BAKER LAKE/KIVALLIQ
Students with an affinity for science from across the Kivalliq descended upon Baker Lake for the annual Kivalliq Science-Culture Camp on the land earlier this month.
Arviat students Damaris Nutarasungik, Holly Ann Uladualak, Anthony Malla and Isaiah Curley, from left, join teacher Kelsey Nickel to check out the Vault pit at the Meadowbank gold mine. - photo courtesy of Matt Thompson |
The camp ran from Sept. 7 to 11, was sponsored by the Kivalliq Science Educator's Community (KSEC), and was held in the Blueberry Hill area.
KSEC co-president Matt Thompson of Tusarvik School in Naujaat was attending his third camp.
Thompson said the camp went exceptionally well.
He said the students did well, helped out a lot and enjoyed the various activities.
"In 2015 we had to pack up a day early because the tents were blowing down, but we had better weather this year," said Thompson.
"We stuck with the rocks-and-minerals theme because, being in Baker, the Meadowbank gold mine is right there.
"The camp had three workshops - rocks and minerals, first aid and the global positioning system (GPS)."
A total of 28 students took part this year, with five communities sending four and host Baker Lake having eight.
Whale Cove could not send students this year due to an abnormally high staff turnover leaving no teacher available to chaperon.
Thompson said the students were quite excited about this year's camp.
He said the GPS segment is always popular with students, and the tour of Meadowbank is also a big hit with the youths.
"Jim Kreuger of Baker, who, I believe, has attended all but one of the camps, observed that the students had a better time with the first-aid segment this year.
"Part of that may have been due to experience, with the teachers having attended previous camps.
"Small modifications were made to the first-aid segment over the years, resulting in less book work and more practical experience.
"The students were talking about it a bit more fondly than in previous years."
Thompson said the Meadowbank tour gave the students plenty to digest.
He said they toured the Vault pit, core shack, maintenance and emergency rooms, among others.
"We saw a lot of different parts of the mine.
"And Agnico Eagle gave a presentation on employment opportunities, which made a strong impression on the students.
"We had a big bonfire during our final night at camp, and held the GPS Challenge during our final day.
"Each community was a team - Baker had two - and had to put six co-ordinates into the GPS, find the locations and a little Ziplock bag at each one with a question inside, answer the questions and return to the starting point."
KSEC co-president Kelsey Nickel of John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat was at her second science-culture camp this year, and said every student received two academic credits.
She said being part of KSEC a number of years and knowing how the camp runs enabled her to better prepare her students.
"I knew the layout of the camp and what was supposed to happen during my first year, but I didn't know how to properly devise the daily schedule for maximum efficiency," said Nickel.
"I was better able to prepare students from my own school this year, especially after realizing it was going to be very similar to last year's.
"We had absolutely no issues with any of the students, and the experienced staff was a big advantage in organizing the camp."
Nickel said it was interesting to read the students' comments on what they liked best about the camp this year, because so many had a different answer.
She said that shows the students were surprised by some of the self-discoveries they made at the camp.
"I had one girl who didn't think she could sleep on the land for four days, but she made it and liked knowing she could do something she'd never done before.
"The students were always in groups and helping each other at the camp.
"One evening it was pouring down rain and the girls in my tent had to get the food ready fast, or everyone was going to get soaked.
"They all sat around and did homework together later and, as a teacher, that's something really great to see."
Nickel said many students apply for the science-culture camp at the schools every year, and it can be difficult selecting just four.
She said the number of students who apply shows how much they want to attend the camp and how valuable of an experience they see it as.
"Whether it's the science fair or science-culture camp, I always get full participation because they want to learn in a unique way.
"That's especially true with camp because it's so connected with their culture and they like learning outside.
"There's very little complaining from the students when they're on the land, and you hear a lot more positive words coming out of their mouths out there than you might in the classroom."
