**Opportunities in STEM for Youth this March**
STEM from Scratch is thrilled to showcase a range of STEM-related initiatives for youth this March. These offerings aim to enhance awareness and engagement in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics among diverse communities and regions.
**McMaster University I-STEP: Black Youth IMHOTEP STEM Enrichment Program**
The IMHOTEP STEM Enrichment Program at McMaster University offers Black high school students in Hamilton and the Halton region experiential learning and leadership training. With an after-school STEM club in winter and a week-long residential camp in July, this initiative seeks to motivate and educate.
– **Target Audience:** Black high school students from Hamilton and Halton.
– **Program Highlights:** Experiential STEM learning, leadership training.
– **Social Media:** [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/macistep_/)
**BEST STEM Program**
The BEST STEM Program, part of I-STEP, assists Black, Indigenous, and LatinX students in Grades 5-8 by providing after-school sessions that lead them toward STEM education and career options in four locations across Canada, including McMaster University.
– **Target Audience:** Black, Indigenous, and LatinX students in Grades 5-8.
– **Program Highlights:** After-school sessions, pathways to STEM careers.
– **Pre-Registration:** Needed for university selection.
**STEAM Program (Halton Catholic District School Board)**
This complimentary four-year program for high school students attending Catholic schools in the Halton area empowers learners and equips them for future career opportunities.
– **Target Audience:** High school students in Catholic schools.
– **Program Highlights:** Free, long-lasting engagement.
– **Offered At:** St. Ignatius of Loyola, Notre Dame, St. Francis Xavier.
**Autism Centre for Kids: STEM Programs**
Designed for children on the autism spectrum, these programs offer practical learning, problem-solving skills, and engineering concepts tailored to age groups.
– **Programs Offered:**
– **Junior Innovators (Ages 4-6):** Introductory scientific concepts using sensory-friendly materials.
– **Builders Challenge (Ages 6-10):** Emphasis on problem-solving skills.
– **Tech Explorers (Ages 9-12):** Focus on engineering and robotics.
– **RoboGenius (Ages 12-15):** Concentration on robotics and software engineering.
– **Payment Required:** Yes.
**STEAM Design Program: University of Toronto**
For Grade 10-11 students from underrepresented backgrounds, this program provides a science credit course and a financial stipend upon completion.
– **Target Audience:** Racialized students confronting socio-economic challenges.
– **Program Highlights:**
– Grade 12 Science Credit (SNC4M1).
– $1,600 stipend awarded upon completion.
– **Application Period:** Opens March 16, 2025.
**The STEAM Project**
Delivering STEM programs for Grades K-8, including summer and school-break camps, this project emphasizes design, electronics, woodworking, and robotics.
– **Target Audience:** Students in Grades K-8.
– **Program Highlights:** 1:4 teacher-student ratio, experiential learning.
– **Locations:** Richmond Hill and Markham.
**Toronto STEM School**
This private high school provides comprehensive STEM-focused programming for students, featuring AP courses and accommodations for international students.
– **Target Audience:** Grades 6-12.
– **Program Highlights:** Full-time/part-time options, private tutoring.
– **Location:** Eglinton Region, Toronto.
These STEM initiatives offer essential opportunities for students of varied ages and backgrounds, fostering innovation and motivation in the STEM disciplines.