Camp lets children explore the mysteries of science

Free weeklong camp run by U of A also gives med students a chance to volunteer

At one end of the craft table at Rockin’ Docs, two young campers discuss the challenge before them. Their goal is to craft an egg protector out of craft supplies, inspired by what they’d learned that day about the brain.

Earlier, campers had drawn brains on swim caps and identified the different functions of the lobes. Now, they were exploring how to protect them.

Eight-year-old Nahilli Ahmed’s egg protector featured two Styrofoam bowls joined in the middle with pipe cleaners. Her egg would be nestled in the top bowl with newspaper for protection.

Elizabeth Bridgen, 7, said the egg should go between the bowls instead, but Nahilli remained confident her egg would be safe.

Both girls were among the students Thursday at a free, weeklong day camp put on by the University of Alberta Medical School which gives local kids the opportunity to learn about health and science. It also provided medical students a chance to volunteer their skills. One of the camp counsellors, Nikki Mitchell, wants to be a pediatrician after she graduates.

“Our main goal is really to just start kids young knowing about health and medicine,” she said.

That includes teaching them about different bodily functions and healthy habits.

It’s also designed, she said, to get them interested in the sciences.

Next week, the counsellors will run another camp for kids in grades 4 to 6.

Camper Ricky Jai said one of his favourite things about Rockin’ Docs was learning about bones.

A counsellor asked him how many bones are in the body. “206,” he said, smiling.

Not all of the campers had smiles after testing their egg protectors. Nahilli’s contraption fell heavy side down and sprung a tell-tale leak. Elizabeth’s egg survived, though she gleefully said she wanted to try to break it anyway.

Nahilli said her week at Rockin’ Docs has been a lot of fun.

“We learn about what they do when they do surgery,” she said. “And (we learn) how to protect yourself. And that’s what this is about — how to protect your head.”

Our main goal is really to just start kids young knowing about health and medicine.

DAVID BLOOM Alexis Overacker, 9, reacts after the protective housing she created failed to protect her egg during a Rockin’ Docs summer camp egg drop experiment Thursday at the Edmonton Health Clinic Academy.