OTTAWA - For one week last fall, Thomas Ford was immersed in a world of science and technology in the nation's capital.

The 17-year-old Grade 11 student from Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit took part in the Encounters with Canada program at the Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre in Ottawa.

In the fall of 2010, Thomas Ford went to Ottawa to participate in the Encounters with Canada program. - photo courtesy of Encounters with Canada

"I learned about things I'd never heard of before," said Ford.

He was there for the science and technology week Oct. 3 to 9, 2010.

Every week the Encounters with Canada program brings together high school students from across the country. Ford is one of more than 85,000 youth who have taken part in the program during the past 29 years.

While Ford was there he said he got to do many activities including visit the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, the Canada Science and Technology Museum and the Canadian Museum of Nature laboratories.

He said he learned about DNA forensics, stem cell research and how nitric cotton is made.

The teenager, who was born in Churchill, Man., and has lived in Whale Cove and Iqaluit, said he had high expectations going into the program.

"A few of my friends who had gone before me said it was one of the best weeks of their lives and when I went I was expecting quite a bit but it was amazing."

In addition to the science and technology related activities, Ford and the other participants took in the sights and sounds of the nation's capital including visits to the Parliament buildings. He said they also got to sit in on Question Period to watch "all the politicians arguing with each other."

When he finishes high school, Ford said he is interested in studying psychology.

"I want to get into that to learn the chemistry of the brain," he said.

He will take what he absorbed from the week in Ottawa about biology and chemistry and put it to good use eventually, he said.

Five months after taking part in Encounters with Canada, Ford said it still feels like only yesterday since he was there.

"I made a lot of new friends who I still talk to this day," he said.

Through the use of Facebook and the alumni web page, Ford will be able to keep in touch with his new friends.

The teen said he highly recommends other youth between the ages of 14-17 apply for the program.

"You get to experience something new and it's a chance to get see what you've never seen before if you haven't been out of the territory."