On Saturday, January 14, parents and youth from across Kingston and the surrounding region will fill Grant Hall for the first annual Youth Programs and Camps Expo. The event, presented by the Enrichment Studies Unit (ESU) at Queen’s, will offer information and sign-up opportunities for a range of extracurricular activities offered by various community groups this spring and summer.

“We’re expecting up to 500 parents and students through Grant Hall for the expo,” says Tracey Mallen, Director of the Enrichment Studies Unit. “This expo will provide parents and youth with information on the wide range of activities for youth of all ages across the Kingston community.”

Over 30 community organizations will be on hand to promote over 250 programs for children aged four to 18 – including those focused on the arts, athletics, recreation and academic enrichment. A number of live demonstrations are also planned. For younger attendees, there will be a number of activities including face painting, and a presentation by Matt Ellerbeck, known locally as “The Salamander Man.”

A number of Queen’s-affiliated groups will be in attendance, including the ESU, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year – and will be promoting their enrichment experience programs for students in grades seven through 12. Queen’s-affiliated programs include the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science’s educational outreach program Connections, Athletic and Recreation’s Q-Camps, and the long-running Science Quest programs.  

“Science Quest's mission has always been to engage and empower youth by offering programs that spark curiosity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” says Tristan Brunet, Sc’19, Director of Science Quest. “Our programs aim to show the connection of science to the world around us. We're happy take part in the Youth Programs and Camp Expo this year to share our summer programs with the Kingston community.”

The expo is free to attend, and parking is free in designated on-campus lots.

For more information, please visit the website.