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Pictured from left to right are Marisol Ortega, Olivia Toivanen, Ava Peters, Haley Martinez, Bella Peters, Kendal Stohl, and Talan Stohl. These students attended the first session of the NMSU Grants Summer Math Camp on June 18, 2021. Courtesy photo
New Mexico State University-Grants recently started a summer math camp program for local students to participate in. The math camp began on June 18 and will be held every Friday through July 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration began on June 10 and the original fee to participate was $60 for six sessions. However, registration is ongoing, the fee costs are prorated – meaning that if a student were to register prior to June 25, the cost would be $50 for the remaining five sessions, $40 if they started July 2, et cetera. Students can register by calling NMSU Grants at 505-287-6678.
According to the online flyer, the fee is non-refundable, the camp does not offer academic credits, and the maximum number of spots available are 24 students. The camp is specifically for students in middle school, high school, or in their first semester at NMSU-Grants. The math camp includes drinks and snacks, as well as many fun learning activities. These activities, along with the lessons taught, include concepts of algebra, proportions, equation graphing, fractions, and problem solving. COVID-19 practices and masks will be used throughout the camp to ensure a fun but safe time for the students.
The camp will be held in the NMSU Math Lab, located in room 124, and the nearby Writing Center, located in room 123, at the NMSU Grants campus. The instructors who will be teaching the lessons and facilitating the math camp activities are Gabriel Garcia and Janet Prewett, along with special lessons being led by Mark Lowther.
Marlene Chavez-Toivanen, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Associate Campus Director, talked about the benefits of a math camp, saying, “The math camp at NMSU Grants is designed to engage and encourage students in the field of mathematics. This program provides a unique opportunity to expand and supplement their mathematical horizons during the summer season while providing opportunities for mathematical exploration guided by college math faculty in a fun and challenging environment. During the camp, students are presented with different types of mathematical problem-solving techniques which are aimed at enhancing their future mathematical and academic pursuits.”
Chavez-Toivanen shared a fact about these kinds of programs in correlation with students attending secondary school in the future, “Research indicates that pre-college programs targeting middle and high-school students significantly increases the odds of enrolling in postsecondary education. The expertise on the NMSU campus uniquely situates the campus as a leader within the community on college access programming, providing opportunities and access to a college or career technical education. Summer programs like this math camp help increase motivation, improves basics skills, [and] fosters problem solving all while strengthening team building and communications skills.”
The June 18 session was a “great start” to the math camp, according to the NMSU-Grants Campus Facebook page, with a total of seven students showing up to participate. NMSU-Grants instructors are looking forward to the remaining sessions and getting to welcome even more students to participate in all the math fun.