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31TuesdayJune182013ForestcampfostersleadershipskillsinNWTyouthKeepersoftheNWTputsyouthonthelandwaterandcareerpathByMEAGANWOHLBERGStudentsfromFortProvi-denceandFortMcPhersonspentvedayswithforestryexpertsonthelandatSandyLakebetweenHayRiverandFortSmithlastweektolearnmoreaboutthewildernessandhonetheirleadershipskills.Thethirdannualforestecol-ogycamphostedbythede-partmentofEnvironmentandNaturalResourcesENRisoneofthenalcomponentsofthetwo-yearKeepersoftheNWTprogramforyouthaged14-17ledbyDehGahSchooloutofFortProvidence.Thefocusistocreateex-perientialbasedlearningop-portunitiesforyouthfromanumberofcommunitiestobringthekidstogethersothattheybegintomeetotheryouthwiththesamekindsofinterestssaidLoisPhilippprincipalatDehGahandtheKeepersprogramfounder.Itstobuildenvironmen-talstewardship.Weliveinanamazingpartoftheworldandifwecangetourkidsoutintoitinanenvironmentthatteachesthemtoappreciateitandrespectitanduseitwellthenthosearethelessonsthattheycantakewiththemshesaid.NinestudentsworkedwithrecrewsbothonlandandintheairAuroraCollegestaffforestrytechniciansandel-derstolearneverythingfromrepreventionandmanage-menttousingaGPSandcompasstreeidenticationandhowtoageatreestandthroughtreecoring.ThewholeideaoftheKeep-ersprogramistodeveloplead-ershipskillsintheenvironmentforyouthsaidStephanieYuillpubliceducationspecialistforENRwhohelpsleadthecamp.Wetrytomakeitasall-encompassingaswecan.Firecrewsgavestudentsthechancetotryoutreght-ingequipmentlikehosesandWajaxpacks.TheyalsometwithFireSmartcoordinatorWesSteedtoassesshousesaroundFortSmithandwereabletocomparelastweeksburnnearSaltMountaintoonefromtheyearbeforeinthesameareawithParksCanadawhoalsogavethekidsatouroftheAngusretowersite.ButthemajormomentoftheweekwasgoingupinthehelicopterYuillsaid.Ofcoursealotofkidsthisyearwanttobeapilotshesaidwithalaugh.Certainlyweuseaircraftandhelicoptersquiteabitwithinthereghtingandeventheforestryindustriessotheygottogoupinahelicopterthisyearandtheylovedit.Imguessingitwasprobablytheirhighlight.FoundedthreeyearsagoinFortProvidencetheKeepersprogramattemptstomovetheclassroomoutsideonseverallargeexcursionsoverape-riodoftwoyears.Studentsbeginbydoingave-daywinterhuntingtripinyearonewheretheyobtainboththeirrstaidandre-armssafetytrainingfollowedbyaatwatercanoetripthatgivesthemtheirbasicPad-dleCanadaatwatercanoecertication.Justlastweekagroupofrst-yearsnishedtheir10-daycanoetripfromFortProvidencetoWillowRivernearWrigley.InthesecondyeartheytakeatripsouthtotheannualIndspireAwardswheretheynotonlyattendacareerfairbutvisitlocaluniversitiesandcollegesandvolunteerforinnercityorganizations.AftertheforestecologycampstudentswillheadoutononemorepaddlingexcursionnearYellowknifeearningtheircanoetrippingcertication.ItsaboutgettingthemoutintoprogramsthataretotallyexperientialandtotallyonthelandPhilippsaid.ParticipatingstudentshavecomefromFortSmiththeHayRiverReserveKakisaFortResolutionNahanniButteFortMcPhersonandFortProvidenceovertheyears.NextyearPhilippsaidthegoalistogiveevenmorestudentstheopportunitytoparticipate.Nowthatwevebuiltsomeofthesepartnershipsthatideallyaresustainablewecanbegintoopenituptoabroaderrangeofcommunitiesshesaid.PhotosStephanieYuillEdmundGarganleftlendsBlakeMenozabothfromFortProvidenceahandwithhaulingrewood.ManagerofForestsfortheSouthSlaveRickOlsenleftexplainswhatisneededtostartaretothegroupofstudents.FirecrewmemberEdwardBugghinsinstructsPeterSnow-shoeofFortMcPhersononusingthehosetoghtwildres.StudentsfromFortProvidenceandFortMcPhersonhavefunwithNWTrecrewmembersEdwardandJamesBugghinssettingupahoseoutatSandyLakeduringlastweeksforestecologycamp.EducationOntheLand