“We have tried every camp Guelph has to offer. The staff at Creative Encounters makes it a complete stand out. Every year my only regret is I didn’t sign up for even more weeks. THANK YOU!”

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“STEM” their love of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math!

Led by our incredible team of university student STEM Instructors, Creative Encounters summer camps feature hands-on activities that are designed to be fun and engaging, while also being educational! Many of our camps feature special visits or tours with STEM mentors, community members, and even professors.

 

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Summer 2024 Information

We’re SO excited to be back on campus this July & August with programs for youth entering grades 2-10!  This summer will feature all-new camp programs as well as some famous CE themes brought back by popular demand!

Learn more about this summer’s camp programs below:

~ The weeks that a camp is scheduled to run are represented above by the coloured boxes corresponding to a program and week ~

*Scroll down for camp descriptions*

Time

Our summer camps run Monday – Fridays from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Regular camper drop-off is between 8:45 – 9:00 AM and pick-up is 4:00 PM sharp.

All Gr. 2-3, 4-5, and 6-8 camps are 5-day programs. Our Gr. 9-10 camp is a 10-day program that runs back-to-back across two weeks (with a break over the weekend between week 1 and 2).

Extended Care (optional): We are offering pre-camp supervision from 8:10 – 9:00 AM and post-camp supervision from 4:00 – 4:50 PM every day of camp.

• • Extended Care will cost a flat fee of just $50, per camper, for the entire week ($10 per day; pre and post-camp combined).
    • This option will be available upon registering for each camp week.

• • Please note: campers in the Gr. 6-8 and Gr. 9-10 age groups may be authorized by a parent/guardian to Self Sign-Out. Additionally, a parent/guardian can authorize their Gr. 6-8/9-10 camper to sign out a younger sibling (Gr. 2-3 and/or Gr. 4-5).
    • Sign-out authorizations (including self sign-out) will be requested in the Pre-Camp Package registrants will receive prior to camp.

Lunch & snack times: Campers will have an hour for lunch in addition to a morning and afternoon snack break. Lunch and snacks will be eaten outdoors whenever possible.

Location

We are located at the U of G’s main campus and operate primarily out of the Albert A. Thornborough building. The precise location for pick-up and drop-off will be provided along with more information in the “Pre-Camp Package” for 2024, which will be sent to registrants at least 1 week prior to the camp week’s start date.

Pricing

Camps will cost between $295 to $310 (depending on the camp program) per camper, per week. You can find exact costs on our Camp Registration page, or click HERE to see an overview of all our camps.

• We are bringing back our Multi-Camp Discount!

After your first camp registration, you will receive $15.00 off every additional CE camp registration fee when signing-up for multiple sections at once. This deal only lasts until February 28th, 2024 so DO NOT MISS OUT!

• Families who are in need of financial support are welcome to apply for a Creative Encounters+Guelph Children’s Foundation bursary fund.

Click HERE for more information.

• Learn about our camp cancellation & transfers policy HERE.

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All registrants will receive a Pre-Camp Package with all of the necessary details and forms for our 2024 summer camps prior to the start of camp.

 

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2024 Camp Programs/Themes

While some camp themes place more of an emphasis on certain areas of STEM, we do try to incorporate interdisciplinary learning and applications to introduce our campers to a whole range of STEM topics. It is also important to note that while we are a “STEM” organization, we always encourage creativity and artistic expression throughout our program activities; creative thinking is a huge component of STEM, after all! Additionally, all camps will incorporate indoor and outdoor activities to encourage learning and play while enjoying the lovely summer weather where possible!

IMPORTANT:

• Age groups/grade ranges refer to the grade your child will enter in the fall 2024 school term.
  • Creative Encounters reserves the right to remove youth registered in the incorrect age group/grade range from programming.
• Camper age is calculated by how old they will be on December 31st, 2024.
• Camp content within a theme does not change from week to week.
• We are camp, not school! Expect lots of crafts, play, and fun integrated in and separate from our STEM lessons!

~~~ Gr. 2-3 Camps ~~~

BUILDING BUDDIES

Building is so much better with friends! Building Buddies will have no shortage of active, hands-on activities to keep campers up and engaged in the wonderful world of matter. So grab your construction helmet AND your thinking cap and let’s get building!

Activities include: DIY slime and group building challenges!

PLANES, TRAINS & CAMPERS

Planes, trains, and everything on wheels! Planes, Trains & Campers will feature a variety of activities that get your camper’s inner engineer engaged. So start your engines and sign up today!

Activities include: Paper airplane physics and bridge designing!

JURASSIC CAMP

From how we live today, all the way back to when dinosaurs roamed—our planet is full of adventure! Jurassic Camp will explore the science behind dinosaurs, our vast planet and all the organisms that live on it…including you! 

Activities include: Making fossils and creating your own dinosaur!

JURASSIC CAMP *P.A.G.E.S. ALL-GIRLS WEEKS*

As part of our Promoting Awareness of Girls in Engineering & Science (PAGES) program, we have reserved 1 week of Jurassic Camp (July 22-26th) for female-identifying and non-binary students. 

~~~ Gr. 4-5 Camps ~~~

DOUBLE-OH SCIENCE

Can you find all the clues to crack the code on our next top-secret mission? Double-Oh Science will get campers investigating a variety of concepts and theories within the fields of Forensic Science, Chemistry, Physics, and more!

