RDP Receives National Recognition for Red Hot Science

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) was recently recognized on the national stage for creating innovative experiences for Indigenous youth.

Actua, Canada’s leading science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) youth outreach organization, presented RDP with the Actua Experience Award at its 2025 National Conference. The Polytechnic was acknowledged for advancing scientific knowledge and discovery with Indigenous youth through the institution’s Red Hot Science program.

“We appreciate this recognition by our valued partners at Actua to continue supporting Indigenous youth in STEM education through our dynamic Red Hot Science program,” says David Pye, Dean, School of Trades and Technology. “These innovative opportunities incorporate STEM experiences, cultural relevance and community connections. They may inspire youth to pursue a career in STEM, helping to fulfill the needs of communities and industry across Alberta.”

The Polytechnic’s Red Hot Science program, housed within RDP’s School of Trades and Technology, is designed for students from kindergarten to grade 12, offers customizable hands-on activities while helping to remove barriers to STEM experiences. Classes and youth groups have several options for activities, including to learn more about engineering and technology. Students may also create simple coding, build robots and enhance their digital skills. In addition, youth can perform experiments in RDP’s Biology, Chemistry and Physics labs.  

RDP’s STEM youth outreach programming through the Red Hot Science program provides meaningful cultural experiences for Indigenous youth while creating opportunities to earn credit in collaboration with regional high schools, including Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools Indigenous Education Services.

As one example, in the Four Seasons land camp, Indigenous youth combine traditional learning such as fish leather tanning and food preservation with opportunities to create digital stories about their year-long experiences. 

The Polytechnic also recently launched the Aunties in Training program which recognizes and addresses the unique challenges faced by Indigenous girls. The camps are led by female Elders, Knowledge Keepers, educators and RDP faculty and staff. This program provides unique opportunities for youth from the Rocky Mountain House region, through collaboration with Wild Rose School Division, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools and O’Chiese First Nation School.  

Both land camps models will soon be offered as dual credit programming (starting in Fall 2025) providing the opportunity for participants to earn both high school and post-secondary credits. Leveraging community needs, Indigenous leaders guide the camp curriculum, helping to create culturally responsive land-based learning that ensures impactful outcomes.  

Each year, Actua engages 500,000 youth in 600 communities across Canada in collaboration with a network of 43 post-secondary institutions, including Red Deer Polytechnic. One thousand undergraduate students are employed as program instructors annually. Since its inception, approximately 30 years ago, Actua has engaged with 6 million youth.  

These learning programs help to ignite interest in STEM, build knowledge, confidence and employability skills. Actua supports RDP and all network members with peer-to-peer networking and professional development opportunities.

The Red Hot Science program at RDP aligns with the institution’s Reconcili-Action Plan 2023-2028 and several strategic drivers, such as Learner Impact and Enhanced Partnerships, as identified in its 2030 Strategic Plan: Productivity & Social Impact.

Learn more about RDP's Red Hot Science program.