Daily Activities and Presentations - Week 1
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Monday June 8, 2026
Monday June 8, 2026
8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast!
8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast!
Come get some hot chocolate, coffee, and muffins!
9:00-9:15 AM Welcome to Camp!
9:00-9:15 AM Welcome to Camp!
Co-founder of New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA), a statewide, residential, public high school for the performing and visual arts. Now serving 330 students, the school opened its doors for the first time in 2010 with 127 students. A charter school with a private partner, NMSA-Art Institute, is committed to providing access to pre-professional arts training and college-readiness academics to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to access mastery arts training. Cindy started as the School’s Head of School. In 2016, she became President of the Art Institute overseeing fundraising, community and legislative partnerships, and art programs. She brings over 25 years of experience in education, both in high-performing and struggling schools.
New Mexico School for the Arts, President, NMSA - Art Institute
9:15-9:30 AM Camp Expectations!
9:15-9:30 AM Camp Expectations!
Experimental Physicist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Dylan M. Tharp Eralie, Email: dylanmteralie@lanl.gov
Chemist from Los Alamos National Laboratory
Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Community Involvement - STEM Outreach Program Coordinator at Sandia National Laboratories
Lead Educator at SPCYW, NGSS Curriculum Developer, and Science teacher at Hilo Intermediate School, Hawaii
Hilo Intermediate School
Jocelyne Comstock, Email: jcomstock@sfprep.org
Santa Fe Preperatory School
New Mexico School for the Arts
New Mexico School for the Arts
GHOSTS = Student leaders helping other students
GHOSTS = Student leaders helping other students
Cicita Tafoya
Cicita Tafoya
Recent graduate of Piedra Vista High School, attending San Juan College for Biology in the fall
Email: cicitatafoya32@gmail.com
Will Benham
Will Benham
Recent graduate from Santa Fe High School, attending New Mexico Tech for Mechanical Engineering in the fall
9:30-9:45 AM Team Building!
9:30-9:45 AM Team Building!
It's time to get to know the friends you will be spending the next 2 weeks with! Learn their names, their pronouns, and their interests!
9:45-10:00 AM Break!
9:45-10:00 AM Break!
Enjoy a 15-minute brain break from meeting so many new people, and then get ready to be shocked!
10:00-11:30 AM Did someone say...Electricity?
10:00-11:30 AM Did someone say...Electricity?
Electrical Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Multimeter.pdfExplore Elect Ckts.pdfSay Electricity.pdf11:30-12:15 PM Lunch @ NMSA
11:30-12:15 PM Lunch @ NMSA
Sit with your friends or a Volunteer after getting some Chicken Tacos from the cafeteria, and be ready to put a magnet into your life!
12:15-1:15 PM Magnets!
12:15-1:15 PM Magnets!
We will show the interactions of electricity and magnetism. Show how magnetism can be generated by electrical currents and vice-versa. Use magnets and different conductors to show eddy currents and Fresnel's laws/equations.
Physicist, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Physicist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Physicist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Physicist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Postdoc Physicist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
R&D Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
R&D Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wby4aHyXJQ
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy6H0mr3KXw
Lots of magnet demos at the magnet lab: https://nationalmaglab.org/education/magnet-academy/watch-play/interactive
Stefan Marinkovic (LANL), Email: smarinkovic@lanl.gov
Cauê Kaufmann Ribeiro (LANL), Email: caue@lanl.gov
LA-UR-24-26731.pdfmagnet_flashlight_experiment_directions.pdf1:15-1:30 PM Break!
1:15-1:30 PM Break!
Take a 15-minute brain break while enjoying some snacks, and we'll see you soon for more magnitism.
1:45-2:15 PM More Magnets!
1:45-2:15 PM More Magnets!
Join us as we continue learning more about making a compass or a flashlight! If you love Magnets here are some cool videos to watch!
2:15-2:30 PM Break!
2:15-2:30 PM Break!
Did your flashlight work?! Take a 15-minute break to try it out and eat some snacks, and we'll see you soon for more building... but this time, you get to build a motor!
2:30-4:00 PM Build Your Own 9 Volt DC Motor
2:30-4:00 PM Build Your Own 9 Volt DC Motor
After exploring electricity and magnetism, we will combine those two topics to build a working 9 Volt DC Motor. You will assemble the support base, wind the rotor coil, attach magnets, and adjust electrical connections as needed to make the motor operate.
