Raymondville students attend exploration camps

Hey, kids! You don’t have to visit Jurassic Park to learn about dinosaurs.

You can attend a hands-on camp like the youngsters in Raymondville.

Students at Pittman and L.C. Smith elementary schools in the past two weeks attended hands-on College and Career Exploration Camps where they learned about dinosaurs, Earth science and marine biology.

“At both Pittman and L.C. Smith, students participated in the Dinosaur World Camps, where they became young paleontologists,” said Benjamin A. Clinton, deputy superintendent at Raymondville Independent School District.

“Students learned about different dinosaur species, uncovered fossils, and explored Earth’s ancient history,” Clinton said.

The kids were quite vocal about the experience.

“Finding fossils was the best part,” said Aubrey Gonzalez, a kindergarten student at Pittman.

“I felt like a real scientist,” she said.

Children from L.C. Smith Elementary also attended Earth Science Camps where they explored environmental science.

“They tackled global challenges like climate change and extreme weather events,” Clinton said. “Students built battery-powered electric vehicles and participated in a thrilling race.”

Students at Pittman took part in the Marine Biology Camp where they explored ocean ecosystems, Clinton said. They worked on solutions to protect marine life from pollution and over fishing.

The activity had quite an impact on fourth grader Isla Arriaga.

“I didn’t know that plastic was hurting the oceans so much,” Isla said. “Now I want o help save sea animals!”