SciX campers get full exposure to a full range of science activities
This summer, (SciX) in the Faculty of Science has partnered with the Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund to subsidize campers鈥 fees. The Fresh Air Fund has generously donated $5,500, which will go towards covering fees for 20 children this year.
鈥淟ast year, our registrations grew by about 50 per cent -- evidence that more kids than ever are excited about STEM,鈥 said Almira Mun, assistant dean for Science Engagement Programs, 鈥淧arents want to keep curious minds enriched during the summer break but for kids it鈥檚 a way to make friends while having fun exploring STEM topics. There鈥檚 nothing better than seeing a child鈥檚 face light up after discovering something new or because their 鈥榟ypotheses鈥 have been proven. We鈥檙e so grateful to the Toronto Star Fund for providing that experience to children who might not, otherwise, share in that excitement.鈥
SciX camps are week-long educational day programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that run from July 4 to August 26 for kids in grades three to eight. For summer 2017 thus far, more than 530 kids have registered.
Campers investigate different topics in STEM through engaging hands-on experiments. Highlights include camps focused on computer programming or astronomy, as well as the extremely popular mini med-school, among others. There are also camps just for girls, including one called Global Problem Solvers, where girls apply science, technology, engineering, and math to design systems that will help solve current world issues.
All of the SciX camps foster problem solving, critical thinking and an overall passion for STEM 鈥 and they are well received by kids and parents alike. 鈥淢y daughter was thrilled to learn more about computers," said one parent. "It gave her a new sense of confidence to sit down and compose a game that she could then play. I was blown away by the 鈥榳ork鈥 notes she brought home, and by her enthusiasm for learning something during the holidays. 鈥業t鈥檚 like school in the summer, but way more interesting!鈥 she said.鈥
The Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund is a children鈥檚 charity that provides grants to camp organizations to subsidize fees for underprivileged and special needs children from the Toronto area each summer. The Fresh Air Fund has been a proud supporter of camps at 91亚色 for 20 years, providing close to $50,000 in subsidies for campers taking part of camps such as 91亚色 Youth Connection and the Science Exploration Camps.