Author:
Laura Hardiman, PEng, MEng, PMP
Senior Manager, Corporate Asset & Maintenance Management
Capital Regional District
I feel fortunate to work at the Capital Regional District (CRD), alongside people who care deeply about our region, the services we provide, and the role we play in delivering those services to our customers. That connection between our work and its real-world impact is what keeps many of us motivated and it’s also what inspires us to share these opportunities with the next generation.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are broad and diverse, and they play a critical role in local governments. From ensuring clean drinking water and effective wastewater treatment, to planning transportation networks and maintaining natural assets, STEM professionals drive innovation, improve service delivery, and enable the efficient operation of essential public services.
Women in STEM in Canada
Yet in Canada, women remain significantly underrepresented in these fields. Women are approximately 30 per cent less likely than their male counterparts to pursue STEM careers, with the gap even wider in engineering disciplines (Statistics Canada, 2021).
Recognizing the importance of early exposure and encouragement, the CRD’s Women in STEM group partnered with the University of Victoria’s Science Venture program to create a unique summer camp experience for high school girls.
CRD’s Girls in STEM Summer Camp
The idea for the camp emerged in 2023 as an outreach initiative aimed at introducing students to STEM careers within local government. The CRD Women in STEM group, made up of women passionate about sharing their knowledge and experiences, envisioned a hands-on, immersive program that would show girls what STEM careers can look like in practice.
The result is a five-day camp that takes participants beyond the classroom and into the field. Originally designed for 12 students, the camp includes daily site visits across the region, with students travelling together in a van to explore CRD facilities and infrastructure. Camp destinations have included the Sooke Lake Watershed, McLoughlin Wastewater Treatment Plant, Elk / Beaver Lake Regional Park, the Galloping Goose Trail Network, and the Hartland Landfill.
What to expect at CRD’s Girls in STEM Summer Camp
Throughout the week, CRD staff host and guide the students, sharing their work and career journeys in areas such as water quality testing, wastewater process design, transportation planning, environmental monitoring and protection, and solid waste management. The camp also highlights some of the latest innovative projects, including landfill gas recovery, wastewater biosolids treatment and reuse, and active transportation infrastructure.
Guided by women working in STEM roles, participants gain insight into the breadth of careers available within local government and see first-hand how technical expertise contributes to community well-being and environmental sustainability.
The response to the camp has been overwhelming. In 2025, demand far exceeded capacity, resulting in a lengthy waitlist. In response, the program expanded in 2026 to offer two separate one-week camps, each accommodating up to 20 participants. The program is offered free of charge to girls in grades 8 to 12 who are interested in exploring STEM careers in local government.
As someone who has worked in STEM within local government for over 15 years, I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a career that offers diversity, growth opportunities, and a strong sense of purpose. This camp creates a meaningful opportunity to share those possibilities with young women, and perhaps to one day we will see former participants return as the next generation of STEM professionals serving our communities.
Learn more and register for the Girls in STEM Summer Camp
To learn more about the CRD’s Girls in STEM Summer Camp, visit the CRD’s Panorama Recreation registration page or view the schedule for this year in the Panorama Recreation Program Guide.
Source: Statistics Canada (2021), Gender differences in STEM enrolment and graduation.
