Take Your Kids to Work Day program will include hands-on design challenges. 

By Meredith Dault, Senior Communications Officer

Grade nine students accompanying their parents to campus for Take Your Kids to Work Day on Wednesday, Nov. 6, will have the opportunity to learn about science and engineering through hands-on activities. The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science’s EngQonnect has partnered with Let’s Talk Science to host a day designed to give visiting kids plenty to keep them learning. The program’s shortened day leaves enough time to shadow mom or dad, too.

“Take Your Kids to Work Day is designed to give kids more insight into the world of work,” says Outreach Project Manager, Scott Compeau. “The fact is, however, that watching mom or dad type on a computer all day on something that might not be of interest to the student isn’t necessarily the best learning experience. We are simply providing these students with the opportunity to gain some exposure into the world of science and engineering."

The day will begin with a visit to the Queen’s Engineering design teams working on everything from working prototype vehicles, to houses powered only by the sun. The students will then have a tour of campus before sitting down for lunch with a group of university students, where they will have the chance to ask questions about engineering or life at Queen's. They will spend the afternoon working on a hands-on design challenge.

“It’s a chance to try out some new things and get a sense of what university is like,” says Mr. Compeau, describing the event as a way to “add value” to Take Your Kids to Work Day. “Even if a grade 9 student doesn’t think he or she is interested in engineering, this is an opportunity to find out a little more about university in general. And it wraps early enough in the afternoon that the student can still spend some time watching mom or dad work.”

The special programming, which runs from 9 am to 2:30 pm, is open to children of Queen’s staff and faculty across campus.

For more information contact Scott Compeau, Outreach Projects Manager, or Maria Lahiffe, Outreach Coordinator at outreach@appsci.queensu.ca or 613-533-6000 x75640.

Click here for more information about the program and to register.