MP Thomas gets close-up look at STEM camps

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on August 10, 2023.

Herald photo by Al Beeber Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas, at right, and Destination Exploration camp co-ordinator Danny Cuadra-Kadra talk as students work on their Operation game in the Medical Science Camp at the University of Lethbridge's Science Commons.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge Member of Parliament Rachael Thomas made some new friends and perhaps some lasting memories of some science-minded young students on Wednesday.

The MP spent time talking to students and learning about their projects during a visit to the Destination Exploration Camp at the University of Lethbridge.

The visit was part of a national “Bring Your MP to STEM Camp” week in which federal politicians across the country visited universities to see students engaging in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) endeavours.

The campaign is run by Actua, a Canadian STEM youth outreach network.

After watching 3-D printers in action, Thomas was led to the medical science camp where children aged seven to 10 were building their own Operation games.

Steph Elder, program co-ordinator of Destination Exploration at the University who holds a degree in civil engineering, said 2023 marks the 20th year of program at the U of L which is hosted in the Science Commons Building.

Camps this summer are running at 92 per cent capacity, Elder said, which is higher than in past years when capacity was around 70 per cent. Attendance this week alone had 64 participants.

“It’s just been a huge amount of uptake and you can just tell the kids are so excited to be here,” added Elder, who is also interim director of youth outreach for the Faculty of Arts and Science.

And while the U of L programs have a fee, outreach teams have been at the Blood Tribe and the Crossings branch of the Lethbridge public library hosting free drop-in camps for those who are financially unable to pay to attend a camp.

“Just because you don’t have money doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy STEM,” said Elder

Actua programming reaches almost 350,000 youth a year, Elder noted.

The Actua campaign is “to show that impact of what science can do to kids and how it is inspiring the next generation of innovators,” Elder said.

Destination Exploration activities are all about having fun with STEM “and showing kids and giving them confidence to continue” that exploration, Elder added.

Professor Trushar Patel said one stigma is that science is hidden behind walls and is exclusive with nobody having access to it.

“Our mission was that we wanted to make it open and accessible for everybody to come here,” he said. The mission for kids is to start learning early.

“People think that science is difficult,” he said.

“So when kids grow up in the same environment from Grade One for example, then nothing is difficult for them. The notion of difficulty goes away,” Patel said.

Elder told the MP in response to a question about the participation of girls in STEM, said there are two camps for girls and anybody who doesn’t identify as male and they are based around general STEM. The camps show that STEM is for everybody, Elder said.

“With diversity you get better science outcomes,” Elder said with participation rates in some programs about a 60/40 split. The medical science camp is about 50/50 in terms of numbers.

In coding camp, there are two females out of a class of 15.

For Thomas, “it’s really exciting to see young people get excited about science. And to have the opportunity at such a young age to try their hands at experimental things and learning a ton with regards to technology, science et cetera. It’s just really cool to see them have that chance to learn a lot while having a lot fun.”

Thomas has been to a few camps and said each one is unique.

She said it’s important for MPs to get involved in STEM.

“It’s really neat for us to have the chance to come and put our boots on the ground, so to speak, and see what young people are up to. As representatives, we have a responsibility to use our voice to advocate for things that are important to the nation and certainly science and technology is one of those things. Especially for young girls it’s really important for them to be celebrated and to have the opportunity to use their skills, their talents, their abilities, their passion for STEM and so I think this is a program that provides them that opportunity and as a female leader in the community I want to make sure that I get out and celebrate that.”

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