by Maria Koropecky
the Peninsula News Review newspaper
Wednesday, September 9, 1998, page 21
Dissecting human cadavers, reading X-rays, learning how to diagnose arthritis, and testing tap water in a nuclear reactor — it's not the fodder for your typical summer vacation.
But it's how Sidney resident Chantal Moore spent her time — fully immersed in the wonderful world of science and technology.
With high academic achievements in her back pocket, the 17-year-old Parkland Secondary School scholar just returned from Shad Valley Science Camp, an intensive four-week summer program which fosters future generations of doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs.
Moore, who ranks among Canada's top two per cent of math and science students, is still beaming from her adventure. "It was the best experience I've ever had."
Encouraged by her counsellor and principal, Moore, who was the only representative from Victoria region this year, was accepted into the program after applying a second time. Counting Nobel Prize winners and Guinness Book of World Record holders among its alumni, competition to participate in the academic summer camp is extremely tight.
Founded in 1981, Shad Valley chooses 425 top math and science students from all over Canada to attend. Once selected, the participants are placed in one of eight Canadian universities, sending 50 students to each campus.
McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario became Moore's home away from home for four weeks in July. Although the students stayed in residence, the schedule was so jam-packed, they didn't sleep much. Moore says five-minute power maps were the way to go.
And in motivational lectures scheduled every other morning, the participants learned to think for themselves, try out new ideas and how to take risks. "They taught us, if you have an idea, stop what you're doing and try it right away."
By working in teams of four, 10 or 12, Canada's brightest students learned a lot about themselves, to respect each other's differences, and how to listen.
In the true renaissance tradition, Shad Valley also encourages the multi-talented students to seek out their artistic sensibilities. "We had to direct our own morality play, suggesting what's wrong with society." In that exercise, the winning team presented a play demonstrating the kinds of masks people wear to hide their true selves from the rest of society, and how damaging that kind of behaviour can be, explained Moore.
In the evenings, when lectures and workshops weren't scheduled, the high school students would go to the lounge and sing, compose music, dance in togas or just plain relax.
Moore, who is about to enter grade 12, plays the piano, tap dances and is a published writer of poetry.
Because her options are so wide open, her plans for the future are not yet set. She may go to the University of British Columbia for science, but engineering and dance are equally intriguing to her at this point.
Now that she's back home, Moore truly misses the friends she made at Shad. "I think the most important thing about Shad is the people. We were like a family."
But thanks to email and ICQ, the alumni will continue to keep in touch. "We have virtual pillow fights on-line every night."
