Who we are?
Waterloo STEAM Academy is a not-for-profit organization that grew out of Young Engineers Waterloo which began December 2024. As we began delivering programs, we realized that we could do so much more and we can integrate elements of our community into our program offering.
We found a desire in children to explore their own creative minds. Instead of delivering a program based on specific builds we are delivering project-based curriculums.
Each program has core teachables, the end result and the final build is up to each student. As the world moves repeatable tasks to the realm of automation and AI, art will become the defining aspect to emerging industries and established industries. So why not make art the center of STAEM Education? We decided. We will.
We will always strive to escape information silos. Most of us has experienced how limiting it can be in our careers and everyday lives. Career coaches and industry thought leaders constantly warn us about the dangers of silos. To escape self-imposed limitations, we will host quarterly updates and sessions welcoming ideas from our community. Our community consist of parents, educators, donors, volunteers, community partners and retirees with a life of experience to share.
Objectives
- Deliver Outstanding STEAM Programs: Develop and implement a suite of after-school programs, competitive robotics, camps, outreach programs, and home-school programs for ages 4–18.
- Foster Inclusivity and Accessibility: Ensure programs are accessible to all children regardless of socioeconomic status by including scholarships, internal subsidies and free programming for underrepresented and marginalized populations.
- Research and Develop Skills for Today: Facilitate the development of critical skills for innovators such as problem-solving, collaboration, communication, coding, and design.
- Establish Sustainable Funding: Cultivate a diverse funding base, including grants, program fees, partnerships, and community support to ensure financial resilience and long-term impact.