Take Our Kids to Work Day 2026

Grade 9 students of Waterloo employees are invited to Take Our Kids to Work Day on November 4th, 2026. The day provides hands-on sessions as well as time for students to shadow and spend time in the workplace with their Waterloo host.

Schedule

  • 10 - 10:15 am – Arrival, check-in
  • 10:15 - 10:30 a.m. – Welcome
  • 10:45 - 11:30 a.m. – Morning sessions
  • 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. – Unscheduled time (lunch, shadow parent/others in department)
  • 1:15 - 1:25 p.m. – Arrival and check-in for afternoon session
  • 1:25 - 1:30 p.m. – Welcome and send off for afternoon sessions
  • 1:45 - 2:30 p.m. – Afternoon sessions
  • 2:45 - 3 p.m. – Wrap up and thank you

Sessions

Be boulder! (available morning and afternoon)

Get active on our rock-climbing wall, including a 30 to 40-foot-high top rope wall as well a 20-foot-high bouldering wall.

Pitch Black (available morning and afternoon)

In this workshop, students will learn the basics of electrical circuits, including definitions for electricity, voltage, current, resistance, series and parallel circuits. They will use these concepts to build simple circuits using a breadboard, batteries, resistors and LEDs. By the end of the workshop, students should know how to read circuit diagrams and identify basic series and parallel circuits as well as understand their impact on voltage and current.

Build-A-City (available morning and afternoon)

Turn your ideas into a city! Use materials to design a miniature metropolis, balancing homes, transit, and green spaces. Who can create the most functional—and fun—cityscape?

E-Sports Extravaganza! (available morning only)

Students will have the opportunity to visit the University of Waterloo's Esports & Gaming lounge and experience a variety of gaming stations in a supervised drop-in environment. Our space features 20 gaming Pcs, and four console stations including Switch 1, Switch 2, PS5, and VR. Participants can explore different age appropriate games, connect with peer, and learn about esports and gaming within the university community.

Campus tour (morning only)

Explore Waterloo’s campus and discover what it’s like to be a Waterloo student. Led by a Waterloo student ambassador.

What’s the deal with DNA? (afternoon only)

We’ll delve into the world of DNA and the information it holds, with hands-on extraction and micropipette injection of material into a gel for electrophoresis.

Earth Sciences Museum: Scavenger hunt (afternoon only)

Explore the Earth Sciences Museum while completing a scavenger hunt where you’ll seek out ancient fossils, useful rocks, and beautiful minerals. Find these gems to discover the hidden codes and win a prize for you and your group.

Event waiver (required)

Take our kids to work day waiver

Informed consent, waiver of liability and indemnity agreement

Please read this agreement carefully as it affects the participant’s legal rights.

In consideration for the University permitting me and my child to attend the Take Our Kids to Work 2026 event, held on University of Waterloo’s main campus in Waterloo, Ontario (the “Event”), I agree as follows:

  1. Acknowledgement of Risks: I acknowledge and accept that my and my child's participation in the Event includes a variety of risks, including, but not limited to, the risk personal injury and loss of property. I am aware of, freely accept, and fully assume all risks, hazards and conditions associated with my participation in the Event.
  1. Emergency Contact: I agree that in the event of any health emergency or other similar situation, the University may contact me based on the information provided on the registration form.
  1. Privacy Consent: I consent to the University of Waterloo collecting and using my email address, name, and any other personal information that I disclose, for the purposes of facilitating my participation in the Event. Any personal information collected by the University of Waterloo is collected and maintained under the authority of the University of Waterloo Act, 1972 and in compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (R.S.O. 1990. C.31). Questions regarding collection, use, disclosure, and access to personal information associated with the Event can be directed to Jody Berringer at jberringer@uwaterloo.ca.  
  1. Disclaimer: I, on behalf of my heirs, successors, executors, administrators, assigns, and any other representatives (collectively the “Releasors”) agree that the University of Waterloo, as well as its governors, officers, employees, representatives, students, volunteers, successors, affiliates and assigns (collectively the "Releasees") shall not be responsible for any harm, loss, expense, or injury suffered by me or my child, whether reasonably foreseeable or not, including personal injury or property loss, that is in any way related to my participation in the Event.
  1. Release: I, on behalf of myself and the other Releasors, hereby release and forever discharge the Releasees from any and all suits, actions, causes of action, claims, losses, expenses, or demands of whatever kind and however arising, whether reasonably foreseeable or not, including negligence or breach of statutory duties on the part of the Releasees, which I and/or the Releasors now have or may have at any time hereafter, in any way related to my participation in the Event.
  1. Indemnity: I, on behalf of myself and the other Releasors, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Releasees from and against all suits, actions, causes of action, claims, losses, expenses (including reasonable legal expenses), or demands of whatever kind and however arising, which may be made or brought against the Releasees, or which the Releasees may suffer or incur, as a result of or in any way arising out of my or my child's participation in the Event.  

By checking the box at the very bottom of this form, I am indicating that I have read, understood and agree to the terms of this Informed Consent, Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement. I further acknowledge that I have been provided with a reasonable opportunity to obtain legal advice related to this Agreement.

As parent/guardian with legal responsibility for the individual name in the registration (the “Participant”), I acknowledge having read and understood the implications of this Agreement, and by checking the box at the bottom of this page, I agree to this Agreement for and on behalf of the Participant, and for and on my own behalf, intending to bind the Participant, myself, and the heirs, successors, executors, administrators, assigns and any other representatives of both of us.