Denetia Elementary serves students from kindergarten to Grade 7 in Lower Post, a Kaska Nation community in far northern British Columbia near Watson Lake, Yukon. Its emphasis on experiential, culturally relevant learning made the visit a natural opportunity to connect science and technology with place-based exploration. Robin Kirk, a local Daylu Dena Council employee working on the Tu Nétset geothermal project, joined Nico for the visit.
Nico demonstrated Barkley’s Matrice 4T drone and explained how its thermal camera captures differences in surface temperature. In geothermal fieldwork, these temperature patterns can reveal thermal anomalies in the natural environment that may indicate geothermal potential.
During several rounds of thermal hide-and-seek, students watched their heat signatures appear in real time. The activity showed how a thermal camera turns invisible temperature differences into useful information, creating a tangible connection between classroom learning, field technology and geothermal science. The visit gave students a firsthand look at technology used in renewable energy exploration while supporting local, hands-on learning.
“It was exciting to see so much curiosity and engagement while connecting science, technology, and exploration to a fun hands-on activity,” shared Nico.
Thank you to the students and staff at Denetia Elementary for their warm welcome, thoughtful questions and enthusiastic participation. We appreciated the opportunity to share some of the science and technology behind geothermal exploration with the next generation of curious minds.
Explore Barkley’s Geothermal Projects
Learn more about Barkley’s work supporting geothermal energy exploration and development in Indigenous communities and beyond.