ESQ is bringing exciting, hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming to libraries all across your communities this fall! From coding to engineering and everything in between, we’re making STEM fun and accessible for all ages. Be sure to check back on this website regularly - new programs and dates are being added all the time, and you won’t want to miss out! All library programs are free of cost, you just have to register!
STEM Explorers Club
Dive into the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) with the Waterloo Engineering Outreach ESQ Team in this 4-week hands-on program! Blast off into the world of STEM and play with cool tech, solve creative challenges, and team up with awesome minds who love science and innovation as much as you do! This club will be hosted at WPL!
No prior experience is required, and new content is developed each term, making repeat participation welcome and encouraged
Registration is done through WPL's online events calendar.
Grades & Dates:
- Ages 10-13: Mondays, September 21 - October 5
- Ages 6-9: Mondays, November 2 - November 23
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Location: Waterloo Public Library (WPL), Eastside Branch
Cost: Free, registration required
Old Post Office Workshops
ESQ will be in Cambridge @ Cambridge Public Library, Old Post Office location, delivering a fun STEM workshop this fall! Registration is required to participate in each workshop. See below for insight into the specific workshop content!
Ages: 8 - 12
Dates
- Wednesday, September 23
- Wednesday, October 7
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Location: Old Post Office, Cambridge Public Library
Cost: Free, registration required!
Workshop Descriptions:
- Too Good to Be True (September 23): Participants will explore how AI-generated text can sound convincing even when it is not reliable through generating a clearly fictional/fake research paper on a specific science topic, design a made-up company and product that uses the fake science as “proof”, then pitch it in a Dragons’ Den-style presentation.
- AI Mini Game Mania (October 7): Participants will rotate through three AI-themed mini games that build AI literacy through hands-on learning. Participants will complete a pattern-recognition challenge, play Google’s Quick, Draw! to explore image recognition and machine learning, and participate in a modified game of Telephone to demonstrate how information can change as it passes through AI systems. Through gameplay, together participants will develop a foundational understanding of how AI learns from data, identifies patterns, and can make mistakes.
Region of Waterloo Library Workshops
Dates & Locations:
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Wednesday, September 30 - Wellesley branch
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Monday, October 19 - Baden branch
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Monday, December 7 - New Hamburg
Time: 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Grades: 4-7
Cost: Free, registration required
Workshop Descriptions:
- A Bit of AI! (September 30) - Wellesley: Participants will use Micro:bit CreateAI to teach a micro:bit to recognize movements like walking and jumping, then test it out and discover creative ways to make AI-powered projects come to life!
- Micro:Pets (October 19) - Baden: Participants will design and code their own Micro:Pet using a micro:bit, bringing a digital pet to life! They'll explore coding by making their pet respond to buttons, sounds, and movement while creating a unique personality for their new companion.
- Groovy Guesser (December 7) - New Hamburg: Can AI keep up with your moves? Participants will use Teachable Machines to train a model to recognize different dances, then create a fun Just Dance-style game to test its skills.