EnCana, Shell to sponsor energy camps for local students

Local educators announced more than $100,000 in grants to start “energy camps” for local students this summer.

“It doesn’t matter how many resources we have in the ground if we don’t realize the human capital needed to extract those resources,” said Jim Henderson, chancellor of Bossier Parish Community College.

The EnCana oil and gas company has made available a $110,000 grant, with $25,000 from Shell oil company, to start the camps with the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology of North Louisiana

Students will participate in hands-on activities, learning about energy sources as well as energy efficiency and conservation. Energy camp brochures and applications will be available to students at their schools this spring.

Besides classroom and lab activities, students will be able to participate in off-site field trips during these camps to see industry professionals in action.

On Thursday, Don McClure, EnCana vice president for government and stakeholder relations, said he hoped camps would provide a valuable education experience for students and start molding future leaders of the energy industry.

“Plays like the Haynesville Shale have certainly increased the need for jobs now,” McClure said.

Shreveport Times