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Inspiring discovery at Ontario’s Celebration Zone
This is the latest in a series of #UWCommunity stories that feature Waterloo in the community.
This past weekend, staff members and volunteers from the University of Waterloo’s Engineering Science Quest (ESQ) engaged hundreds of children and families in a dynamic quest of hands-on experiences at Ontario’s Celebration Zone at Harbourfront Centre during the Toronto 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games - the only program of it’s kind to be part of this initiative hosted by Ontario Tourism.
Founded by Waterloo engineering and science students in 1990 as a senior-year project, the collaborative ESQ program is now one of Canada’s largest science and engineering camps. Celebrating a significant 25 year milestone this week, ESQ runs multiple summer camps on the main Waterloo campus for youth and also offers March break, Winter break, after school and weekend programs, as well as various in-school and community initiatives. The program fills over 2,500 summer camp spots each year and impacts over 7,000 youth through unique workshops and outreach opportunities.
In partnership with the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation, the University of Waterloo designed a post-card-style activation for Ontario’s Celebration Zone as an interactive way for young visitors to travel through the space as they learned more about science and engineering. Children collected ESQ activity stickers for their personal post-cards by participating in a series of hands-on stations, ending their quest with a fun photo-booth opportunity inspiring future learning and engagement with the University of Waterloo.
Youth had the opportunity to embark on an experience focusing on various aspects of science and engineering design, where they learned the importance of physics by designing and building Crash Cars and Rockin’ Rockets, watched Hydrophobic Sand never get wet, engineered a filter to clean up Dirty Water, and remotely wrestled Lego Robots. Fun and engaging science demonstrations including Elephant Toothpaste and its explosive results as a catalyst composition also captivated kids through hands-on lessons and visual presentations.
"Like sport, science is international and brings people together," says Katharine Tuerke, Communications Officer, Faculty of Science. "Seeing children from various countries, speaking different languages, all sharing a passion for discovery was a proud moment for Waterloo. We showed the world what we do best."
ESQ’s high-quality children’s programming approach is simple: put science and technology in the hands of young people, igniting their natural curiosity to explore the science behind their world and cultivate a commitment to lifelong learning, discovery, and entrepreneurship. The opportunity exhibit a strong piece of our influential outreach programming in Ontario’s Celebration Zone allowed the University of Waterloo to not only build community in an innovative, high-touch space and reach new audiences, but more importantly, impact and empower the young minds of our future.
Habitat for Humanity team building in PEI
The University of Waterloo's Habitat for Humanity team has travelled to Prince Edward Island for their latest building project. Team members include:
- Bev Marshman, retiree and part-time Faculty of Mathematics professor;
- Mike Marshman, Engineering alumnus;
- Barry Ferguson, Faculty of Mathematics professor;
- Angela Googh, Information Systems and Technology (IST);
- Victoria Bambrick, School of Accounting and Finance;
- Holly Barsoum, Student Success Office;
- Yen Ho, Student Success Office; and
- Chanele Polenz, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology.
Here's an excerpt from their blog, which will be updated regularly during their trip:
"Welcome to PEI - and our first day of a week-long build!
Eight faculty, staff, and alumni travelled to PEI yesterday to kick off a week of exciting Habitat for Humanity (HFH) house builds around the Charlottetown area. PEI's HFH program builds the most houses per capita than any other affiliate program in Canada, a big achievement for a small island!
Our amazing HFH hostess Monic picked us up from the airport and started recommending places to see on our first day. After a relaxing evening of strolling local country roads and exploring the Dunes Studio Gallery and Cafe (all a short walk from our accommodations), we got to bed for an early morning call.
Our first stop was in the Harrington community, just 10 minutes outside of Charlottetown. Even though we scheduled warm sunny temperatures, it turned out to be a rainy day so we went to work inside a house that was near completion. We learned this was the third Habitat for Humanity house on the street, all located on donated land. The other two families had moved into their homes and were already supporting each other and their new neighbours by making a stop at the house to check in on us."
Read the rest of the story on the University of Waterloo Habitat for Humanity site.
Friday's notes
It's a bat, man! This little Chiropteran decided to make the front entrance of Needles Hall its own personal Batcave this week. After hanging out for a couple of days, the dark knight departed, and hasn't yet returned.
The Library will be extending its hours for the examination period beginning on Sunday, July 26 to Saturday, August 15. The Davis Centre will be open for 24 hours, except for 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. On the last of extended hours (August 15), the Davis Centre will close at midnight. Dana Porter will be open from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
A weekend of musical events heralds the end of term, with the UW A Cappella Club hosting two concerts in the Humanities Theatre on Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25. The shows take place at 7:30 p.m. and will feature ACE, the AcaBellas, the Musical InterDudes, the Unaccompanied Minors and the Water Boys.
In a somewhat more instrumental vein, the UW Concert Band is holding its end of term concert on Sunday, July 26, at 7:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre Great Hall.
Finally, an instrumental chamber ensemble concert will be taking place on Sunday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Conrad Grebel University College Chapel. Three different chamber groups will perform classical pieces composed by Beethoven, Bruch, and Khachaturian, respectively. Admission is free, with a reception to follow the concert.