Aboriginal students Venture into engineering, science and math

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Venture_Camp1.jpg” caption=”Aboriginal student Shyann Jenkins (left), dissects a salamander at the Venture Engineering and Science Camp. Photo by Susan Bubak.”]Twenty young aboriginal students in the Hamilton area are getting an introduction to engineering, science and mathematics this week. The students, who range in age from seven to 12, are enrolled in the youth program run by the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre and are participating in the popular Venture Engineering and Science Camp at McMaster University.

“Aboriginal youth tend to shy away from math and science when pursuing further studies,” explained Christine General, special projects coordinator for the Indigenous Studies Program at McMaster. “Introducing the students to these subjects at a younger age gives them a better idea of the types of careers they can pursue and the skills they'll need.”

Participation in the camp was arranged through the Indigenous Studies Program, which applied for funding through the Aboriginal Education Training Strategy program to pay the costs of their participation.

The Faculty of Engineering Alumni Office, which runs Venture, was approached by the Indigenous Studies Program to partner with their camp and ensure that content would be meaningful to aboriginal youth.

These children would never be given the opportunity to participate in an engineering, science and math camp of this quality without this support,” said Ashley Hill, the Akwe:go program coordinator, Hamilton Regional Indian Centre. “This is an opportunity that could be life-altering for them and we thank everyone who made it happen.”

Akwe:go is a program for urban aboriginal children that seeks to improve their quality of life. The Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres operates the program.

“The aboriginal community needs more of its young people trained to provide health services,” said Yvonne Bomberry, program coordinator, Aboriginal Students Health Sciences. “The camp experience builds the confidence of students in their ability to learn math and science, which is needed for many health careers.”

Activities in the Venture Engineering and Science, Computer and Technology Camps are designed to blend engineering, science, computers and technology with hands-on experience and creative opportunities. The one-week long camps are for students in Grades 3 to 9. More than 1,000 young people participate each summer. Venture recently received a Reader's Choice Diamond Award from Hamilton Community Newspapers as best summer camp in the area.

“We have students who went to Venture now enrolled in engineering, science and health sciences at McMaster, and some are even running the camps,” said Carm Vespi, manager of alumni relations for the Faculty of Engineering, who started Venture in 1990. “The activities are designed so that all the campers have fun and learn that they can be good at science, math and engineering.”