LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Curtis McTaggart learned a few things while watching two grams of sugar burn.

"That was interesting," McTaggart said.

The reaction caused by mixing the sugar with an oxidizing agent and a catalyst to reveal how much energy is in the common sweetener was just one of the experiments that was conducted during the Fun with Chemistry workshop.

The workshop was part of the Mackenzie Regional Youth Conference at Thomas Simpson School.

Held from Feb. 24 to 26 the ninth annual conference brought together 260 students from 12 communities, the largest attendance yet. The conference is designed to promote healthy, social interaction among youths, said Robert Byatt, the principal of Thomas Simpson School.

The conference's secondary goal is to expose youths to new ideas and subject matter outside the scope of the regular curriculum, Byatt said. To meet this goal the conference included 45 presenters who led workshops on a variety of topics, ranging from archeology to harmonica basics. One of the most popular workshops was hoop dancing led by Jackson and Byron Beardy. The workshop, which gave the participants a chance to learn hoop dancing, was full all eight times it was offered.

During the conference students were able to participate in eight different workshops. The whole event went very well, said Blyth who credited the school's teachers and staff for the success.

"It's a huge job," he said.

Many teachers and staff put in 12-hour days or longer during the conference, work that is above and beyond their duties, Blyth said.

One of the benefits to hosting the conference is receiving positive feedback from former students who are now returning as presenters, he said. Greg Hopf, Vanessa Gerlock and Raquel Michaud were all cases in point this year.

"Our success is long term in this business," said Blyth.

"We are winning and we are developing pretty neat talents."

The amount of Northern content at the conference is growing because former students who are excelling in their careers want to come back and be a part of the event, he said.

The conference is a great opportunity for students from smaller communities, said Terry Davidson, the principal of Louie Norwegian School.

Five students from Jean Marie River, almost the entire school population, attended the conference.

"They love it," Davidson said.

The conference lets students sample education from across the territory led by people with a broad range of skills, he said.

Because there aren't a lot of opportunities in the smaller communities it means a lot for the students to be able to come, said Jeicaa McLeod, who led workshops on music, dance and the medicine wheel.

The conference has a positive atmosphere and message for the participants, she said.

"I get a lot from the kids. I feel so honoured just to be with them," said McLeod, who's from Lesser Slave Lake, Alta.

For Etoah Antoine of Fort Providence some of the conference highlights included the hypnotist show and the Fun with Chemistry workshop.

Antoine, 12, is already making plans to attend the next conference in two years.

"I thought it was really awesome," she said.