UNews - Destination Exploration

Destination Exploration at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge receives $186,000 in funding from Actua to support youth STEM programs

caroline.zentner — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 20:15:30 +0000

Destination Exploration at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge announced roughly $186,000 in funding from Actua, one of Canada’s leading science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) youth outreach organizations. As part of Actua’s national network, Destination Exploration (DE) engages youth through STEM workshops, camps, clubs and special events. Part of this funding comes from a significant investment in the Actua network through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Science Fund, totalling $38.4 million over five years.

The Actua network includes over 40 colleges and universities across the country providing STEM learning opportunities for youth while breaking down barriers to access. Destination Exploration has been a member of the Actua network since 2002. Through specialized programming, Destination Exploration engages diverse youth, including Indigenous youth, girls and young women, Black youth, youth facing socio-economic challenges and youth from other equity-deserving communities in programming that builds essential employability skills and confidence. In addition to the Government of Canada, Actua deeply values its esteemed industry partners whose long-term investment has been and continues to be essential in our collective mission to equip and inspire youth to lead Canada’s future science and innovation economy.

“Each year, the Actua network engages 375,000 youth in 600 communities across the country. Destination Exploration at ULethbridge is an integral part of this national impact and together, we will continue to relentlessly remove barriers so that all youth can be engaged in STEM," said Jennifer Flanagan, CEO of Actua.

“The support of Actua since our program's inception 22 years ago has been incredible,” says Steph Elder, DE interim director of Youth Outreach. “With this year's funding announcement and support through the Strategic Science Fund, we'll be able to continue to grow and provide more opportunities to youth in Lethbridge and across southern Alberta.”

Funding is only one part of the support provided to Destination Exploration from Actua. In addition to significant investments such as the one announced today, Actua provides day-to-day support, training, professional development and best-practice resources in STEM outreach. Additionally, Actua is the national voice representing the local network to advance STEM engagement, diversity and inclusion within science culture in Canada.

“This collaborative effort underscores the significance of community and national support in fostering an environment where young minds can explore, innovate, and thrive in the ever-evolving fields of science, technology, engineering, and math,” says Elder.

About Destination Exploration

Destination Exploration is Lethbridge’s foremost youth science outreach organization. DE strives to provide participants with a positive and exciting educational experience in science, technology, engineering and math programs. DE offers interactive classroom workshops, stimulating summer camps, inspiring afterschool clubs, as well as special events and science-themed birthday parties. Programs have been growing steadily since they originated in 2002, and now reach over 8,700 youth each year in Lethbridge and surrounding areas. Visit the DE website for more information.
About Actua

Actua is a leading Canadian science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) youth outreach organization. Each year, the Actua network engages over 375,000 youth in 600 communities across Canada in transformative STEM learning experiences that build critical skills and confidence. Actua focuses on engaging equity-deserving youth through specialized programs for Indigenous youth, girls and young women, Black youth, youth facing economic barriers and youth living in Northern and remote communities. Its major funding partners include the Government of Canada, RBC Foundation, Suncor Energy Foundation, TD Bank Group, Google.org, Toyota Canada Foundation, Enbridge, Cenovus, CIBC Foundation, Coveo, Scotiabank, Mastercard and Imperial. For more information, visit actua.ca.

Destination Exploration celebrating 20 years of STEM outreach activities with community open house

trevor.kenney — Thu, 12 May 2022 20:27:54 +0000

Started as a one-week science camp and a handful of school workshops in 2002, Destination Exploration (DE) has blossomed into the flagship STEM youth outreach program in southern Alberta. On Saturday, May 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Science Commons Atrium, DE will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a family-friendly open house.

Operating under the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Faculty of Arts & Science, DE provides hands-on, engaging science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs for youth and their families. For Valerie Archibald, director of youth outreach at ULethbridge, the goal of DE has always been focused on unlocking the incredible potential of all participants.

Destination Exploration has been igniting curiosity in youth for 20 years.

