With the summer break about to start, Queen’s University is preparing to welcome more than 2,000 youth to campus for its annual summer camps. Starting in July, participants ages 6 to 18 can pursue their choice of athletic, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), or art-based camps.

This year’s camps will include new and returning programming designed to build valuable skills and lasting memories. The camps below are among some of the innovative programs being offered by various departments on campus, with many more waiting to be discovered.  

ASUS - French Immersion and Themed Weeks  

Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) camps are open to youths between 4 and 8 years old and aim to spark an interest in the arts and sciences early in life.  This summer, campers can build their language skills and take part in programing that adds a fresh spin on camp content every week.

A new French immersion camp encourages participants to spend the day speaking and playing games in French to develop language comprehension. The French Immersion camp balances engaging activities with standards of education found in the Ontario Curriculum.

“Adding to the fun and excitement, each week of camp is comprised of a unique theme,” says Orli Rich, Director of Operations, ASUS Camp. “For example, during the Furry Friends week we will bring in service dogs and do themed crafts and activities about animals.”

With a total of eight themed weeks to pick from, campers can choose their own adventure by selecting an arrangement that fits their preference in English or French streams.  

To learn more visit asuscamp.ca

Science Quest - InnovateHERs 

Science Quest offers camps with hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Campers can engage in experiments, robotics workshops, and coding challenges which foster critical thinking and problem-solving.

“Since our founding back in 1988, Science Quest has been dedicated to staying ahead of the curve in STEM education,” says Renée Farrell, Science Quest Head Director “We’re thrilled to introduce some exciting new updates, including InnovateHERs — a groundbreaking camp designed specifically for female-identifying students to explore the real-world applications of different types of engineering.”

From electrical circuits to structural design, the InnovateHERs camp explores different areas of engineering through unique special guest workshops, field trips, and exposure to industry professionals. InnovateHERs will give youth in grades four to eight opportunities to discover engineering and inspire participation in a field in which women have been historically underrepresented. 

To learn more visit sciencequest.ca

Q-Camps – Paralympic Camp

Athletics and Recreation’s Q-Camps provide opportunities for campers to form lasting friendships and build a sense of community through shared experiences and healthy activities. Campers can choose from among 79 offerings which introduce basic rules used in sports and fundamental movement skills.

Among the new offerings is a Paralympic Camp where campers will be guided through a week of summer and winter Paralympic-themed activities and sports including wheelchair basketball, goalball, sitting volleyball, and boccia. The Paralympic Camp builds on the excitement leading up to the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris and will give opportunities for campers of all abilities to try new sports and develop new skills.

“This year we really want to increase exposure to adaptive sports that promote participation and inclusion for all youth,” says Jessica Walker, Manger Active Living, Athletics and Recreation “We want to build a core memory in a camper’s life where they are excited to come back to Q-Camps year over year and gain the confidence to participate in active play, both here at the ARC and also in their own neighborhood.”

To learn more visit GoGaels.com

Engineering Academy - STEMsprouts and ENGgears

The Queen’s Summer Engineering Academy is launching a new option for young campers who want to learn what it’s like to build robots or work at NASA. The new STEMsprouts and ENGgears are co-ed options designed to introduce campers in grades two to three, and grades four to six to STEM and how it can be applied to the environment, space, structural design, and understanding matter and energy.

STEMsprouts and ENGgears can experience up to four weeks of camp filled with interactive activities that spark passion in various engineering disciplines and equip them with the knowledge to tackle real-world problems.

To  learn more visit queensconnections.ca

Partnering for a strong and caring community

Queen’s summer camps play an important role in advancing the university’s commitment to community, health, and socio-economic impacts in the Kingston region. Each year, summer camps at Queen’s employ more than 100 students who provide members of the community with access to facilities and educational services. Explore additional summer camp options by checking out programs such as those offered by AGNES, QUBS, Mathematics, and many others.