Bill Heinmiller Email: wgheinmiller@gmail.com
Nuclear Facilities Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
DONE Motor Build - bill heinmiller.pdf4:00-4:30 PM Project Intos - Ohana Homestead
4:00-4:30 PM Project Intos - Ohana Homestead
Lead Educator at SPCYW, NGSS Curriculum Developer, and Science teacher at Hilo Intermediate School, Hawaii
Ohana Project Overview .pdfRobotic Hand
Robotic Hand
PhD student in light physics at the University of Arizona, studying sensors with an undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Introduction to Robotic Hand Project & Characters.pptxExit Pass
Exit Pass
Please don't forget to fill out the exit pass for the day! It helps us help you, and we can tell the volunteers about all the awesome things you say about them!
We also have a parent feedback form! Feel free to share the news with your parents so they can tell us all about what you tell them about the camp! Click on the button below, and it will take you to the Daily EXIT PASS page, where you can find the Exit Pass and the Parent Feedback Form.
Tuesday June 9, 2026
Tuesday June 9, 2026
8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast
8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast
Come get some hot chocolate, coffee, and muffins!
9:00-10:00 AM Solar panel explorations
9:00-10:00 AM Solar panel explorations
Lead Educator at SPCYW, NGSS Curriculum Developer, and Science teacher at Hilo Intermediate School, Hawaii
2026 Solar Explorations Presentation.pdfSolar Panel Explorations SPCYW26.pdf10:15-10:30 AM Break!
10:15-10:30 AM Break!
You know what time it is! Time to take a 15-minute brain break, with some snacks, of course. Then come back to learn about all the cool things the sun does and make some solar panel circuits!
10:30-11:15 AM Solar panel explorations cont.
10:30-11:15 AM Solar panel explorations cont.
The fun's not over! Pascale has so many more cool things to teach you. Sit back and relax and prepare to be amazed at all the un-beam-lievable things the sun does for us!
11:15-11:30 AM Team Building!
11:15-11:30 AM Team Building!
Take a second to debrief all the information that is dawning on you with the people around you! Talk about your favorite part of the day so far and get those appetites going because we've got a good lunch in store!
11:30-12:45 PM Lunch @ NMSA
11:30-12:45 PM Lunch @ NMSA
It's your lucky day, our wonderful chef has prepared Lasagna! Go get some food, enjoy the New Mexico weather, and think about how cool the sun is! Be ready to learn all about what kinds of strengths you might bring to your future workplace.
12:15-1:15 PM Introduction to Clifton Strengths
12:15-1:15 PM Introduction to Clifton Strengths
Understanding your strengths unlocks your potential and leads you to greater performance.
Community Involvement - STEM Outreach Program Coordinator at Sandia National Laboratories
PHYSICSCAMP_IntrotoCliftonStrengths_Part1_FINAL.pdfCliftonStrengths EMAIL TEMPLATE_SUMMER CAMPS 2026.docxSharing Clifton Strengths_2026.pdf1:15-1:30 PM Break!
1:15-1:30 PM Break!
Wasn't that cool? Take 15 minutes to think about what strengths you have and how you can learn from other people, or how they can learn from you, using your different strengths! Drink some water, eat a snack, and be prepared to learn about light!
1:30-4:15 PM Optics: How can light be a wave and a particle?
1:30-4:15 PM Optics: How can light be a wave and a particle?
Hubert Van Hecke, Email: hubertvh@gmail.com
Hubert Van Hecke, Email: hubertvh@gmail.com
Nuclear Physicist (R)
Laser Safety
Laser Background - lasers big and small
Electromagnetic Spectrum and Scale
Taking white light apart and putting it back together - activity
Laser box observations with optics - activity
Measuring the index of refraction - Snell's Law
Reflection and Refraction
Break/Demo of Internal Reflection - guiding your laser into the sink
Measuring Wavelength Demo
laser.pdfsnell2.pdfLaser effects on skin
Laser effects on skin
Laser effects on skin
Laser effects on skin
Laser effects on eye
Laser effects on eye
Lasers2024.pptx "Optics experiments that you can do at home."
"Optics experiments that you can do at home."
