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Science Engagement Programs Faculty of Science
Home » Summer » Online Summer Science Program (Grade 6 to 12)

Online Summer Science Program (Grade 6 to 12)

The Online Summer Science Program has been suspended indefinitely. Thank you to those who participated! Check out our in-person programs, held at the York University Keele Campus.

Click to register for grade 6-8 online camps
Click to register for grade 9-12 online camps

Engage in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) with us while in the comfort of your home!

We're excited to be offering weekly online STEM programs for students in grade 6 to 12! Programs are developed and taught by undergraduate/graduate science or engineering students, Teacher Candidates, or Ontario Certified Teachers. Each session will be live, guided, and will allow participants to be involved in hands-on activities. If you have questions, please contact us at explore@yorku.ca.

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Grade Level

  • Grades 6-8 (Online Summer Explorations Camps)
  • Grades 9-12 (Online High School Spark Programs)

Dates

July 10 to August 4, 2023

Time

Online programs are two-hours daily for four- or five-days depending on the week.

Pricing

$150.00 per week (grade 6 to 12)

Note: Several of our Online Program offerings are modified from previous years' in-person/online camps (grade 3 to 8) and programs (grade 9 to 12). If you participated in an in-person camp or program with the same name, we recommend that you do not sign up for them again.

Summer 2023 Online Program Descriptions

Veterinary Medicine

  • Date: July 10 to 14, 2023
  • Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm

Become a veterinarian for week! Join us as we take a journey through zoology: the study of animal biology. Campers will delve in the kingdom of Animalia by investigating techniques in veterinary science, exploring animal physiology, and more! From dissecting an owl pellet to exploring life cycles of different animals, campers will be engaged in all things animal.

Space Science

  • Date: July 17 to 21, 2023
  • Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm

Join us on our journey to the moon. Get ready for NASA’S next planned Artemis Moon Mission in 2024 by building your own hydraulic lunar-rover. Learn how astronomers and astrophysicists determine the composition of planets millions of light-years away, and see the stars at home with circuit constellations.

Flight Academy

  • Date: July 24 to 28, 2023
  • Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm

This camp starts off with a bang! Learn about different chemical reactions and how we can harness their potential energy to create thrilling displays of engineering. Concoct your own rocket fuel recipe while making bottle rockets and use the engineering design process to plan and build your own glider.

Human Biology

  • Date: July 31 to August 4, 2023
  • Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm

Campers will take a journey into the science of the body, learning about human biology while making models of lungs and bones! Explore the transmission of signals in our nervous system, construct a moving muscle model to learn about the musculoskeletal system, test out a spirometer to learn about the respiratory system, and much more!

Note: This camp was offered in Summer 2022 as Body Systems.

Click to register for grade 6-8 online camps

Immunology

  • Date: July 10 to 14, 2023
  • Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Understanding how diseases manifest in our body first requires us to grasp how our body function under normal conditions. Join us as we explore the different types of pathogens and how scientists study the life cycles of these pathogens in order to understand how to fight against them. This course focuses on the life cycle, current research, and difficulties associated with the treatment of a virus.

Pharmacology

  • Date: July 17 to 21, 2023
  • Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Medicine has the ability to stop, cure or prevent diseases and illnesses. While we use medicine every day to treat our symptoms, the science behind how medications function and how they are designed is not as commonly understood. This course will investigate techniques used in drug preparation, administration and absorption in the human body. Join us as we learn the four stages involved when medication is taken, and explore the different types of medications available.

Neurobiology

  • Date: July 24 to 28, 2023
  • Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm

The study of the human brain, arguably the most complex organ of the body, is a relatively new discipline in the realm of medicine. In this course, we will learn how the brain works and how much there still is to learn. The brain has shown us how we learn, how our diet affects our mental capacity, and taught us methods to cope with stress. Study the structure of the brain, learn about the important functions of the brain, and investigate how stress affects our learning and memory. Students will also explore topics in the anatomy behind emotions and other biologically-driven behaviours.

Biochemistry

  • Date: July 31 to August 4, 2023
  • Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Students will delve into the worlds of biology and chemistry where they’ll explore topics such as supercooling, nucleic acids and antibiotics! They’ll extract DNA, make hot ice, measure pH and much more.

Click to register for grade 9-12 online camps

Which grade group should my child be registered in?

Due to the academic nature of our programs, we recommend participants register for programs based on the grade they will be entering in September 2023.

  • The Online Summer Explorations Camps are for grades 6 to 8
  • The Online High School Spark Programs are for grades 9-12

Cost and Registration

All registration is to be completed online through the Active Software system. Your spot will be reserved upon receipt of payment. You will receive a Welcome Package after registration with more information including the Zoom link, setup, and more.

  • 4-day weeks: $120.00 per week per participant (grade 6 to 12)
  • 5-day weeks: $150.00 per week per participant (grade 6 to 12)

We are doing everything we can to keep our program fees low and accessible. This fee will help us cover our Instructor salaries and include a STEM Kit (grade 6-8) or Course Kit (grade 9-12).

Daily Schedule

Like our in-person programs, we are offering four unique themes for each grade section!

Each camp/course runs weekly (4- or 5-days) for two hours daily. All sessions are live and guided by our wonderful team of Instructors and volunteer Counselors.

On the first day, instructors and volunteer Counselors will start with a brief introduction, set goals and expectations, and do Icebreakers so that participants can get to know each other. The remaining time will be for engaging in STEM activities and Q & A.

What is a STEM Kit (grade 6-8) and a Course Kit (grade 9-12)?

Despite the at-home nature of our online programs, we're still committed to maintaining the same level of quality and education our programs are known for. However, this means that participants will be carrying out their own experiments, and will need the materials to do so.

This year, we will be providing a STEM/Course Kit that includes all of the materials your student will need for the entire week. We may request that you supply some house-hold items. Please note, Computer Science camps will not have a STEM Kit as all activities will be online.

Common household items that you may need:

  • Tableware (ex. Cups, Dishes, etc)
  • Utensils (ex. Fork, Spoon, etc)
  • Cleaning Supplies (ex. Paper Towel, Towels, etc)
  • Non-mailable items that you may need:

Batteries

  • Flammable and Corrosive Materials (ex. Bleach, Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide, etc)
  • Perishable Food (ex. Eggs, Bananas, etc)
  • The STEM/Course Kit and domestic shipping is included with each program. International shipping is an additional $25 for each registration.

Please make sure to list ALL medical concerns including allergies when you are registering. We will try our best to provide an alternative if there is an item the participant is allergic to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Visit our FAQ Page for more information, including location, refund policies and financial assistance.