An innovative water transport and filter system, a toilet that recycles water, and an irrigation system designed for small-scale farms were just some of the projects presented by some of the Canada’s top high school students at the Shad Valley Open Day at Trent University on July 24, 2008.

The Open Day marked one of the last events for the Shad Valley participants at Trent, who have been at the University since June 29. Over the course of 27 days, 48 high school students from across the country took over the Trent campus to take part in the prestigious Shad Valley program that offers workshops, guest lectures and social events at twelve participating universities across Canada.

The “design with conscience” inventions were a significant component of the four-week Shad Valley program. Participants were split into six working groups and have spent three weeks designing a product that could help address issues of poverty, starvation, homelessness and education issues in Canada or in specific countries from around the world. In addition to designing a functioning prototype, groups also had to write a business plan, conduct market research, and develop financial statements for the design.

The 2008 Trent winner was Team Espoir, who created an irrigation system that monitors soil moisture. The eight students who comprised Team Espoir utilized a solar-powered battery to generate the electrical current through specially designed gypsum blocks attached to a simple drip irrigation system. A resistance meter detected when the soil moisture was sufficient and the water valve was shut off.

Susan Manning of Team Espoir was thrilled that her team won and was impressed with the entire program at Trent. “Shad Valley redefined who I am and how I think of the world,” she said. Ms. Manning also commented that the Shad Valley staff at Trent were incredibly supportive and helped to push everyone’s intellectual limits. Many other students commented on the breathtaking campus and how approachable the Trent community was throughout their stay.

Kingsley Hurlington, Shad Valley Trent program co-director, is also part of Trent University’s School of Education and Professional Learning. Mr. Hurlington said that everyone who came to the Open Day, as well as those who were working with the students throughout their stay, including Trent faculty and staff, were incredibly impressed with the prototypes this year.

When asked if he had done projects like this elsewhere, Team Espoir member Paul McPhaden stated “Nothing quite like this.” Team Espoir will travel to Waterloo in August to compete in the RBC Shad Cup against the other winners across Canada.

In addition to the Design-Entrepreneurship Project, Shad Valley participants at Trent also took part in an annual Rocket Building Competition, a two-day camping trip to Bark Lake, multiple trips to the Peterborough Festival of Lights. Students also delivered a musical performance at Riverview nursing home.

Established in 1981, Shad Valley is a not-for-profit organization based in Waterloo, Ontario, consisting of an extended community of leaders dedicated to the development of remarkable youth, helping them to recognize, harness and strengthen their talents. For the past quarter century, the award-winning international Shad Valley program has proven to be a competitive advantage for senior high school students striving to push past intellectual and creative standards. Shad Valley currently boasts a network of 10,000 Shad Valley alumni, some 100 supporter organizations, and thousands of educators at schools across the country.