The Elm Fork Education Center, located at the University of North Texas (UNT), is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Founded in 1998 by the late Professor Emeritus Kenneth Dickson, the center has been dedicated to providing premier educational programs for children, especially focusing on fostering an early interest in science.
Program Director Brian Wheeler highlighted Professor Dickson’s vision, stating, “He wanted to reach back to the youngest age group possible, children going into kindergarten, and keep them interested in science as long as possible.”
Initially, the center offered field trips for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Annually, between 12,000 and 15,000 children visit UNT through these programs. The center serves children within a 35-mile radius of the campus, including every third grader from Lewisville ISD and nearly every fourth grader from Frisco ISD.
The popularity of these field trips led to the creation of a summer camp program. Wheeler recounted the inception of the camps, noting that parents’ requests for more extensive programs based on their children’s positive experiences with specific lessons prompted the expansion. Now, the center runs four camps per week for five weeks during the summer, each accommodating 20 children.
Aiden Hawley, a camp instructor and former camper, shared her memorable experiences, particularly from her first forensics camp. Her journey from camper to instructor exemplifies a common pathway for many participants, who often become junior counselors before taking on instructor roles.
The program also prepares junior counselors for future employment by providing civic service hours, application and interview experience, and professional references.
Additionally, the camp’s hours, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., are designed to accommodate working parents, making it a popular choice among faculty and staff at UNT.
Regarding future expansion, Wheeler mentioned that if the center runs at maximum capacity for three consecutive summers, they might consider adding more camps. Currently, they are at two summers of full capacity, and the possibility of expansion will be evaluated next summer.