Mike W. Bryant

Northern News Services

Kelly Lake (Aug 27/01) - A fire ecology camp supervisor is calling the annual forestry educational program a waste of time and money.

Ed Smith, a 24-year-old NWT Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development summer employee, who conducted a fire ecology camp on Kelly Lake near Norman Wells Aug. 8-15, said he went into the project full of excitement and optimism, but in the end was left largely disappointed.

"There was a lot of people there with punk attitudes," said Smith, of his nine young charges ages 13 to 22. "It was a waste of cash."

"I could've said screw it guys, let's go fishing for a week but I didn't."

Smith said while he fears the "negative press" his story could generate, he nonetheless feels compelled to speak out about the thousands of dollars spent by the territorial government on the fire camps, which could be better spent elsewhere, he argues.

The camp, which received a budget of $25,000 -- in addition to the $10 per hour paid to students to attend -- was set up to teach youth from the Sahtu region about the natural cycle of forest fires.

There are currently five such camps operating throughout the NWT every summer.

According to Smith, the fire camp this year was in trouble from the beginning. A call for applications from the five Sahtu communities, including Norman Wells went unanswered until well past the July 19 deadline.

After finally managing to assemble nine students to attend the camp, he said poor discipline and a lack of interest among the participants rendered the week-long seminar unproductive for both himself and the students.

"Some of them I think gained from it, while others were a real disaster," said Smith. "I don't know, maybe it's just because I'm cynical."

Smith, who is from Hay River and holds a degree in environmental sciences, said that even some of the students who showed potential in one-on-one situations, when placed in a larger group, more often than not, chaos prevailed.

"Some people have suggested that it would be better to target 10-to-12-year-olds, it would be better taught in the classroom," said Smith. "These guys were just too old to make it work. It was a total waste of cash."

When asked if perhaps the problems at camp had more to do with his leadership than the students inability to behave themselves, Smith said, "considering the situation, I think I held up pretty good."

Renewable Resources duty officer Dave Hahn said, for the most part, the feedback he has heard about the fire camps has been positive.

Yet, when told that at least one person did not agree, he simply stated that, "If it's true, the intent is still good. People are entitled to their opinions."

Sahtu regional superintendent for the department Celina Stroeder said this year's camp was running for the first time, and felt it was still a success even if there were problems.

But when asked if she felt the money spent on the camp and students was worthwhile, she remained ambiguous.

"I don't know how to gauge that," Stroeder said. "Possibly, possibly not."

"If I'm criticized for that then I have to say if a student comes back to work for us then it will be worthwhile."