HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-08-08, Page 2424
Times -Advocate
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Tech camp teaches local students variety of skills
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
CLINTON — Students in both local school boards
received some hands-on training in science and technol-
ogy last week.
Twenty-five students attended a week-long Skilled
Training Educational Partnership tech camp last week
at Clinton's St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School (anoth-
er 35 attended in Stratford). The camp, designed to
introduce students to science, technology, skill develop-
ment and creative thinking, was hosted by the Huron -
Perth Catholic District School Board and the Avon
Maitland District School Board. In addition to learning,
the point of the camp was "to have a lot of fun," camp
co-ordinator Tim Martens, also the Catholic board's
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) co-ordi-
nator, told the Times -Advocate Friday.
Under the supervision of staffers Bart Drennan and
Jason Steinmann, students made electronically -trig-
gered rockets, carbon dioxide powered cars, can crush-
ers and wooden toolboxes.
Friday they had fun launching their rockets, which can
reach heights of between 500 and 1,500 metres, racing
their cars and holding pit car races, during which they
used air -powered tools to change car tires as fast as
possible.
Martens said organizers hope to expand the program
next year and allow more students (he said the camp
could have been filled three times over this year). This is
the fourth year for the camp and Martens said the pro-
jects differ each summer.
He added training in tech skills is a necessity and the
camp helps generate student interest in such skills.
Ready to launch —Twenty-five students, including many from the Times -Advocate's readership area, took
part last week in a science and tech camp at St.Anne's Catholic Secondary School in Clinton.The students
worked on many projects during the week, including electronically -triggered rockets, seen above. From left are
ChrisVerbeke,Will Kwajafa, David Lenting,Wes Lenting, Evan Winbow, Shea Robinson and Nathan Martens.
(photos/Scott Nixon)
The camp was sponsored by the Huron Development
Corporation, the Huron Manufacturers' Association,
OYAP, the Stratford and Area Builders Association, the
Training Board and the Foundation for Education.
Scotts welcome exchange student
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — "We still stay in
touch weekly...they become
friends for life," says Paul Scott
of Exeter, who, along with wife
Christina and children Amy and
Alisha are becoming used to hav-
ing someone new staying with
them once a year with the Lions
International Youth Exchange.
Staying with the Scotts this
year is 19 -year-old Trine Sonne
of Denmark.
Sonne arrived in Exeter July 7
from her home in Jutland and
will stay in Canada until Sunday.
It is the first trip outside of
Europe for Sonne although she
has travelled extensively to other
countries in Europe such as
Germany, France, Hungary and
Czechoslovakia.
Sonne spent the first week of
her visit with the Scotts on a visit
to Killbear Provincial Park and
has been to Niagara Falls,
Canada's Wonderland, the CN
Tower, a Blue Jays game and
Elmira.
She also spent a few days at the
Bruce Murray Lions Camp in
Brantford with exchange stu-
dents from around the world.
After graduating from high
school last year, Sonne will
attend university this fall to study
psychology and has worked as a
substitute teacher and a day care
worker.
As well as English, Sonne said
she speaks a little bit of French
and German and is studying
Latin.
Although Sonne said she didn't
know much about Canada before
she arrived, she has a friend who
was born here and was told
Canadians would welcome her
which she says has happened.
While her town of Jutland, with
10,000 people is a little bigger
than Exeter, Sonne says Canada
has been pretty much as she
expected.
At home in Denmark, Sonne
says her hobbies include working
out, reading, music and spending
time with family and friends.
One of her family activities
Visitors from abroad — From left, Christina,Amy,Alicia and Paul
Scott are again hosting a Lions youth exchange student this summer
with Trine Sonne (middle) from Denmark staying with the Exeter family.
Also staying in the area on exchange visits are in back, Michaela
Kysucka' from Slovakia and Yannie Tang from Hong Kong. (photo/Pat
Bolen)
includes camping which she said
made the trip to Killbear a great
experience.
Other activities Sonne will take
in during her visit will include
trips to Grand Bend, shopping in
London and Iceculture in
Hensall.
She will also be taken up for a
plane ride by Tom Hartai to view
the area around Exeter.
Some of the differences Sonne
has noticed include breakfast
food, with more muffins for
breakfast at the youth camp
instead of the regular porridge
and yogurt regularly served in
Denmark.
She added that students in all
grades in Denmark address
teachers by their first name
instead of Mr. or Mrs.
One of the other differences
Sonne has noticed is the size of
the country, with only four to five
hours required to cross Denmark
compared to several days for
Canada.
Paul said the Scotts became
involved in the Lions exchange
visits when Christina visited
Sweden on an exchange as a 20
year old and still stays in touch
with the family.
Paul said the Scotts talked to
Sonne online and exchanged
photos for six weeks before she
arrived, something he said has
made the visit easier.
The Scotts have hosted students
from Australia, Turkey and
Holland and Paul says the family
has open invitations to visit them
in their home countries, some-
thing the Scotts plan on doing
when their children are older.
Ready, set ... —Above, Shea Robinson prepares her
rocket for takeoff.
Mystery run Aug. 15
By Rhoda Rohde
THAMES ROAD CORRESPONDENT
THAMES ROAD - There will be a community bridal
shower for Lori Richardson on Thurs., Aug. 23 at 8
p.m. in the church basement. Everyone welcome.
Our granddaughter Karen (Rohde) Geiger and her
husband Ben Geiger returned home on Friday evening
after having spent a week in Japan. They were sent by
W.G. Thompson & son of Hensall.
Glenn and Marilyn Rohde, Bill and Rhoda Rohde were
Sunday noon guests with Dan and Nancy Rohde,
Elizabeth, Emma and Megan at Balinafad
August 15 UCW Mystery Run 5:15 p.m. departure
from the church parking lot. Food, fun, fellowship and
mystery. Note the change of date. Contact Carolyn
Johns 229-6312 or Virginia Warwick 235-3670.
Happy belated b birthday wishes to Doug Rohde Aug.
5. Happy birthday to Kathy Rohde Aug. 9. Happy
anniversary to Ben and Karen Geiger Aug. 15 and
happy birthday to Robert Bray Aug. 16