“All our programming, all our experiences are designed to provide youth and their families with opportunities to engage with STEM in a way that creates a self-awareness of their abilities in these fields. Science, technology, math and engineering are accessible to everyone, and they can be fun,” she says. “By getting youth excited about STEM and bringing the whole family into this journey of exploring, we hope to set the basis for lifelong learning.”

Over the last 20 years, DE has grown immeasurably by forging key partnerships within the southern Alberta community and beyond. In 2010, DE and Let’s Talk Science formed a relationship that now delivers kindergarten to Grade 12 STEM programming throughout the region. Also in 2010, DE became a part of the Actua network, a national organization devoted to unlocking the potential of youth through STEM.

As well, DE has been buoyed by relationships with the Lethbridge Public Library, which has created collaborative clubs like Mini Tech-Heads and been the downtown pick-up spot for STEM bags, thereby expanding DE’s reach to Lethbridge families, and industry supporter Pratt & Whitney Canada, with which they have received generous funding and partnered to offer Family STEM Nights.

“The support we have received from our partners has really allowed us to reach many more youth and families in southern Alberta in new and innovative ways,” adds Archibald.

Saturday’s event will showcase everything that makes DE great, including games, robots and science experiments. People will get the chance to meet their summer staff and take a look at the many summer camp offerings and you might even get an opportunity to do some Sphero Bowling. Free parking is available in Lots S or N, adjacent to Science Commons.

Visit 20 Years of DE Celebration! For more information.

Destination Exploration celebrating Science Odyssey with free, unplugged STEM learning activities

trevor.kenney — Thu, 06 May 2021 15:32:12 +0000

Do your children have inquisitive minds, like to solve problems or create experiments? Are you looking for an activity that doesn’t involve logging into a web call? Destination Exploration (DE) is here for you.

Throughout 2021 Science Odyssey (continuing through May 16), DE is offering free, engaging, hands-on, unplugged learning opportunities for the community. STEM Explorers on the Go, created for children aged 6-12 and their families, brings the principles of science, technology, math and engineering (STEM) into your house.

“We’re really excited to offer these hands-on learning and STEM engagement activities to families who are looking for ways to involve their children in scientific projects,” says Valerie Archibald, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s director, Youth Outreach. “And as much as we have had great success with our online STEM camps and workshops, we understand the appeal of doing something completely unplugged.”

A total of 150 activity bags were made available (one per family) at the start of the week, each including an activity booklet, custom 3D printed zipline part, colour changing pencil, DE sticker, and U of L swag. The bags were snapped up quickly but for those who missed out, the activity booklet is still available to be downloaded for free at uleth.ca/destination-exploration/odysci2021.

“The earlier you can involve your children in STEM activities, the more it inspires creativity, curiosity and imagination,” says Archibald. “By engaging in STEM, it really does open their minds to so many learning opportunities.”

When you participate, share your experiences and tag @uLethbridgeDE and @Sci_Od on Twitter and Instagram, or by using #AtHomeWithDE and #OdySci.

About Science Odyssey

Led by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Science Odyssey brings together hundreds of fun and engaging activities across the country from Saturday, May 1 to Sunday, May 16, 2021. Events range from science in the streets, visits to labs, science fairs, talks and conferences, school field trips, encounters with scientists and engineers, special exhibits at museums and science centers, scientific events at community organizations, online activities, and much more.

Destination Exploration to offer virtual clubs in January

caroline.zentner — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 18:04:47 +0000

Destination Exploration (DE) is meeting the need for STEM activities and learning by relaunching their after-school clubs in January. Students will be able to perform science experiments, explore robotics, do math games and puzzles, learn online technology and how to build systems.

InnovateHER, an all-girls club for students in Grades 4 to 7, will meet Wednesday evenings. The FriYAY Club will meet Friday afternoons and is also for students in Grades 4 to 7. In addition, the Arconic STEM Club is shifting online. This club, for students in Grades 6 to 9 all over southern Alberta, gives students their own technology tools like the Sphero robotic ball and Arduino, an electronic prototyping platform, to learn with and explore along with their instructors. Registration opens on Friday, Dec. 4. Call 403-329-2706 or register online through the new Community Programs page.

