January STEM Programs at the Museum of Nature and Science

The Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science, 411 N. Main St. will offer free programs for children and families this January. Admission to the museum and its programs are free.

“Nature & Science Discovery PreK”
10 a.m. Thursdays
Nurture your little one’s love of science! Investigate colors through hands-on explorations, stories, and crafts at 10 a.m. every Thursday in January. No registration is required. Recommended for ages 2 to 5 with an adult caregiver.

“Saturday Science – Fossilization”
10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 7
Learn how fossils are formed through hands-on experiments and specimens. No registration is required. Recommended for ages 6 and older, adult caregiver participation is required.

NEW! “Teen Takeover: Back to School Self Care”
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11
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. Ease into the new semester with DIY bath bombs and aromatherapy. No registration is required. This program is for teens ages 12 to 17.

“FOSSILS!”
9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 21
Explore the 3.5-billion-year odyssey of life with a geologist and real fossil specimens. See the remains of and learn about the earliest life on Earth from the Precambrian Era 4.6 billion years ago.

“STEAMpunk – Ynes Mexia, botanist”
10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28
Discover the stories behind science heroes who break barriers and explore the application of their research through hands-on experiments and activities. Ynes Mexia was a Mexican-American botanist who documented many plant species in Mexico and South America. Inspired by her life’s work, learn about plants and their life cycle by planting sunflower seeds. No registration is required. Recommended for ages 6 and older.

“Live Animal Feedings”
11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, and Jan. 15
It’s brunch time! Watch and learn how different species of animals eat, and what they eat. Animal feedings take place in the gallery at the Museum of Nature & Science. No registration is required; the event is for all ages.

“Animal Encounters”
11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 29
Get up close and personal with the reptiles of the Nature Center at the Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science. Learn about the Chihuahuan Desert’s biodiversity and meet some of the museum’s resident animals. No registration is required; the event is for all ages.

The Museum of Nature & Science is accessible from RoadRUNNER Transit Route 1, Stop 1. Visit the Museums System website at: https://www.lascruces.gov/museums or follow the Las Cruces Museums on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @LCMuseums.

For information, contact Stephanie Hawkins, Education Curator, at 575/532-3372 or by email at shawkins@lascruces.gov.