Laurie Waters Email: lswaters619@comcast.net
Laurie Waters Email: lswaters619@comcast.net
Nuclear Physicist (R)
Hubert Van Hecke Email: hubertvh@gmail.com
Hubert Van Hecke Email: hubertvh@gmail.com
Nuclear Physicist (R)
5) using the homemade spectroscope
6) measuring the wavelength of your laser
https://www.mrsciencesantafe.org/summerschool/2020/wavelength.html
7) total internal reflection
https://www.mrsciencesantafe.org/summerschool/2020/optics.html
8) Snell's law
https://www.mrsciencesantafe.org/summerschool/2020/snell.html
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/bending-light/latest/bending-light_all.html
Wednesday June 10, 2026
Wednesday June 10, 2026
8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast
8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast
Come get some hot chocolate, coffee, and muffins!
9:00-9:15 AM Team Building!
9:00-9:15 AM Team Building!
What did you have for breakfast? Having a good breakfast can help you make like a proton and stay positive! What was your favorite thing about light? Take some time to chit-chat and be ready to learn all about the structure of the universe and everything around us!
9:15-10:45 AM Chemistry and Crystals!
9:15-10:45 AM Chemistry and Crystals!
Dr. Dylan Tharp Eralie Email: dylanmteralie@lanl.gov
Chemist, Postdoc, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Caitlin Kengle, PHD Email: ckengle2@illinois.edu
Postdoc, Los Alamos National Laboratory
This activity will be a short lecture on chemistry, chemical bonding, and crystal structures. We will build some chemical structures and crystal lattices with modeling kits and perform a diffraction experiment to demonstrate how crystal lattices are measured and observed.
Chemistry and Crystals - Dylan Tharp Eralie.pptm.pdfAtomic structure-property.pdf10:45-11:00 AM Break!
10:45-11:00 AM Break!
So much cool information! Take a 15-minute brain break and come back ready to improve your resume and learn all about what should be on it.
11:00-11:30 AM Intro to Resume Writing
11:00-11:30 AM Intro to Resume Writing
Learning how to write a resume is important because a resume is often the first impression you make on employers. A well-written resume highlights your skills, experience, and achievements in a clear and professional way, helping you stand out from other applicants. It also demonstrates strong communication and organization skills, which are valuable in any career. By learning how to create an effective resume, individuals can improve their chances of getting interviews and finding job opportunities that match their goals.
K-12 STEM Education Outreach Specialist, Community Partnerships Office (CPO), Los Alamos National Laboratory
Education & Outreach Program Manager, High School Internships & Sponsored Programs, Los Alamos National Laboratory
SPC 2026 Resume Writing.pptx.pdfLIST OF SKILLS.pdfAction Verbs for Resumes (1).pdfSPC Resume Template (1) (1).docxExample of good resume.docx11:30-12:15 PM Lunch @ NMSA
11:30-12:15 PM Lunch @ NMSA
Head to the cafeteria and enjoy some delicious meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans! I wonder if you could build a crystal structure out of the green beans?
12:30-1:15 PM Strengths Overview
12:30-1:15 PM Strengths Overview
Enhance collaboration and improve interpersonal relationships by exploring how your dominant strengths function within a team.
Community Involvement - STEM Outreach Program Coordinator at Sandia National Laboratories
1:15-1:30 PM Break!
1:15-1:30 PM Break!
You need food to be strong, so take a 15-minute break and grab some snacks. Come back ready to learn all about liquid crystals!
1:30-2:30 PM Liquid Crystals
1:30-2:30 PM Liquid Crystals
Adam Susser, Email: susser@lanl.gov
Postdoctoral Physicist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Tiffany Desjardins, Email: tif_des@lanl.gov
R&D Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
They're not quite liquids, and they're not quite solids. Liquid crystals represent an important but rarely-discussed phase of matter, only accessible to certain chemicals. Their unique properties make them ideal for tech that manipulates light, such as the common Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). But you can also find liquid crystals in sensor technology, certain kinds of lasers, and even mood rings."
LCSummerActivity.pdf2:30-2:45 PM Break!
2:30-2:45 PM Break!
Whoa, wasn't that was cool! Take a 15-minute break and come back because it's coding time!
2:45-4:15 PM Dumb Computers ...Introduction to Coding an Arduino micro-controller
2:45-4:15 PM Dumb Computers ...Introduction to Coding an Arduino micro-controller
Students will wire electronic devices (LEDs, buttons, motion sensor, etc.) to a breadboard, and then write small C programs to control these devices, using loops, if-statements, and functions. Joan Lucas.
