To a by-stander, it may seem like playing in the sand. However, to the 52 high school students who have come to Hamilton from all parts of Canada, it is an enlightening lesson about the challenges that are faced by a modern city.

The event is Shad City, and it will be taking place Friday, July 9 and Saturday, July 10 at Kelso Conservation Area. The students are participants in an elite summer science, technology, mathematics, and entrepreneurship program called Shad Valley.

During Shad City, 52 of Canada's brightest students will be challenged to produce a plan for building a city, while considering social, economic, and environmental issues. The participants will be divided into four groups, each responsible for a particular section of the city.

On Friday night, the four groups will collaborate to produce a master plan for the development of their city. In addition to considering resource and infrastructure issues, the participants will also have to elect officials to oversee the city.

Saturday morning, their plans will be put to the test as they spend two hours building their model city from sand on the beach.

Joanne Leung, an urban designer with the City of Hamilton, will be participating in Shad City. Says Leung, “This project is important since it allows the Shads to recognize that out cities are human communities. Shad City will give them an understanding of what an urban setting needs to manage and to survive.”