Faux snow scene among sights at Holiday Spectacular

A snowman in Las Vegas is a rarity, except at the Springs Preserve, which has dozens on display through Sunday.

But these snowmen are made of plastic cups, empty 2-gallon milk jugs, Styrofoam and Girl Scout cookie boxes.

As part of the Holiday Spectacular at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., local schools, businesses and organizations created themed snowmen and snowwomen from recycled materials. Their creations will be scattered among the thousands of lights also on display.

There is a Super Snow Mario; a Korean rapper Psy look-alike; a Girl Scout; penguins; a "snobot," or a robot snowman; Frosty the Turfman, a snowman covered in fake grass; snowmen made of tires; and more.

The most elaborate setup came from Foothill High School, 800 College Drive, in Henderson.

Foothill's drafting and design students took the competition beyond the guidelines to create the largest winter scene of any school.

"It just kind of grew," Foothill engineering and architecture teacher Julie Rogers said of her students' project. "The kids came up with the ideas."

The winter scene includes a small "pond" with animals ice skating in circles atop it, three carolers rocking back and forth, a mechanical snowball fight and a sledding hill. The sledding hill will be the only non-animated piece of the set because of time constraints, Rogers said. Students worked on the project for about two weeks before moving pieces to the Springs Preserve over a period of four days. More than 100 students from Rogers' classes contributed to the project. Rogers said her students already were required to build animals using dodecahedrons as part of a lesson on pattern drafting, so she made the Winter Spectacular project a part of the course.

"It's been a blast," Rogers said, adding that the previous two weeks have been "really intense."

"Plus, it's a public service event," Rogers said. "I really like the Springs Preserve."

Sophomore Peter Anderson-Holezer is a student in Rogers' Drafting and Design I course and said the project has been fun.

"It'll be cool," Peter said of the display. "We're learning about 3-D stuff on the computer, but doing it firsthand really helps."

Drafting and Design II student Tyler Parker, a junior, built the pond - a metal disc painted light blue that turns on wheels. He said the best part of the project would be seeing it "finally" work.

"After all the toil and trouble and blood," he added.

Yes, blood. Parker, who is captain of Foothill's robotics teams, said he often cuts his thumbs.

His teacher quickly agreed with him.

"If there's a way to get hurt, he'll find it," Rogers said.

Foothill's exhibit and other schools' snowmen will be on display from 5 to 9 p.m. through Sunday in the gardens in the southwest area of the Springs Preserve.

The Holiday Spectacular also will have live entertainment, cookie decorating, photos with Santa and other attractions.

Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for kids 5 to 12 and free for those 4 or younger. Students and school staff members with ID will receive half-price admission Friday.

For more information, call 702-822-7700 or visit springspreserve.org.

Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 702-224-5524.