Do you know the science behind powering up an LED lightbulb using lemons as batteries?  Can you whip up your own ice cream in a Ziploc bag?  Would you be victorious in a muskox fight?

These are just a few of the unique skills taught at the first-ever Agnico Eagle Qamani’tuaq Summer Camp, as a way of giving back to the community of Baker Lake. Thirty-five young people, between the ages of 9 and 15, attended the camp in late July to enjoy this one-of-a-kind learning experience.

Designed to provide life-long skills in a fun and physically active learning environment, Agnico Eagle employees pitched in and helped teach many of the sessions. Campers not only improved their self-esteem, they learned new communication and interpersonal skills that will help them in school and in their future careers. The campers attended week-long sessions in one of three different disciplines – science camp, cooking camp or sports camp.

Why science and mining Matters!

Fifteen science campers explored various scientific disciplines, including electricity, chemistry and geology. Geology intern Philippe Mongeau, from the Amaruq site, held a workshop to explain how gold is formed around the world and in Nunavut; and he organized a scavenger hunt for rock samples that contained gold. Mining Matters – an Agnico Eagle partner – covered all aspects of mining and related careers such as geography, robots and soapstone carvings. The campers also learned about electricity and how it manifests itself in everyday objects. Students were surprised to learn they could create their own electrical circuit to power an LED light bulb using lemons as batteries and copper wires and nails to create the positive and negative poles!

Cooking – it’s in the Bag!  

Seven cooking campers learned about healthy eating habits and food safety. Under the guidance of Gabriel Morin, students prepared meals for over 40 people. And with instruction from local elder Susan Toolooktook, the students made a traditional meal of caribou and muskox stew, while Meadowbank summer student nutritionist France Ladouceur presented a nutrition workshop.

And, since science is everywhere even the cooking campers were learning about things like heat transfer and crystallization when they made their own ice cream in a Ziploc bag using heavy whipping cream, ice and salt.

Tag, you’re IT!  

Thirteen sports campers learned new and traditional sports, with laser tag proving to be their favorite activity! While being extremely fun and competitive, it also taught them the basics of laser technology and allowed them to get in plenty of exercise. Thanks also to Luc Brassard, Production Equipment Trainer at our Meadowbank site, who taught the students the elements of self-defence at his boxing workshop.

At the end of the camp Agnico Eagle hosted a celebration enabling the students to show their families what they had accomplished with photos, displays and stories. Each camper received personalized comments from their instructors as well as a cooking, science or sports related prize – such as a recipe book, National Geographic science activity kit or a water gun.

Agnico Eagle’s Amy Tremblay-Lemay, who organized the camp, commented, “Our goal as to help these young people learn valuable technical and interpersonal skills in a fun and active environment. We also wanted to give them the opportunity to get out of the house, away from computer screens and TVs, and to learn more about the world around them, whether through science, sport or the world of cooking. The Qamani’tuaq Summer Camp was a great success and we hope the children and youth of Baker Lake continue to use the new skills they have learned.”

Extra Credit:  

Campers with good attendance and participation were eligible for a draw to win a bike from the Baker Lake Northern Store.  Congratulations to Alisson Tupik and Matthew Evviuk on their WINS!

And, we’d also like to extend special thanks to our Agnico Eagle employees, local experts and Elders, as well as all of the partners who helped make the Qamani’tuaq Summer Camp a success, including the Baker Lake Northern Store, the Hamlet of Baker Lake, the Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) and the Baker Lake Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).