The University of Waterloo offers an exciting range of enrichment opportunities for students of all ages. Opportunities range from a couple of hours to 2 weeks and on campus, in your school, or online.
| Title | Audiences | Dates | Overview | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting, Finance | Financial Literacy Competition | Grade 9 and 10 students in southwestern Ontario | May | Supports and enhances financial literacy education within Canadian high schools. |
| Astronomy, Science | Gustav Bakos Observatory tours | All ages | Year round, by request or 1st Wednesday of each month | Tours offer a chance to look through the 12-inch telescope at Waterloo’s Gustav Bakos Observatory. |
| Chemistry | Avogadro Exam | High school students | Mid-May | Students that are taking or have taken their first high school chemistry course. |
| Chemistry | Chem 13 News exam | High school students | May | Students that are taking or have taken their second high school chemistry course. |
| 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 | Programming challenge for girls | Grade 10 | December | A one-day workshop to introduce programming to grade 10 girls. Students learn the basics of object-oriented programming through a hands-on tutorial and challenge. |
| 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 enrichment activity for female students. Attendees explore aspects of computer science, hear about careers, and break down stereotypes. No computer science experience necessary. |
| 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, Leadership | Catalyst Summer Leadership | 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 will need in the future by increasing students' confidence in science, engineering, and technology abilities. |
| Entrepreneurship, Engineering | Engaging in Entrepreneurship & Engineering (E3) | Students entering grades 11-12 | August | Get a head start in the world of startup businesses. Sponsored in part by Google. |
| Geology, Earth Sciences | Earth Sciences Museum and Cobalt Discovery Mine Tunnel tours | Grades K-12 | Year-round | Free tours and activities on a variety of earth science topics. |
| Health, Kinesiology | Kinesiology Lab days | Grade 12 | Mid-December | Visit kinesiology labs and participate in hands-on workshops. |
| 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). |
| Health, Neuroscience | University of Waterloo Brain Bee | Grade 9-12 | Early March | Answer questions about the brain and neuroscience. The winner will compete in the National Brain Bee. |
| Health Sciences | Anatomy Workshop | Grade 11 or 12 Biology classes, Grade 12 Exercise Science classes | High school classes participate in a hands-on anatomy workshop with human cadavers. Email Jeremy Roth for details. | |
| International students | IDEAS summer program for international students | Grade 10 and 11 | July | 2-week summer program for international high school students |
| Mathematics | Math Circles | Grades 6-12 | Registration opens in September. | A free weekly enrichment activity, held Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at Waterloo. |
| Mathematics | Free online lessons and worksheets | Grade 12 students | On demand. | Free online lessons, interactive worksheets for Grade 12 math. |
| Mathematics | Math contests | Grade 7 - 12 | Throughout the year. | Students around the world participate in Waterloo’s math contests each year. |
| Mathematics | 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. |
| Physics | Sir Isaac Newton Physics Exam | Grades 11-12 | Early May | Physics exam for high school students |
| Post-secondary education for aboriginal youth | Directions | 9-12 |
October - Grade 12 March - Grade 11 May - Grades 9/10 |
A post-secondary information and careers readiness conference for Aboriginal youth. Students learn about post-secondary education, with an emphasis on science and technology themes centered around medicine wheel teachings. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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| Science, Cryptography | Grades 10-12 | Mid-August | Week-long program that focuses on quantum cryptography, hosted by the Institute for Quantum Computing. | |
| Sciences, Engineering, Technology, and Entrepreneurship | Grade 10, 11 or 12 | July |
A four-week summer enrichment program. Students spend a month living in residence. |
