Each summer, Engineering Science Quest offers summer day camp programming for children entering grades 2 to 9. Our camp participants explore the world of science, engineering and technology through participation in hands-on projects. Each year, our staff of engineering, science and education university students develop exciting new activities for their camp that explore areas such as physics, chemistry, biology & health science, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical & computer engineering, and more!
All our university level staff have received first-aid training within the past two years, and are screened via vulnerable sector checks and an interview process.
We run the majority of our programming at the University of Waterloo campus. The price of our programs depend on location and subject matter. All registration fees include the cost of materials.
ESQ will not operate in-person camps on the following dates: Monday July 3rd, Week of August 7th - 11th. Virtual camps are available, running August 8th - 11th.
Bursaries and awards are available for our camps. More information can be found on our Bursaries and Awards page.
2023 Camps
Join us for our Summer Camp program where we will explore numerous STEM-related topics in hands-on activities, labs and games! Take advantage of the opportunity to use and discover the amazing spaces and buildings the University of Waterloo's Campus has to offer!
| Grade (entering Fall 2023) | Camp Name | Notes |
| Grade 2-3 | Banting - A | Banting A will have the same content for the entire summer and will be unique from the other Banting Camps. |
| Grade 2-3 | Banting - B | Banting B will have the same content for the entire summer and will be unique from the other Banting Camps. |
| Grade 2-3 | Banting - C | Banting C will have the same content for the entire summer and will be unique from the other Banting Camps. |
| Grade 2-5 | Brooks - Cambridge Campus | This camp offers hands-on STEM activities taking place in Cambridge at the UWaterloo Architecture Campus. |
| Grade 3-5 | Lovelace - VIRTUAL | This camp offers completely virtual content. Participants will require a device to access a virtual call. If possible, laptop/desktop computers are preferred. Virtual calls take place daily at 9:00-10:30am & 1:30-2:30pm EST. |
| Grade 4-5 | Suzuki - A | Suzuki A will have the same content for the entire summer and will be unique from the other Suzuki Camp. |
| Grade 4-5 | Suzuki - B | Suzuki B will have the same content for the entire summer and will be unique from the other Suzuki Camp. |
| Grade 6-7 | Strickland - A | Strickland A will have the same content for the entire summer and will be unique from the other Suzuki Camp. |
| Grade 6-7 | Strickland - B | Strickland B will have the same content for the entire summer and will be unique from the other Suzuki Camp. |
| Grade 6-9 | Gebru - VIRTUAL | This camp offers completely virtual content. Participants will require a device to access a virtual call. If possible, laptop/desktop computers are preferred. Virtual calls take place daily at 11:00am-12:30pm & 3:00-4:00pm EST. |
| Grade 8-9 | Edison | The Edison camp will have the same content for the entire summer, repeated each week. |
Weeks Offered
All camps stated above run (same content) for each week below at the price shown.
| Week | Price ($) |
| Week 1 July 4-7 (4 day camp) | 275 |
| Week 2 July 10-14 | 320 |
| Week 3 July 17-21 | 320 |
| Week 4 July 24-28 | 320 |
| Week 5 July 31 - August 4 | 320 |
| Virtual Camps Only August 8-11 | 125 |
| Week 6 August 14-18 | 320 |
| Week 7 August 21-25 | 320 |
Optional Additions
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Morning Drop-Off Extension (Monday through Friday) | Extended hours for morning drop-off. Please note that if you intend to drop off your child between 8:00 - 8:30am you must select this option to ensure Staff availability. |
$5/week* *July 4-7 @ $4, Tues - Fri |
| Afternoon Pick-Up Extension (Monday through Friday) | Extended hours for afternoon pick-up. Please note that if you intend to pick up your child between 4:30 - 5:00pm you must select this option to ensure Staff availability. Those who are late to pick-up their child will be obliged to pay for this option. |
$5/week* *July 4-7 @ $4, Tues - Fri |
| St. Jerome's Bagged Lunch | St. Jerome's University College Food Services will be preparing a different lunch each day of the week (Mon - Thurs). The Bagged Lunch includes a meal, snack and juice box. Summer Staff will bring the Bagged Lunch to those who have selected the option(s). Options will accommodate the following dietary restrictions: Regular, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian (see below for more details) | $8+HST/day |
| Pizza Lunch (FRIDAYS ONLY) | Handed out to students on the Friday of their camp week. Options include 1-3 slices of: Pepperoni (Halal), Cheese, Gluten Free Cheese | $2.50+HST per slice |
| ESQ/Outreach Branded Bucket Hat | ESQ Child-Size and Outreach Adult-Sized available |
$10+HST |
ESQ Summer Lunch Options (Optional)
ESQ is very excited to be offering optional lunch add-ins Monday to Friday for our Grade 3-9 summer camps running at the UWaterloo main campus. ESQ is partnering with St. Jerome’s dedicated Food Services Team to create delicious and nutritious food, offered Monday through Thursday. Everything they make is from scratch with fresh local ingredients. ESQ is excited to provide this option to parents at-cost to help make summer camps more affordable for all.
