Gila monsters, snakes, turtles, froggies, and cute little pup fish — these are a few of the desert critters in displays, classrooms, and in natural settings throughout Mesa Community College’s Red Mountain campus. Located on 100 acres of Sonoran Desert at Power Road just north of McKellips Road, the campus boasts an array of native creatures including rattlesnakes, lizards, toads, frogs, Gila monsters, desert tortoises, mud turtles, endangered pup fish, and more.
Campus critters are ready to greet you at the Red Mountain Halloween Extravaganza, returning from its pandemic hiatus on Oct. 31. There is no admission fee for this community trick-or-treat party being held throughout the campus from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Candy and treats are given out from dozens and dozens of booths featuring games, activities, entertainment, and spooky excitement. In past years, families in the community have said how much they appreciated having a safe, enjoyable location for their children to trick-or-treat.
Stop by anytime when the college is in session to visit the Cienega, created in the heart of the Red Mountain campus. This desert spring has become a habitat for endangered and local birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish, creating educational opportunities and a place to relax and enjoy the desert flora and fauna. Dean Mary Boyce said, “Ongoing wildlife contributions and on-campus participation from organizations such as Arizona Game and Fish have created incredible outdoor laboratory and teaching spaces allowing us to integrate the ecology of the desert, plants, and animals into college classes including art, biology, English, geography, and geology.”
The science and wellness theme at MCC Red Mountain is reflected in health care programs in the fields of nursing and dental professions. The seven-week Nursing Assistant program prepares students to become a Certified Nurse Assistant or Licensed Nurse Assistant (LNA) and is one of several classes that can provide immediate employment possibilities or fulfill requirements to pursue a nursing degree.
The college’s renowned Dental Hygiene Program prepares students who earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene to take the written and clinical exams necessary to obtain licensure in most states. For decades, 100 percent of MCC graduates have passed their licensing exams going on to careers in dental practices or public health care settings.
Although fall classes have begun, you can register for Flex Start classes each month through November, and certification classes are ongoing. To find out more about academic degrees, career classes, financial aid, and more, stop by the Red Mountain campus Enrollment Center in the Mesquite building, call (480) 654-7600, or go to mesacc.edu/enroll.