“The team at Destination Exploration has worked very hard to continue to offer fun, engaging and hands-on learning experiences to our participants in this new virtual environment,” says Valerie Archibald, director of youth outreach. “We are excited to launch new clubs for Girls only and on Friday afternoons, so participants can keep learning, building new skills and friendships.”

Destination Exploration was able to quickly pivot to the virtual world following the restrictions put in place in March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They offered At Home with DE to deliver STEM activities online three times a week. More than 2,700 people engaged with the program.

In the summer months, DE offered blended programming that included in-person and online events and activities. Three weeks of camps were held in-person — the first in their new facility in Science Commons. They also teamed up with Horns Recreation, the Music Conservatory and the uLethbridge Art Gallery to create MiniU, a free online version of favourite summer camps combined into one.

When the school year started, DE looked for opportunities to expand its engagement within the community. They partnered with the Carmangay Library to offer in-person programs to their after-school clubs. With the Lethbridge Public Library, DE offered online sessions for young people to learn how to create a design and prepare it for 3D printing. The students’ designs were printed using DE’s 3D printers and given to them.

In addition, Destination Exploration is offering virtual learners within the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division some exciting hands-on science workshops to keep learning exciting. These workshops offer students curriculum-tied activities that allow them to explore science from the safety of their own homes while building, exploring and experimenting with ideas and concepts based on the topics they are learning in class.

August summer camps to go ahead at U of L

caroline.zentner — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 17:30:47 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge summer camps offered through Destination Exploration and Horns Recreation during the month of August will proceed.

All camps will operate according to the provincial guidelines for day camps to ensure the safety of campers and staff. This includes maintaining proper physical distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols and cohorts of no more than 50 people, including staff, volunteers and campers. Masks are welcome but not presently mandatory.

Destination Exploration is offering two Science & Technology camps per week — Aug. 4 to 7, Aug. 10 to 14 and Aug. 17 to 21, with one camp for students in Grades 1 to 3 and one for students in Grades 3 to 6.

Each camp will have a maximum of 20 students and be held in Science Commons.
Each camper will be assigned their own desk, chair and equipment to use during the week.
Desks will be placed two metres apart. The same distancing requirements will be in effect during lunch breaks and outdoor activities.
Camps will end at noon on Fridays to allow staff to complete the necessary cleaning and sanitizing before the next camp starts on Monday.

For more information, visit Destination Exploration.

Horns Recreation is offering six camps throughout the month of August, including multi-activity, climbing, basketball, fencing, drama and soccer.

Each camp will have its own home room for campers to gather at the beginning of the day, at lunch and at the end of the day.
Only one camp cohort will use an activity space at any given time.
All activities will be as physically distanced as possible.
Any shared equipment will be regularly sanitized by camp instructors.

The multi-activity, climbing, basketball and fencing camps will be held at the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport & Wellness. The soccer camps will be held at the Stadium and the drama camps will be located in the David Spinks Theatre in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Centre for the Arts.

For more information, visit Horns Summer Camps.

To register for any summer camp, visit U of L Summer Camps.

U of L updates reopening plans for Community Stadium, Centre for Sport & Wellness and summer camps

caroline.zentner — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 21:52:46 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has finalized its latest reopening plans for shared ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ-community spaces, including the Community Stadium, the Centre for Sport & Wellness and summer camps.

Alberta entered Stage 2 of its relaunch strategy on June 12. While provincial guidelines now allow for use of sport and recreation spaces, the province’s Guidance for Post-Secondary Institutions continues to direct universities to limit in-person attendance on campus as much as possible.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge recognizes that, in addition to serving its students, staff, and faculty, its many spaces and activities also serve the larger local community. As we continue to ready and ease access to our spaces for academic and community use, we do so in accordance with all applicable public health guidelines (balancing our responsibilities across sectors) and continue to prioritize the health and safety of all uses.