Activities include: Fingerprint studying and invisible ink testing!

TECHQUEST

Who could say no to building and programming their own robot? TechQuest campers work together to design and build everything from basic circuits to battle-bots using LEGO Robotics kits, all while discovering the wonders of technology and engineering!

Activities include: LEGO robotics building and battle-bot competitions!

TECHQUEST *P.A.G.E.S. ALL-GIRLS WEEKS*

As part of our Promoting Awareness of Girls in Engineering & Science (PAGES) program, we have reserved 1 week of TechQuest (Aug 12-16th) for female-identifying and non-binary students. This takeover INCLUDES a Thursday extended-day with extra activities and a pizza dinner!

STEM SUPERHEROES

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…a summer camp! STEM Superheroes will have campers putting on their science goggles and engineering capes as they power-up on their mission to “save the world” using the power of STEM!

Activities include: ‘Save the city’ simulation and the science behind superpowers!

ZOO CREW

From desert dwellers to chilly companions, we’re getting the whole crew together! Zoo Crew will get your campers WILD for the science behind their favourite animals. Whether you love monkeys or are silly like them, come explore and learn all things zoology! 

Activities include: Animal biome exploration and animal evolution extravaganza!

~~~ Gr. 6-8 Camps ~~~

FUTURE VETS

Fur, scales, and feathers – oh my! Future Vets will dive into the world of veterinary science and animal care; big and small! If your camper loves biology, life sciences and (of course) animals, this is the camp for them!

Activities include: Teddy bear surgery and veterinary diagnosis challenge!

FUTURE VETS *P.A.G.E.S. ALL-GIRLS WEEKS*

As part of our Promoting Awareness of Girls in Engineering & Science (PAGES) program, we have reserved 1 week of Future Vets (Aug 19-23rd) for female-identifying and non-binary students. This takeover INCLUDES a Thursday late-night with extra activities, special visitors, and a pizza dinner—they may even get to paint the Cannon!

COOKING WITH CHEMISTRY

Jump into the world of cooking and explore how chemical reactions, microorganisms, and more create our favourite foods! Back by popular demand, Cooking with Chemistry will have campers learn where our food comes from and experiment with ingredients to create delicious edible concoctions.

Activities include: Recipe testing and tasting (different from those made in 2023)!

GAME DESIGN

Enter the Matrix and master the language of computers all while planning, designing, and bringing your very own video game to life! Game Design focuses on skills related to computer programming and software implementation, specifically targeting the development of video games. Campers will learn how to create objects, characters, game interactions, controls, and more. In addition, non-programming skills related to gaming will be developed, such as conceptualizing gameplay and themes.

*Game Design is capped at 10 campers per session, and primarily takes place indoors aside from lunch & breaks.*

GAME DESIGN *P.A.G.E.S. ALL-GIRLS WEEKS*

As part of our Promoting Awareness of Girls in Engineering & Science (PAGES) program, we have reserved 1 week of Game Design (July 15-19th) for female-identifying and non-binary students. This takeover INCLUDES a Thursday late-night with extra activities, special visitors, and a pizza dinner—they may even get to paint the Cannon!

~~~ Gr. 9-10 Camp ~~~

INSTRUCTORS IN TRAINING

Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes at Creative Encounters? Have an interest in STEM outreach AND want to build up your resume? Instructors in Training will allow campers to explore science communication, build interpersonal skills, and have some good old camp fun all through an awesome, hands-on two week program!

This camp is designed to be a 2-week program (July 8-12th + July 15-19th, July 22-26th + July 29th-Aug 2nd, Aug 12-16th + Aug 19-23rd). Campers will spend the first 5 days (week 1) attending a day camp as a group with Instructors, activities, team bonding, and regular camp fun. The second 5 days (week 2) will then be spent shadowing STEM Instructors and CE team members who will act as mentors to the campers as they put what they have learned into action. This second week will also be counted as volunteer hours for all campers interested in earning up to 40 community hours while enjoy their time with Creative Encounters!

*Instructors in Training is capped at 12 campers per session.*

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Camp Registration is NOW OPEN!

Learn about our camp cancellation & transfers policy HERE

 

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Testimonials: 

“My camper loved the Instructors right from day 1. I really appreciated the well-organized reception and how the staff made sure they were happy and comfortable as soon as they arrived on the first day.”

—Guardian of ‘Sci-Fari Explorers‘ camper, Gr. 2-3 camp

“We have known about CE camps for a long time. I first learned about them as a student at U of G, long before I became a parent. My daughters go to many different camps every summer including gymnastics, art, horses, etc., and CE has definitely been one of their very favourite camps!”

—Guardian of ‘Wilderness Warriors’ camper, Gr. 4-5

“My and my child’s experience with the camp was really great! The Instructors and volunteers were all amazing. My child felt very welcome and included. They even mentioned that they would love to be a volunteer for the program once they are old enough! 🙂 Thank you for all the hard work to design and implement such a great experience for our kids!”

—Guardian of ‘Cooking with Chemistry’ camper, Gr. 6-8

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Visit our Camp Photo Gallery for photos from previous summers & a video about us!