FORT SIMPSON - Put together a group of youth, give them each an owl pellet and some directions from a knowledgeable instructor and you have a recipe for sparking an interest in science.

Charles Blondin displays the vole bones that he discovered in an owl pellet during the Blazing Trails science camp in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Digging through owl pellets, the mass of undigested matter that owls regurgitate, may not be for the squeamish. However, participants of the Blazing Trails summer day camp science program were gung-ho about the experience. The focus of the camp on July 26 was biology.

"Look what I found, this is cool," said Brent Villeneuve.

Villeneuve, 7, showed off the jawbones, teeth and a skull of a vole that he picked out of his owl pellet using two bamboo skewers and his hands. The front teeth are very sharp, said Villeneuve.

Other participants were also more than eager to share their discoveries with each other.

"Look at all the dead body parts I have," said Charles Blondin.

Sitting beside him, Nicholas Lirette discovered his owl had eaten two mice when he found four jawbones and two skulls in his pellet.

"I liked digging through it and finding new stuff I'd never seen before," said Lirette.

Discovering the dietary habits of owls was just one of the activities that children at the camp in Fort Simpson experienced between July 23-27.

Lirette's favourite activity was making toy cars that run on wind power provided by a fan and an elastic band.

"I learned that science is very important to my life," said Lirette.

"Without science we wouldn't be able to move, walk, run or any of that fun stuff."

Increasing youth's awareness and desire to seek a career in the sciences was one of the key goals of the camp, said Tonya Cazon, the Brighter Futures co-ordinator with Liidlii Kue First Nation. The camp was funded by Brighter Futures and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Another goal was to build self-esteem.

The camp profiled aboriginal scientists showing that this is an option, said Cazon. Emphasis was also put on the connection between stewardship of the land and science and technology.

Michael Paulin, an instructor with Elephant Thoughts, provided the scientific knowledge at the camp. Elephant Thoughts is a charity based in Ontario founded by teachers, principals and professional educators.

One of the organization's programs is the Canadian Aboriginal Youth Science Initiative (CAYSI) which brings science programs to remote aboriginal communities.

Fort Simpson was unique because most of the communities the organization works in don't have road access, said Paulin. The youth at the camp were excited to learn, he said.

"They're wonderful kids," said Paulin.

Digging vole bones out of owl pellets was the best part of the camp for River Norwegian.

"It was fun and you get to take it home," she said.

Owl pellets weren't the only things she learned about.

"I learned that bugs have three parts of their bodies," she said.

After going to the camp, Norwegian said she's interested in science but isn't sure she'll grow up to be a biologist.

"There's lots of gross stuff," said Norwegian.

Aside from biology, participants in the camp also had the opportunity to study astronomy, chemistry, entomology (the study of insects), gravity and the environment.