New Laurier-LAUNCH Waterloo partnership makes STEAM programming for youth accessible, affordable

July 27, 2020

A new partnership between Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Education and social enterprise LAUNCH Waterloo has made high-quality, hands-on programming for youth in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) accessible and affordable.

‘Summer of STEAM' online camp offerings provide campers entering grades one through nine with a week of fun and interactive STEAM-based activities. Campers work with camp leaders from the Laurier Enriched Academic Program and subject-matter experts, who coach them through activities provided in a customized box of camp materials. Following a daily coaching period, campers can work on activities individually or connect with camp leaders for more assistance.

The camps, which began the week of July 13, incorporate STEAM subjects into topics including genes and germs, creative storytelling, crime-scene investigation and survival skills. Offering camps in an online environment allows the Faculty of Education to continue the momentum of its popular academic camps for youth despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We partnered with LAUNCH Waterloo to develop online activities that are engaging and inspiring for youth with diverse needs and interests,” says Maria Cantalini-Williams, dean of Laurier’s Faculty of Education. “We are thrilled with the enthusiastic involvement of so many children and families in this new adventure.”

Laurier’s Faculty of Education and LAUNCH Waterloo began their partnership with a successful PD day camp offering in January 2020. When COVID-19 forced the cancellation of in-person summer camps and programs, including those at Laurier, staff from the Faculty of Education and LAUNCH Waterloo began collaborating to create online camps that would engage campers across grade levels and abilities in fun, hands-on STEAM activities throughout the summer months.

“Summer camps are such an important part of a child's experience," says Tobi Day-Hamilton, LAUNCH Waterloo co-founder and executive director. "We are ecstatic that we could partner with Laurier to bring fun, social STEAM experiences to kids at home this summer."

Space is still available in Let’s Make Music, where campers write and produce a song and learn to code music videos. Let's Make Music runs Aug. 4 to 7 from 9 a.m. to noon and is suitable for students entering grades four to six. Registration fees for the Let’s Make Music Camp are $96.50 per camper. Financial assistance is available.

For more information about Summer of STEAM camps or to register, visit LAUNCH Waterloo or email Taylor Sim, external programs coordinator in Laurier’s Faculty of Education, at tsim@wlu.ca.