Northland School Division

Back Row: Delicia Laboucan, Little Buffalo School Front Row: Dayne Laboucan, Atikameg School, Brent Letendre, Red Earth Creek School, Celeste Anderson, Atikameg School, Teryn Laboucan, Little Buffalo School, Colin Mackay, Little Buffalo School Teacher

Over 40 students from Little Buffalo, Atikameg and Red Earth Creek participated in an innovative Career Explorations Camp (October 27-30, 2014).

The camp was made possible through a partnership between Northern Lakes College (NLC), Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (KTC), Peace River School Division (PRSD), Alberta Distance Learning (ADLC), Alberta Education and Northland School Division No.61 (NSD61). The purpose of the camp was to give students an opportunity to earn credits for high school graduation and experience careers such as carpentry, media studies (photography), culinary arts, oil and gas training, electrical, millwright and welding.

Donna Barrett, Superintendent of Schools for Northland School Division, says the camp was a major success.

“The Career Explorations Camp is a model that works for our students,” says Barrett. Students were engaged in the content they were learning and making connections with curriculum. We are moving towards providing more of these opportunities because it increases student interest and attendance. This event is an example of what is possible when people work together to help tomorrow’s leaders.”

A terrific example of student engagement occurred in the carpentry class. In two days, students built an ice fishing shack! Another highlight saw students cook delicious homemade pizzas, salad and desserts for the banquet. The camp provided ADLC with a perfect location to pilot a Service Rig Simulator course. The course was developed to help students become familiar with what a service rig is and what a service rig operator does.

“This is the first group of students we’ve got to observe go through it [Service Rig Simulation course],” said Frank McCallum, Associate Principal, ADLC. “What we have seen is that it is incredibly engaging. The simulation piece is really capturing them [students]. The video piece is a good way to do the instructional side and the assessment piece compels a student to pick up vital details.”

ADLC believes this course could be offered as a CTS course or a locally developed five credit course.