BATTLE MOUNTAIN - Anyone stopping by Great Basin College's Battle Mountain Center in the last couple of weeks might have thought that they were in the wrong place. The silent, sparsely furnished classrooms were covered in plastic and the air was permeated with giggles.
From June 18 - 28, local kids took over! Kids could be seen enjoying educational, creative and sometimes sticky fun as they participated in the first ever Kid's College program to be offered in Battle Mountain.
Center Coordinator Ami Rogers considers this first year to be a great success. "With 65 kids participating in over 20 different classes, I feel that this year was a terrific first year," said Rogers.
Rogers was quick to credit Newmont Mining for its generous support of Kid's College. Funds donated by Newmont allowed the college to print and distribute schedules, market/advertise the program and provide kids with nutrition snacks.
Anna Gilmore, a Newmont employee, volunteered to instruct two classes that used food to teach geology in a very interactive way. Students made "Metamorphic Sandwiches" and "Nevada Brownies."
GoldCorp also supported the program by donating the use of three of its summer student workers to assist in classrooms and help supervise the students. "Lynnette, Hannah and Blair were very helpful and the kids loved them. We couldn't have done it without them," said Rogers. The Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross also provided instructors who taught First Aid and Preparedness and Babysitter's Training classes.
Although, there were a few teens that attended the College Prep, Career Prep and Painting with Primary Colors classes, organizers would like to see more teen participation next year. The center staff and instructors are already thinking up ways to improve and expand the program for next year. The Battle Mountain Center plans to make Kid's College an annual event as long as there is enough local interest and support.
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