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Camps make science matter to children Participants discover information about rocks, minerals and carving
Danielle Sachs
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 29, 2013
KITIKMEOT
Introducing youth to science and the endless career possibilities that come with it is just one of the goals of the Actua summer camps being held across Nunavut this summer.
Geologist Alia Bigio examines a specimen from Laura Nowdluk's rock collection. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo |
While no stranger to the North, this year brings in a different focus, part of the Actua National Mining Program.
"Our whole goal is to introduce youth to science and engineering regardless of background," said Leslie Cuthbertson, senior director of partnerships and communications at Actua.
"We expose them to a wide variety so they realize they have this potential. We make science fun and relevant."
One of the first Nunavut camps of the year was happening in Iqaluit last week, but there were also summer camps planned for Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Kugaaruk, Kugluktuk and Taloyoak.
The science camp tries to make learning about science as relevant as possible and bring in cultural activities as well.
During their time in Iqaluit, camp participants spent a day learning about rocks and minerals, which included a section on carving.
Using 33 partners, Actua is a national charity that provides these camps free of charge.
"There's no cost to the communities and it's an informal way to introduce the youth to post-secondary education," said Cuthbertson.
For some youth, there might already be an interest in science, or in this case, rocks.
Laura Nowdluk has been collecting rocks since she was six. Now 10 years old, Nowdluk brought in a sample of her collection to show geologist Alia Bigio.
"I got rid of most of them because I used to just pick up everything. Well, I'm still keeping them but they're outside," she said.
To keep the camp realistic, the counsellors, who are post-secondary students from across Canada, co-ordinate with the hamlet and ask if there is anyone that could do anything with the youth to link the science activities to everyday life.
One year in Iglulik, participating youth went to a polar bear research lab, said Cuthbertson.
"One thing with the North is that there are researchers coming and going all the time. The educators we bring in know this and can co-ordinate with them to bring the youth in," she said.
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