Black Youth in STEM uses four models of programming to deliver culturally relevant content and create a STEM-positive space to engage K-12 students.
Our in-person out-of-school ‘Club’ model uses experiential, theme-based and intentional programming on various STEM topics, to engage students in Grades 1 to 12 throughout the academic year on campus at Queen’s University. Workshops last for 5 hours and often include mentorship sessions and relationship/community building activities. There are three club options available:
Our virtual academic support and mentorship program offers students tutorial-like sessions over Zoom on Sundays, and are designed to build scientific knowledge, competence, and confidence in Black youth, as we assist their cognitive development in core STEM disciplines taught in schools. This is an enriching opportunity that also caters to the students’ socio-affective well-being. Each virtual workshop is facilitated by a trained educator and scientist, and a graduate engineering student with industrial experience, to provide a balanced outlook on how the workshop content is applied in science and engineering fields.
Week-long exploratory and experiential STEM summer camps at Queen’s University that expose youth to various engineering disciplines through hands-on learning experiences. Students get to tour research laboratories and participate in K-12 STEM educational activities organized by Queen’s Engineering departments, Queen’s Education Library, the Faculty of Medicine, and local museums. Two types of programming are offered to participants:
A Queen’s University engineering experience, where BYiS is integrated in the Queen’s Summer Engineering Academy (QSEA) program, which has the benefit of offering students from the GTA the opportunity to live in residence and experience life as first-year engineering students do. During these camps, all educational programs are grounded in various engineering disciplines.
A Queen’s University STEM experience, where students engage in educational programs offered by museums, they visit research laboratories, and participate in STEM activities organized by various university departments. This experience is unique for students living in Kingston and nearby towns, as it does not give students the option of staying in residence.
GTA-based summer workshops lasting 2-3 days per week, using Actua’s ‘Go Where Kids Are’ model to reach underserved youth. Workshops are offered in collaboration with the Durham Catholic District School Board to Black and minority youth, who may lack access to STEM learning camps. BYiS delivers STEM education using hands-on, interactive, and fun engineering design challenges and science experiments which serve to: