Enrichment programs for high school and elementary students

Summer programs for high school students

Focus Title Audience Date Overview
Computer Science CEMC Workshop in Computer Science for Young Women Female Grade 9 and 10 students in a Canadian high school or middle school. Spring A week-long program for female students to explore computer science, hear about careers, and break down stereotypes. No computer science experience necessary.
Engineering, Leadership Catalyst Summer Program Grade 10 or older July and August Develop leadership skills by drawing on Waterloo's strengths in engineering, science, and innovation.
Engineering, Science Engineering Science Quest Grades 1 – 9 July and August Empowers youth to be the change that the world needs by increasing students' confidence in science, engineering, and technology.
Engineering, Cryptography Quantum Cryptography School for Young Students (QCSYS) Grades 10 – 12 Mid-August Week-long program that focuses on quantum cryptography, hosted by the Institute for Quantum Computing.
Sciences, Engineering, Technology, and Entrepeneurship Shad Grade 10 or 11 July A four-week summer enrichment program. Students spend a month living in residence.
Sports camps Summer camps All ages Throughout the summer A variety of summer sports camps are offered throughout the summer for students of all ages.
Tech Entrepeneurship FLIGHT virtual summer camp Aged 13 – 18 Black girls and/or other underrepresented minorities August 2 – 13 An introduction to tech entrepreneurship for self-identifying Black girls aged 13-18 and/or other underrepresented minorities.

Programs for all ages

Focus Title Audience Date Overview
Accounting, Finance Financial Literacy Competition Grades 9 – 11 May and December Supports and enhances financial literacy education within Canadian high schools.
Astronomy, Science Gustav Bakos Observatory tours All ages Year round, by request or first Wednesday of each month Tours offer a chance to look through the 12-inch telescope at Waterloo’s Gustav Bakos Observatory.
Chemistry Chem 13 News Exam and Avogadro Exam Grade 11 and 12 students May Written by more than 6,000 Grade 11 and 12 students every May
Computer Science Computing Contests Grades 9 – 12 November – May Students around the world participate in Waterloo's computing contests each year.
Computer Science CS4U Day Grades 8 – 11 First week of December Features speakers and hands-on activities.
Computer Science CS Circles Grades 9 – 12 On-demand Learn to program using the Python language through interactive, text-based teaching.
Computer Science Curriculum resources Grades 9 – 12 On-demand Learn to program using the Python language through interactive, video-based teaching
Engineering Grade 11 Girls Conference Female students in grade 11 May Participate in hands-on workshops, meet engineering students, compete in a design competition, and experience life in residence.
Engineering, Science Engineering Science Quest Grades 1 – 9 July and August Empowers youth to be the change that the world will need in the future by increasing students' confidence in science, engineering, and technology abilities.
Engineering, Science, and Mathematics Engineering Outreach Hive Mind Tutoring Students in Grades 10, 11 or 12 who have applied or plan to apply to STEM programs February – April 2021 Free virtual tutoring and group sessions for students struggling with physics, calculus, or chemistry.
Geography, Canadian and World Issues, Economics, Science School visits Grades 9 – 12 September to mid-April Choose from one of three 75-minute presentations: Climate change (Grades 9-12), oil sands (Grades 11-12), or the sharing economy (Grades 11-12).

Includes discussion, brainstorming, related careers and demos of equipment used in labs (e.g., drones, snow collection data). Email Miljana Kovacevic for details.
Geology, Earth Sciences Earth Sciences Museum Grades K – 12 Year-round Free tours and activities on a variety of earth science topics. Includes Cobalt Discovery Mine Tunnel tours.
Health, Kinesiology Kinesiology Lab days Grade 12 Mid-December Visit kinesiology labs and participate in hands-on workshops.
Health, Neuroscience University of Waterloo Brain Bee Grades 9 – 12 Early March Answer questions about the brain and neuroscience. The winner will compete in the National Brain Bee.
Health Informatics Hi5 Health Informatics Challenge Grades 10 – 12 Fall A freestyle competition where students use information technology to develop creative solutions to tackle current health issues.
Indigenous youth Indigenous youth camps Various Various Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre offers camps that run throughout the year for Indigenous youth.
Kinesiology and Health Sciences Anatomy lab visit Grade 11 or 12 high school classes with their teacher September – December, April – June High school classes participate in a two-hour hands-on workshop with human cadavers. Teachers can email Tamara Maciel for more information.
Kinesiology and Health Sciences Anatomy 101 Individual students who have completed Grade 11 or 12 July and August A one-day session of anatomical education at a first-year university level. This program is great for high school students who may be interested in pursuing university programs in kinesiology, health science, or biology.
Mathematics Math Circles Grades 6 – 12 School year A free weekly enrichment activity, held Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at Waterloo. Registration opens in September.
Mathematics Curriculum resources Grades 7 – 12 On-demand Free online lessons, interactive worksheets.
Mathematics Math contests Grades 7 – 12 Throughout the year Students around the world participate in Waterloo’s math contests each year.
Mathematics High school visits High school Throughout the school year Problem-solving workshops in mathematics and computer science. Includes discussions of careers in mathematics.
Mathematics Think about Math! Grade 9 girls May Designed for Grade 9 girls, the workshop demonstrates that math is fun, relevant, and leads to exciting careers.
Mathematics Free resources Grades 3 – 12 On-demand Materials that support curriculum and enrichment.
Mathematics Problem of the Week Grades 3 – 12 Throughout the school year Problems from various areas of mathematics are posted and e-mailed to subscribers.
Physics Sir Isaac Newton Physics Exam Grades 11 – 12 Early May Physics exam for high school students.
Science Let’s Talk Science Grades K – 12 Throughout the school year Hands-on science activities aligned to the Ontario curriculum, brought free to classrooms by Waterloo student volunteers.
STEM A Grand Day of STEM Activities for Indigenous high school students Grade 9 Indigenous students June Six Nations Polytechnic partners with McMaster University and the University of Waterloo to explore STEM field work in the Grand River.
STEM STEMpowered Grades 4 – 12 Black students August STEMpowered camps are free and feature STEM mentors and a variety of hands-on activities that explore science, technology, engineering, and math!

Public talks

Focus Title Audiences Dates Overview
Environment, Arctic TD Walter Bean high school lecture - The Meaning of Ice: Co-production of knowledge and community action in a changing Arctic Grades 8 – 12 December 14, 2022 How can linking different ways of knowing about ice add to our understanding about the Arctic, and how it is changing?
Health, Medicine Gairdner Foundation Lecture Grades 11 – 12 Early October Attend a lecture by a recipient of the prestigious Gairdner award (for scientists who have made significant breakthroughs in medicine).
Science Public lectures hosted by Waterloo Science Grade 8+ level, but attendance is open at parent discretion. Throughout the year Public lectures delivered by leaders in the field on various topics of interest and relevance to the community.