SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Science classrooms with textbooks, beakers and chemistry charts can't stack up to time on the land, according to one biologist.

"Kids going to these (on-the-land) camps tell me frequently they learn more in 10 days on the land then they've learned the whole year in a science class," said Steve Matthews, one of the founders of the Tundra Science Camp

Fourteen students and two teachers from Behchoko and Yellowknife participated in this summer's camp from July 24 to Aug. 1, which included some cross-cultural lessons.

The students and teachers travelled to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (ENR) Tundra Ecosystem Research Station at Daring Lake, approximately 300 km northeast of Yellowknife.

Instructors included scientists, environmental educators, on-site researchers and Dene elders.

"The real teacher is the land," said Jamie Bastedo, environmental educator and instructor at the camp. "It has this magic effect on the kids."

The goal of the trip is learning about the land from both scientific and Dene perspectives.

"We wanted to run a camp but instead of offering it to university students ... why not offer it to high school students," Matthews said.

Some of the topics studied were geology, archeology, birds, plants, grizzly bears, caribou and traditional knowledge. The students learned how these different subjects are connected in the tundra environment.

Tom Andrews, archeologist with the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, has been teaching at the camp since it started in 1995.

"Basically (the students) get to work with all the 'ologists," said Andrews, who takes the students to study the various archeology sites around the area.

He said the sites offer the students an amazing perspective of the area.

"There's a massive transformation that happens," said Andrews. "They really gain a deep understanding for Barren Land ecology but also the human connection to that as well."

Zack Sullivan, 15, a student of Sir John Franklin High School, chose to be involved because he wants to be a guide in the future.

"I really wanted to get to know the tundra and experience that," said Sullivan, who was impressed when he first saw the geography.

"It was pretty unbelievable," he said. "The landscape was surreal, I just loved it."

His favourite part of the trip was working with the elders, he added.

For the cross-cultural aspect of the program, students learned places names, stories about the area, how to tan hides and make babiche - a thread or lacing made from rawhide or gut - work with beads and craft traditional tools.

"Kids are getting their hands dirty," said ENR's Stephanie Yuill, who worked as the co-ordinator at the camp. "They are literally scooping sands into their hands."

Matthews said the camp can inspire students to pursue future careers in science and further their education.

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