Students will wire electronic devices (LEDs, buttons, motion sensor, etc.) to a breadboard, and then write small C programs to control these devices, using loops, if-statements, and functions. Joan Lucas.
Computer Science Professor at University of New Mexico
Grace Longo Email: grace.lydia.longo@gmail.com
R&D Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory
SPC - Intro Programming PBJ (J. Lucas).pdfDONE Intro to Coding the Arduino (Summer Physics Camp) - Joan Lucas.pdfCopy of ThreeLEDs - Joan Lucas.pdfCopy of ThreeLEDsWithButton - Joan Lucas.pdfCopy of ThreeLEDsWithFunction - Joan Lucas.pdfCopy of ThreeLEDsWithMotionSensor - Joan Lucas.pdfThursday June 11, 2026
Thursday June 11, 2026
8:30-8:45 AM Breakfast
8:30-8:45 AM Breakfast
Come early to get some hot chocolate, coffee, and muffins! Just be ready to go to Los Alamos at 8:45!
8:45-4:30PM TOUR of Los Alamos National Laboratory
8:45-4:30PM TOUR of Los Alamos National Laboratory
IMPORTANT:
No photography of any type during the Tour
-Closed toes shoes
-Bring water bottle and snacks
-No photography of any type
-Sharp departure at 9:00 am from NMSA!
9:00 AM Leave NMSA in Santa Fe
9:45 AM Arrive at TA-3 transit center
9:45-10:00 Security/Safety briefing, distribute badges, students sign acknowledgment
10:15 AM Arrive at Lujan Auditorium TA-53-0001
10:15-10:30 AM Welcome from Ellen Cerreta Associate Director for Science Technology and Engineering
10:45-11:10 AM Tour of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE)
(A) Tour IPF/MPF-984
(B) Tour Fluids Lab
11:10- 11:35 AM
(A) Tour Injectors Sector J
(B) Tour IPF
11:35-11:55 AM
(A) Tour Fluids Lab/Vert Shock Tubes
(B) Tour Injectors Sector J
12:00 – 12:45 PM Lunch (TA-53-0001)
12:45-1:00 PM Group photo TA-53-0001
1:15 PM Leave for MagLab
1:30-3:00 Tour National Magnetic Field Laboratory
3:15 Leave MagLab for Transit Center
3:30 Arrive Transit Center
3:30-3:45 Transfer buses to leave for SF
3:45 AM Depart Transit Center
4:30 AM
Arrive at NMSA
Don't forget.... EXIT PASS
Don't forget.... EXIT PASS
Friday June 12, 2026
Friday June 12, 2026
8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast
8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast
Come get some hot chocolate, coffee, and muffins!
9:00-10:30 AM Soldering Bonanza and Electrical Engineering Fun
9:00-10:30 AM Soldering Bonanza and Electrical Engineering Fun
We will be soldering components onto a small printed circuit board to make our own game! We will go through a small initial presentation with some safety tips and an introduction and we will get right to work! If we have soldering enthusiasts, they will have a second project available and step by step guidance as well!
Electrical Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
David C Henson, (LANL), Email: davidcheson@lanl.gov
David C Henson, (LANL), Email: davidcheson@lanl.gov
Learning Specialist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Soldering_2024.pptx2025_Creepy_Crawler_Instructions (1).pdf10:30-10:45 AM Break!
10:30-10:45 AM Break!
What soldering project did you choose? Take a 15-minute break to talk to your friends and compare soldering tips!
10:45-11:30 AM Interactive Resume session
10:45-11:30 AM Interactive Resume session
Mentors and students will work together to access the resume templates and continue to develop your personal resume.
Mentors and students will work together to access the resume templates and continue to develop your personal resume.
K-12 STEM Education Outreach Specialist, Community Partnerships Office (CPO), Los Alamos National Laboratory
K-12 STEM Education Outreach Specialist, Community Partnerships Office (CPO), Los Alamos National Laboratory
SPC 2026 Resume Writing.pptx.pdfLIST OF SKILLS.pdfAction Verbs for Resumes (1).pdfSPC Resume Template (1) (1).docxExample of good resume.docx11:30-12:15 PM Lunch @NMSA
11:30-12:15 PM Lunch @NMSA
I hope you've worked up an appetite because today's lunch is Corn Dogs!
