Inuvik (Feb 11/05) - For high school students looking to get a bead on their future career paths, Samuel Hearne secondary school's (SHSS) work placement program may be just the ticket.

"We encourage students to take on these placements to gain experience and investigate opportunities," says SHSS career counsellor Tom Charbonneau.

Samuel Hearne secondary school (SHSS) students Natasha Isagok and Junior Elanik learn what it takes to be a wildlife officer with RWED. Here, Elanik takes a break from cleaning a wolf skull while Isagok - who cleaned her first skull a few days earlier - offers some helpful advice. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo -

Nathasha Isagok and Junior Elanik have taken advantage of the program by signing up for a work placement with Resources Wildlife and Economic Development (RWED).

"I thought I'd try it out," said Elanik as he scraped tissue from a wolf's skull to prepare it for analysis.

While the Grade 10 student is using the placement to check out possibilities for his future, fellow SHSS student Isagok already has her sights set on a career as a wildlife officer.

"This is what I want to do when I finish school because I like being on the land," she said, pausing now and then to offer encouragement to Elanik as he worked away at the skull.

"Take the brain out," she said at one point to a somewhat hesitant Elanik.

"Just scrape it out with a knife, it looks cool."

After the skull was cleaned, Wildlife Technician intern Shane Goeson was on hand to show the pair the 22 things that needed to be measured, including head dimension and teeth size, which will eventually be put into a database charting wolf growth-rates.

Students not yet set on a career path need not worry.

On March 16 and 17, Career Quest is coming to Inuvik.

Local industry, public services, government, community groups and college and university reps will be available to answer any questions from students and parents about post-secondary education and career options.

"What students can expect is a showcase of the different career avenues available," said Charbonneau.

"What's involved with the job, what kind of education and or skills are required and how to go about realizing it."

In addition to information booths, a motivational speaker is scheduled to make presentations to the students.

Billed as the highlight of Career Quest, there will be a toboggan race on March 17, pitting student teams against each other.

Using only duct tape and cardboard, teams will use their engineering skills to construct sleds to be raced in head-to-head action.

According to Charbonneau, the Alternate School has taken on the task of building a raceway for the event and industry engineers will offer building advice to the teams.