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.
Summer programs for high school students
| 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 | 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 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. |
Programs for all ages
| Title | Audiences | 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 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 | For students that are taking or have taken their first high school chemistry course. |
| Chemistry | Chem 13 News exam | High school students | May | For 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 grade 10 girls to the basics of object-oriented programming through a hands-on tutorial and challenge. |
| 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. |
| 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, 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 | 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 11 and 12 | Late winter, early spring | A freestyle competition where students use information technology to develop creative solutions to tackle current health issues. |
| 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 Tamara Maciel for details. | |
| Indigenous youth | Indigenous youth camps | Various | Various | Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre offers camps that run throughout the year for Indigenous youth. |
| 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, 8, and 12 | 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 | 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. |
| 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. |
