Hands-on skills: training programs prep First Nation youth for industry.

• Author: Latimer, Kim
• Position: FORESTRY

Outland Camps is becoming recognized as a national leader for their six-week live-in summer work experience program supporting Aboriginal youth.

Dave Bradley, regional manager for their Thunder Bay office, has been invited to British Columbia to present the program model.

"Outland Camps is well known for our contracting experience in a wide range of services to the natural resources management sector and for our experience delivering employment and training programs, and we have such an enormous opportunity to play a positive role with First Nation communities as they build capacity to make informed decisions about and participate in the economic opportunities emerging around them," Bradley said.

Partnered with Confederation College, the company has facilitated the First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program for 14 years. The program is aimed at students aged 16-19 who are individually selected by their band to spend six weeks living and working at Outland's remote camp.

Currently, the program operates out of one camp near Upsala in northwestern Ontario.

There they learn hands-on skills related to forestry, mining and environmental stewardship. The goal is to prepare and motivate them for future educational and career opportunities.

"It's far from your typical summer job," said Bradley.

"It also teaches students life skills; they learn about diet and nutrition, sleep, the importance of routine in school and at work and living away from home. They form incredible friendships in a short time and learn about teamwork. You can actually see how the experience changes the youths' outlook toward work and education."

Bradley said the live-in camp allows participants to be away from the day-to-day pressures of home and allows them to "flourish in a safe, predictable environment.

We see them become proud of their accomplishments and gain a very positive mental outlook.

The camp experience serves as great practice for eventual employment opportunities in the resource sector operating in remote locations.

Each summer about 30 students from both fly-in and road access communities participate. Over the years, a total of 296 First Nation youth from across Northern Ontario have completed the program. It earns them two high school credits toward their secondary school diplomas.

Youth from 46 First Nations have participated over the years, including 18 communities this year.

Overall, the program boasts a 94 per cent completion rate.

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