural instincts. Turtles are publicly fed on the first Saturday of the month. Snakes are publicly fed on the second Saturday of the month. Animal feedings take place in the gallery at the Museum of Nature and Science. No registration required. All ages are welcome.
“Teen Takeover: Screen Printing”
Wednesday, May 10, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The museum hits different when it’s only open to teens. Play with the exhibits, make and experiment with S.T.E.A.M. activities, eat snacks, and play games during these extended hours just for teens. Learn to screen print and make a one-of-a-kind poster. No registration required. This program is for teens ages 13 to 17.
“FOSSILS!”
Saturday, May 20, 9 a.m. to noon.
Explore the 3.5-billion-year odyssey of life with a geologist and real fossil specimens. Learn about prehistoric seashells which date back millions of years.
“Teen Science Café: Insect Pinning”
Tuesday, May 23, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Students ages 11 to 17 are invited to have dinner with museum staff and learn about natural history collections. Participants will learn to pin insect specimens and take home their own pinned butterfly. Dinner and activity supplies are included. No registration required.
“STEAMpunk – Spaghetti Bridges”
Saturday, May 27, 11 a.m.
Discover the stories behind science heroes who break barriers and explore the application of their research through hands-on experiments and activities. Erika Anderson is a reliability engineer who helps keep people safe by making sure equipment is working correctly and people are using it the right way. Inspired by her work. we will build and test bridges made from spaghetti noodles. No registration required. Recommended for ages 6 and older.
“Animal Encounters: Bobcats”
Saturday, May 27, 11 a.m. to noon.
Join us as we introduce you to a different resident of the Chihuahuan Desert each month. Learn about the tracks they leave, the sounds they make, and ways to help with their conservation. No registration required. All ages are welcome.
The Museum of Nature and Science is located at 411 N. Main St. and is accessible from RoadRUNNER Transit Route 1, Stop 1. Visit the website at: https://www.lascruces.gov/museums or follow the Las Cruces Museums on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @LCMuseums.
For more information contact Stephanie Hawkins, Education Curator, at (575) 532-3372 or by email at shawkins@lascruces.gov.