Kids get down and gooey at Nunavut science camp

Sebastian Qaumriaq, 11, plays with the liquid state of oobleck goo that he made at a CHARS science camp in Cambridge Bay Dec. 7. (PHOTO BY KELCEY WRIGHT)

Special to Nunatsiaq News

CAMBRIDGE BAY — Here’s one way to get kids’ attention: fill a table top with vegetable oil, antacid, vinegar, cornstarch water, glue, bowls and stir sticks and tell them to roll up their sleeves.

The Canadian High Arctic Research Station, set to open 2017 in Cambridge Bay, reached out to young, curious minds Dec. 7 with a science and technology camp that children everywhere would likely appreciate.

“We’re doing this so that kids can get more interested in science at a young age,” said Presley Taylor, one of the camp organizers. “The new CHARS building is coming and it’s going to be presenting lots of new opportunities [for work in the science field].”

Seven kids attended the free, one-hour camp at Kullik Ilihakvik elementary school, even though the event was postponed a day because of a possible blizzard in the western Kitikmeot town.

“It’s going to be fun,” said 10-year-old Sienna Aitaok, as she helped set up the experiments on tables in the gym. “Because [science is] always fun.”

Taylor, along with colleague Crystal Qaumriaq, planned experiments for the camp such as making a bubble bomb, making a lava lamp and creating ice bubbles.

“I didn’t get the opportunity [to experiment a lot] with science when I was younger,” said Taylor, who grew up in Cambridge Bay.

The camp, which ran from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m., was geared toward children in the community between ages six and 12 with an interest in science and technology.

And 11-year-old Sebastian Qaumriaq said he was excited about something very specific, “I’m looking forward to the oobleck [experiment] because it’s fun and gooey,” he said.

He didn’t have to wait long. The first order of the day was teaching kids how to create “oobleck” by combining corn starch and water.

“It’s cool because it’s a liquid and a solid,” said Presley Taylor.

And with just a simple experiment, instructors demonstrated the “wow” factor of science.

When the oobleck was placed on top of students’ hands, it looked like melted goo. But when they formed oobleck into balls, it acted like a solid and could even be bounced on the floor.

“This is my favourite,” said Qaumriaq with a smile on his face.

Although this was the first CHARS camp offered in Cambridge Bay, organizers are planning more for the future and they’ll let parents and children know the details of those camps with posters around town.