Meal Distribution
St. Jerome’s Food Services will be serving their lunches in reusable containers to help reduce waste. ESQ Staff will be working closely with the Food Services Team to distribute lunches daily to students who have purchased the optional add-on lunches.
Menu Options
The menu is set based on the week of camp and cannot be adjusted. There will be two menu options that will be alternated week-to-week, weeks 1, 3, 5 and 7 will be Menu 1, and weeks 2, 4 and 6 will be Menu 2.
Dietary Options
All meals prepared at St. Jerome’s are not served with nuts, however, the ingredients may be processed within manufacturing facilities that contain nuts. Please note while there are a four dietary options per meal, that individual allergy requests or preferences cannot be accommodated, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If unforeseen circumstances exist which restricts food items being available, an alternative to the meal outlined will be provided.
On Friday’s, ESQ will continue offering Campus Pizza at $2.50/slice + HST.
Meal Purchasing
All optional add-on lunches must be purchased in Camp Brain, with the order cut-off being one-week prior to the Camp week. There will no option to purchase lunches during the camp day.
| Option | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular |
(Menu 1) Assorted Subs - Ham or Turkey with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and cheese with mayo. Served with carrot sticks, juice box, and cookie (Menu 2) Chicken Caesar Wraps. Served with fruit salad and an oatmeal cookie |
(Menu 1) House made chicken fingers with plum sauce. Served with apple slices, yogurt, juice box and house made Rice Krispy square (Menu 2) House Made Cheesy Beef Noodles. Served with veggie sticks, ranch dipping sauce, and a popsicle |
(Menu 1) House Made cauliflower-based Mac n Cheese with Bacon. Served with celery sticks, juice box, and house made granola bar (Menu 2) House Made Jr. Chicken Burgers crusted in chickpea flour. Served with sweet potato fries and house made strawberry apple sauce |
(Menu 1) BBQ Day: 100% beef hot dogs. Served with house made potato chips, and freezie for dessert (Menu 2) Honey Garlic Chicken and Rice. Served with steamed broccoli and a brownie |
Campus Pizza: Pepperoni (Halal) or Cheese. Purchased per slice. |
| Gluten Free |
(Menu 1) Sandwich will be made on gluten free bun and gluten free cookie (Menu 2) Chicken Caesar salad will be substituted in for wrap with a gluten free cookie |
(Menu 1) Chicken will be breaded in gluten free flour (chickpea flour) (Menu 2) Made with gluten free pasta. Sauce is gluten free |
(Menu 1) Gluten free pasta will be substituted in for regular Pasta (Menu 2) Jr. Chicken Burgers are gluten free and will be served on gluten free buns |
(Menu 1) All hot dogs are gluten free and these will be served with gluten free buns (Menu 2) All hot dogs are gluten free and these will be served with gluten free buns |
Campus Pizza: Gluten-free cheese. Purchased per slice. |
| Dairy Free |
(Menu 1) All dairy ingredients will be omitted from sub and dessert (Menu 2) Caesar dressing will be substituted with dairy free honey mustard dressing |
(Menu 1) Yogurt will be substituted for dairy free vegan yogurt (Menu 2) Noodles will be served with dairy free sauce and dairy free cheese |
(Menu 1) Cheese sauce will be substituted with house marinara sauce (Menu 2) Meal is dairy free |
(Menu 1) Regular meal is dairy free (Menu 2) Meal is dairy free |
No option available. |
| Vegetarian |
(Menu 1) Falafel wrap/pita with roasted red pepper hummus will be substituted in for sub (Menu 2) Non meat protein will be substituted in for chicken |
(Menu 1) Cauliflower wings will be substituted in for chicken fingers (Menu 2) Black beans and chickpeas will be substituted in for beef |
(Menu 1) Bacon will be omitted from Mac n Cheese (Menu 2) Chickpea and Cauliflower Burger will be substituted in for chicken burger |
(Menu 1) Black Bean-Lentil Burgers will be substituted in for hot dogs (Menu 2) Edamame will be substituted in for chicken |
Campus Pizza: Cheese. Purchased per slice. |