Out of this World Adventure

Throughout the week of July 18-22, students from across the Metroplex had the chance to explore space with the help of staff at UTA Libraries at Camp Cosmos. During the camp, children could utilize technology at the library's Fab Lab, Studios, and videogame basement to do space-themed activities.  

 Nicole Spoor, Assistant Department Head for Teaching and Learning, stated one of Camp Cosmos' goals is to connect children with the university.  

 "Our focus is bringing in students from the Arlington Independent School District and surrounding areas and providing them with an experience on a college campus. We see this as a pipeline to going to college," Spoor said. "We feel like bringing in students in elementary, middle, and high school makes them feel like they can go there and be successful." 

 At the library, campers have been utilizing its resources in maker spaces. These spaces include the 8,000-square-foot Fab Lab, which contains tools such as 3D printers, the Studios where digital art and audio projects are done, and the gaming space in The Basement.  

 "There are so many incredible activities. This group is now getting ready to decorate what will become a rocket. They will go out and shoot a couple of rockets using baking soda and vinegar to create propulsion," Spoors said. "Downstairs (in the basement), they are playing a game called Artemis that we have transitioned from being a video game to an experience. It looks like they are in a spaceship and a command center. They all get to have different roles that they are playing as they go through missions." 

 Morgan Brickey-Jones, K-12 Librarian, shared Nicole's excitement about how Camp Cosmos is connecting with the campers and the future possibilities they get to explore. She noted the camp shows people that a library is for everyone.  

 "The perception that a library is just for the people who pay to go here is not what this library is," Brickey-Jones said. "I think the camp helps to remind people that the library is for everyone, and tools are for everyone. So that has been cool to see."  

 Morgan praised the hard work of the staff and the student employees who served as councilors, which made Camp Cosmo successful. They created incredible memories for the campers through their active involvement in games, craft activities, and trips to the planetarium. 

 Jonathan McLain, a sixth grader from Arlington, shared that he enjoyed some hands-on projects with library staff.  

 "We did the little egg drop. We designed these little boxes to put our eggs in and went to the (Maverick) Parking Garage," he said. "Then we dropped them off the top floor of the parking garage to see if they would survive." 

 Grace Covington, a fourth grader from San Antonio, liked creating a space-themed board game.  

 "I liked making the board game. It's called 'Stranded.' We made it together, all of our group. There are these little clay astronaut heads that are the game pieces and aliens that you have to fight," Covington said. "It is basically a space version of Monopoly. You will roll the dice and move your piece. It will say something like abducted, and you will go to jail or collect a card."