Summer programs for high school students
Focus | Title | Audiences | Dates | 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 to 9 | July and August | Empowers youth to be the change that the world needs by increasing students' confidence in science, engineering, and technology. |
Science, Cryptography | Quantum Cryptography School for Young Students (QCSYS) | Grade 10 to 12 | Mid-August | Week-long program that focuses on quantum cryptography, hosted by the Institute for Quantum Computing. |
Sciences, Engineering, Technology, and Entrepreneurship | 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 entrepreneurship | 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 | Dates | Overview |
---|---|---|---|---|
Accounting, Finance | Financial Literacy Competition | Grade 9, 10, and 11 students | 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 to 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 to 12 | On-demand | Learn to program using the Python language through interactive, text-based teaching. |
Computer Science | Curriculum resources | Grades 9 to 12 | On-demand | Learn to program using the Python language through interactive, video-based teaching |
Engineering | Grade 11 Girls Conference | Female students in grades 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 to 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, and related careers. 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, 11, and 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 to December, April to 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 through 12 | On demand | Free online lessons, interactive worksheets. |
Mathematics | Math contests | Grade 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 to 12 | On-demand | Materials that support curriculum and enrichment. |
Mathematics | Problem of the Week | Grades 3 to 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 | 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. |