**STEM from Scratch: January Youth Opportunities**
**1. [I-STEM Program](https://www.hdsb.ca/learning-and-resources/Pages/Secondary%20Education%20and%20Pathways/I-STEM.aspx)**
Offered at Aldershot High School (Burlington), T.A. Blakelock High School (Oakville), and Elsie Macgill Secondary School (Milton), this 4-year program (Grades 9-12) is applied for in Grade 8 via a random selection method. It emphasizes the enhancement of engineering, design, and leadership abilities, while promoting creative and critical thinking on a global scale. The yearly fee amounts to $200, and the curriculum is significantly STEM-focused with specially designed courses such as I-STEM Math and Integrated Project-Based Learning.
**2. Halton Hills Public Library**
This establishment offers a variety of STEM and Arts programs, including animation and robotics/programming, intended for children. The 8-week courses occur four times a year. Additional public libraries also present a variety of comparable STEM-based programs.
**3. Chamelea Science Centre**
Catering to children aged 3-12 in Toronto, with accessibility for those in Vaughan/Markham, this center provides 8-week sessions of interactive STEM workshops. Every session is one hour long, with costs between $100 and $300. Instructors create engaging learning experiences, and students can take home what they have crafted.
**4. [Carnegie Mellon’s Open Learning Initiative](https://oli.cmu.edu/independent-learner-courses)**
This initiative offers high school students a range of STEM courses that include Computer Science, Life Sciences, and Mathematics. Courses incorporate interactive activities, allowing students to learn online at their leisure. Fees vary from $10 to $80, with most costing $25 per student. Applications are necessary, and program schedules differ.
**5. [Girls Who Code](https://girlswhocode.com/programs)**
Though primarily based in the USA, applications from international students are accepted for these online programs aimed at dismantling barriers in STEM for women and non-binary individuals.
– **Clubs Program**: Available virtually for grades 3-12, divided between grades 3-5 and 6-12, with offerings ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Participation is free, requiring 1-2 hours weekly, either post-school or on weekends.
– **Summer Programs**: Targeted at grades 9-12, from beginner to intermediate stages, at no cost. Programs are flexible to accommodate various student calendars, with grants accessible within the United States.