[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/inquiry_camp.jpg” caption=”Photo: Inquiry camp instructors, back row, front row, left to right. Back: Heather Ambraska, Margaret Secord, Leo Paraskevopoulos, Daniel Hesse. Front: Elaine Cheng, Jaimini Chauhan, Caroline Chua, Annie Doan.”]It's fun to learn as part of a group tackling problems. Now McMaster University students want to share the fun at a new, innovative summer camp for children aged 11 to 14.

The Junior Inquiry Camp is founded on an increasingly popular method of education called inquiry-based learning which maintains that learning and personal development are inseparable.

Junior Inquiry Camp will help campers develop these skills in collaboration with peers, leadership, teamwork, and communication. Campers will develop a multitude of abilities through thematic projects, as well as team-building exercises, workshops, presentations from experts, and physical and artistic activities.

Recent graduates of the University's Bachelor of Health Sciences honours program (BHSc), motivated by their experiences with inquiry-based learning, will lead the week-long camp sessions, which begin in July.

Threes sessions will be offered:

• July 11-15 – Session 1: Rev Your Engines
• July 18-22 – Session 2: Explore Our Extreme Environment
• July 25-29 – Session 3: Create A Sport Challenge

Margaret Secord, assistant professor, BHSc, the campus co-ordinator, says: “Groups exist everywhere: we all work in teams, we all live in families, and we all play with others. Children are naturally curious and keen to learn and the new camp will allow them the opportunity to explore and research topics of interest within the context of a group.”

More information is available at http://bhss.ca/jic or call 905-525-9140.