“Educational without trying. The kids learned so much but didn’t feel like they were ‘in school’!”

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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 2025 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 $75, per camper, for the entire week ($15 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 2025, which will be sent to registrants at least 1 week prior to the camp week’s start date.

Pricing

Camps will cost between $355 to $400 (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 $20.00 off every additional CE camp registration fee when signing-up for multiple sections at once. This deal only lasts until February 28th, 2025 so DO NOT MISS OUT!

• *NEW* Families who are in need of financial support are welcome to apply for a Creative Encounters 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 202 summer camps prior to the start of camp.

 

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2025 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 2025 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, 2025.
• 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 ~~~

OOEY GOOEY SCIENCE

From creepy crawlies to icky sticky slime, these ooey gooey scientists will learn all about chemistry and get their hands dirty exploring the world of yuck!

Activities include: DIY Slime and Insect Studies

OOEY GOOEY SCIENCE *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 Ooey Gooey Science (July 21-25th) for female-identifying and non-binary students. This takeover INCLUDES a Thursday pizza party lunch!

SCI-FARI EXPLORERS

Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! Sci-fari Explorers takes campers into the great outdoors to learn all about the natural world. From plants to animals, desert to deep sea, Sci-fari Explorers will learn about all they can see!

Activities include: An Arboretum Trip and Invasive Species Tag

STORYBOOK STEM

Once upon a time at Creative Encounters… Storybook STEM will feature a variety of hands-on activities and creative building challenges all based on your favorite storybook characters! Only a true engineer can put Humpty Dumpty back together again!

Activities include: Fairytale Building Challenges and Humpty Dumpty’s Egg Drop

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

STEM WARS

In a summer camp far, far away… STEM Wars will allow campers to explore the world of tech. Campers will use out-of-this-world technology to build robots, make circuits, learn to program, and more!

Activities include: Multiple Lego builds including Battlebots!

STEM WARS *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 STEM Wars (July 14-18th) for female-identifying and non-binary students. This takeover INCLUDES an extended Thursday with extra activities and a pizza dinner!

EARTH, OCEAN AND SKY

In Earth, Ocean and Sky, we leave no stone unturned. Explore the vast lands we live on and all they have to offer! Campers will learn how to conserve the natural beauty of our planet and dig into the components that make up our global home.

Activities include: Ocean in a Jar and an Arboretum Trip

MEDIEVAL STEM

Hear ye, hear ye! In Medieval STEM, campers will learn about the science and tech surrounding the Middle Ages. Whether you fancy yourself a knight, a ruler or a jester – all are welcome in Creative Encounters’ royal court!

Activities include: Catapult Building Challenge and Knights, Horses, Cavaliers

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

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 2024)!

COOKING WITH CHEMISTRY *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 Cooking with Chemistry (Aug 11-15th) 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!

FUTURE ENGINEERS

Research, industry, independent ventures – what can’t Engineers do? In Future Engineers, campers will explore topics and careers related to the ever evolving world of engineering. So grab your hard hat and iron ring, it’s time to put the E in STEM!

Activities include: Design Challenges and Visits with UofG Eng Mentors

FUTURE ENGINEERS *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 Engineers (July 28th-August 1st) 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!

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 (August 18-22nd) 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 7-11th + July 14-18th, July 21-25th + July 28th-Aug 1st, Aug 11-15th + Aug 18-22nd). 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 10 campers per session.*

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Camp Registration opens Feb 12th (9AM)!

Learn about our camp cancellation & transfers policy HERE

 

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Testimonials: 

“My son came home happy every day – the format and materials were engaging and pitched at the right level for him to be successful.”

—Guardian of ‘Jurassic Camp‘ camper, Gr. 2-3 camp

“My camper had a blast making new friends and learning about different animals. He was really excited to tell me what he learned and show me what he made every day. Thank you!!!”

—Guardian of ‘Zoo Crew’ camper, Gr. 4-5 camp

“Both my kids have attended Creative Encounters’ summer camps for years. My 12 year old and his best friend adored Cooking with Chemistry – it was just the right amount of challenge and learning for them and getting messy was great.”

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

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