Mini golf night coming to The Ask Academy; special guest assists students

RIO RANCHO — Rio Rancho Public School's The ASK Academy will hold a mini golf night from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

"We would also like to invite the community to come and play our indoor mini golf course," The ASK Academy teacher Stephanie Davis said.

The ASK Academy mini golf courses will be located in The ASK Academy commons area and will be constructed by the seventh grade students.

In order to help them prepare for construction and planning of the mini golf courses, Davis invited Rick's Prehistoric Mini Golf owner Richard "Rick" Lane to provide some expertise to the students. Lane stopped by The ASK Academy Nov. 11 to provide some information and to answer questions from students.

"My time at The ASK Academy was well received. The students asked engaging questions, which I think is a key to learning," Lane said. "As they are working on team projects planning, designing and building miniature golf holes, talking about what I am doing — in building out Rick's Prehistoric Mini Golf — allowed them to see some of the same constraints we all deal with, whether in school or everyday life."

Lane also spoke about his service in the U.S. Air Force, and that if there was a mini golf course — or zoo — near his base, he would visit it. He also shared with students that the best mini golf courses are "not too easy but not too hard."

"I’m incredibly grateful that [the Rio Rancho Observer] wrote the piece about Mr. Lane’s indoor mini golf course. As a result, my engineering scholars were able to see a direct real-world connection to what we are doing in class," Davis said. "It was good for them to see him have similar struggles, such as a limited budget. As a project-based learning STEM school, we try to make our projects relevant. For them to see someone in the community doing exactly what they are doing was an invaluable experience," Davis said.

Lane will return on mini golf night as one of the mini golf expo's guest judges.