12:15-1:45 PM Cosmetic Chemistry!
12:15-1:45 PM Cosmetic Chemistry!
Materials chemistry surrounds us in our daily lives, even in unexpected ways. In this hands-on session, we will explore how materials chemistry is the foundation of our favorite skincare regimens. We will discuss endothermic reactions, x-ray diffraction, and clay chemistry while making bath bombs and clay masks for you to enjoy at home!
Amanda C Sanchez Email: asanch6@sandia.gov
Engineer at Sandia National Laboratories, M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of New Mexico
Jessica Kruichak Email: jnkruic@sandia.gov
Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories, M.S. Chemistry, University of New Mexico
Esther Hessong, Email: echesso@sandia.gov
Materials Scientist, Sandia National Laboratories
2023_Cosmetic_Chemistry_June-2023-v2.pptxBath Bomb Worksheet_2023-revised.pdfClay Worksheet-May-23.pdf1:45-2:00 PM Break!
1:45-2:00 PM Break!
I know I can't wait to use that bath bomb! Take a 15-minute break and talk with your friends.
2:00-3:30 PM AeroDrop: What Makes a Parachute Float, Fall, or Fail?
2:00-3:30 PM AeroDrop: What Makes a Parachute Float, Fall, or Fail?
Theresa V Montoya, Email: tmontoya@lanl.gov
R&D Mechanical Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Maria Claudia Jimenez Hamann, Email: mariaj@lanl.gov
R&D Engineer, Operations Integration Center
Desiree Dominguez, Email: dominguezndesiree@gmail.com
AI & Machine Learning Engineer/Adjunct, Lockheed Martin
Bill Heinmiller, Email: wgh2@lanl.gov
Nuclear Facilities Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Tiffany Desjardins, Email: tif_des@lanl.gov
Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Gabriela Rodrigues, Email: gabriela.drodrigues@lanl.gov
R&D Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Emily McCall, Email: emccall@lanl.gov
Learning Specialist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Bruce Eldridge, Email: eldridge@lanl.gov
Visiting Researcher, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Chris Roper, Email: chrisroper@lanl.gov
DOE Fellow, Los Alamos National Laboratory
In this hands-on activity, you explore how parachutes work by testing how different designs affect air resistance, stability, and falling speed. You will build and drop your own parachutes, observing what helps them float smoothly or fail during descent. Through experimentation, you will learn how forces like gravity and drag influence motion. This activity connects engineering design, physics, and problem-solving in a fun and interactive way!
Fluids 2026 Summer Physics Camp Slide Deck_(06_09_2026_FINAL).pptx.pdfAerodrop Parachutes 2026.pdf3:30-3:45 PM Break!
3:30-3:45 PM Break!
Did your parachute work??? Take a break and think about what project you think you're going to do!
3:45-4:15 PM Start your own Homestead
3:45-4:15 PM Start your own Homestead
Lead Educator at SPCYW, NGSS Curriculum Developer, and Science teacher at Hilo Intermediate School, Hawaii
3:45-4:15 PM Start your own Robotic Hand!
3:45-4:15 PM Start your own Robotic Hand!
PhD student in light physics at the University of Arizona, studying sensors with an undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute
It's time to get started on your own Homestead of Robotic Hand!
Robotic Hand Documentation.pdf"Women in Science"
"Women in Science"
Historian/Research Specialist at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Historian/Research Specialist at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Women's Hist Physics Summer Camp (LA-UR-23-25402).pdfPresentation by Madelaine Whitacre: "Women of Los Alamos" 30 min video:
Women in Science talk-20210512 1524-1.mp4Interesting talks
Interesting talks
SummerCamp_2022_Extra.pdf
"Women in Science"
"Women in Science"
Physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Origin of women in computing: https://www.pbs.org/video/why-are-there-so-few-women-in-computer-science-c5zg9l/
TED talk: Angela Lee Duckworth: "GRIT, the power of passion and perseverance"
Women in Science: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_science
Women & Nobel Prize: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/lists/nobel-prize-awarded-women/
"The Women of Project Y: Working at Wartime Los Alamos"
"The Women of Project Y: Working at Wartime Los Alamos"
Ellen McGehee
Ellen McGehee
Archaeologist and historian at Los Alamos National Laboratory
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