Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Kimmirut (Apr 17/00) - The wrap-up of a week-long meeting in Kimmirut puts high school students in Nunavut that much closer to receiving credit for participating in outdoor science camps, says the high school program consultant for the Baffin region.

"We're probably between 70 to 75 per cent of the way to being complete," said Steve Parks.

"We'll have a finished product by June 20 ready to present to the Department of Education for approval."

Parks is talking about the development of science camp modules that, if approved, will be used in high schools across Nunavut as another means for students to earn credits.

By the June deadline, Parks says there will three modules ready for review -- a dissecting kit, a geoscience kit and a research techniques kit -- and with two members of the development team from the department, Parks is confident all of the criteria for approval will be met.

As a whole, the science camp project is intended to encourage students, through hands-on experience, to pursue careers in the field of science.

"It's to show how many opportunities are available for students in science," said Parks.

"And we have to ensure that the modules are fun, so the students will hopefully be interested in pursing a career in science."

Ten people are involved in developing the modules, which incorporate traditional knowledge and are being funded in part by the Department of Sustainable Development.

Environmental education specialist Elise Maltin said after fielding many inquiries about science camps, she began to explore exactly what was available.

"One of the goals of the project is to make the modules flexible enough to use in any location in the territory and keep them as detailed as possible. In that respect, the cultural part helps pull it all together," said Maltin.

"Hopefully anyone -- a teacher or camp leader -- will feel the modules provide enough resources and good information to give them the ability to demonstrate hands-on, fun, outdoor activities that will spark an interest in the students."

During the week in Kimmirut, the development team, along with local elders, guides and students, spent two days on the land taking photos and filming activities to be used as resource material in the module kits.

Kimmirut co-principal and project member Pascal Baillargeon said it would be nice to see the project develop beyond these first few modules.

"As we develop these cross-cultural science programs, it would be nice to have every community involved," she said.

"With local development we can keep the project going beyond what is already started."

The group will meet for a third time in early June to prepare the final version of the three kits that will be submitted to the Department of Education.