STEM from Scratch: March Opportunities for Youth Involvement
STEM from Scratch focuses on fostering STEM-related opportunities for young people, showcasing a variety of initiatives this March designed to engage and empower youth in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Here’s an overview of what’s on offer:
McMaster University I-STEP: Black Youth IMHOTEP STEM Enrichment Initiative
The IMHOTEP STEM Enrichment Initiative provides Black high school students from Hamilton and Halton with practical STEM experiences and leadership development, featuring an after-school club in winter and a residential program at McMaster University in July.
- Audience: Black high school students from Hamilton and Halton
- Features: Practical STEM, leadership development
- Social Media: Instagram
BEST STEM Initiative
This branch of I-STEP serves younger students (Grades 5-8) from Black, Indigenous, and LatinX communities, providing after-school initiatives that steer them towards STEM education and career paths at McMaster University and three other Canadian sites.
- Audience: Black, Indigenous, and LatinX students in Grades 5-8
- Features: After-school programs, STEM career pathways
- Pre-Registration: Necessary for university enrollment
STEAM Initiative (Halton Catholic District School Board)
An innovative, no-cost four-year program for high school students in Halton Catholic schools, aimed at fostering student-driven educational experiences and preparing for the workforce.
- Audience: High school students in Catholic schools
- Features: Free, long-term engagement
- Offered At: St. Ignatius of Loyola, Notre Dame, St. Francis Xavier
Autism Centre for Kids: STEM Initiatives
These programs, tailored for children with autism, provide age-appropriate, hands-on learning experiences centered on problem-solving and engineering concepts.
- Programs:
- Junior Innovators (Ages 4-6): Sensory-friendly scientific principles
- Builders Challenge (Ages 6-10): Problem-solving, coordination skills
- Tech Explorers (Ages 9-12): Advanced engineering, robotics
- RoboGenius (Ages 12-15): Robotics, software mastering
- Payment: Expected
- Contact: Autism Centre for Kids
STEAM Design Initiative: University of Toronto
This program provides Grade 10-11 students from underrepresented backgrounds in health sciences with a credit course and a financial stipend upon completion.
- Audience: Students from Black, Indigenous, Filipino, Latin American, and other racialized communities
- Features: Grade 12 Science Credit, $1,600 stipend
- Application Opens: March 16, 2025
The STEAM Initiative
The STEAM Initiative offers STEM educational programs for Grades K-8, including camps and courses that emphasize design, electronics, woodworking, and robotics.
- Audience: Grades K-8
- Features: 1:4 teacher-student ratio, hands-on education
- Locations: Richmond Hill, Markham
Toronto STEM Academy
A private high school centered on STEM education, providing both full-time and part-time programs, AP courses, and tutoring, along with coding classes for younger students and support for international learners.
- Audience: Grades 6-12 (primarily Grades 9-12)
- Features: Full-time, part-time, AP courses, international student assistance
- Location: Eglinton Region, Toronto