Working within provincial guidelines for both facilities and types of activities, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is working to ease access to shared community facilities (Community Stadium and the Centre for Sport & Wellness) and offer summer camp programming as possible.

Community Stadium

As a primarily outdoor facility that is operated in partnership with the City of Lethbridge, the U of L’s Community Stadium will open on June 24 for drop-in use only. Visit the stadium website for more details. As of July 6, group bookings will be accepted by contacting Sandy Williston at sandy.williston@uleth.ca.

Summer Camps

Balancing post-secondary facility restrictions alongside recreation guidelines that continue to advise that, where possible, sport and physical activities be relocated to outdoor settings, Horns Recreation will offer a select number of summer camps outdoors at the Community Stadium. These include the soccer and multi-activity camps.

In-person Destination Exploration summer camps will be cancelled for the month of July. Live activities will be available on Tuesdays on the Destination Exploration website. Destination Exploration is also offering programming through the mini uLethbridge platform.

Registrations for all Horns Recreation and Destination Exploration August camps will remain open. We anticipate that, as provincial health guidelines continue to shift, we will be in a position to offer summer camps in August.

The Conservatory of Music has cancelled in-person summer programming, but will continue to offer mini uLethbridge virtual camps through the summer and is offering an online Piano Intensive camp.

Understandably, these decisions which minimize the number of in-person camps is frustrating for parents who are trying to plan activities for their children over the summer. However, indoor summer camps require non-recreation-based campus space, which is limited by adherence to the current post-secondary guidelines as outlined by the province. Parents who have registered their children in a camp that cannot be offered in July will be notified by email.

U of L Centre for Sport & Wellness

Following the province's announcement about entering Stage 2 of relaunch, which moved Recreation Facilities into an earlier phase than initially indicated, the team at Horns Recreation has been working hard behind the scenes to welcome members back to the U of L's fitness facilities as soon as possible. While the way the facilities operate will change slightly, the team looks forward to helping its members reach their fitness goals in its state-of-the-art facilities, through a variety of programming and training options. Specific reopening plans are being developed and updates will be posted online at Sport & Recreation and through social media accounts @hornsrec.

U of L summer camps could take many forms

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 May 2020 19:04:20 +0000

Summer camps at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will go on — one way or another.

As the Government of Alberta begins to ease restrictions as part of its phased approach to reopening the province, summer day camps (with guidelines) are part of Phase 1 of the plan.

Whether in-person or not, the sumer camp experience is a vital engagement experience for southern Alberta youngsters.

“We are encouraged, and hopeful, with the Government of Alberta’s plan for the Phase 1 lifting of restrictions related to COVID-19 that includes summer day camps (with occupancy limits),” says Valerie Archibald, director of Youth Outreach at the U of L. “As such, we are keeping the majority of our summer programming schedule intact for the time being. Since early April, various U of L departments have been working collaboratively to come up with viable options to address the evolving environment surrounding COVID-19 and its effect on our summer programming – online and in-person (with restrictions).”

U of L teams are working on scenarios and activities that can be accommodated under current provincial guidelines, how to safely check campers both in and out of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, what facilities might be available and how to evolve the strategy should the province move into Phase 2 or 3 as the summer progresses.

“We will continue to monitor the Government of Alberta reopening schedule and guidelines as they evolve and are prepared to alter, adapt or cancel our summer camps as required,” says Archibald. “If your in-person summer camp is cancelled, all registrants will receive a full refund of their paid fees."

Meanwhile, U of L teams are working on the creation of a new initiative — a Mini U online camp for the summer — with registration details to come. Free for households, the program will provide a camp experience at home. Campers will be able to use at-home supplies or purchase full kits with all the supplies they need for an awesome week of learning and fun. They will have the opportunity to meet with other campers and instructors online to participate in hands-on, engaging activities. They will also be able to work at their own pace on various other projects provided throughout the week, all provided collaboratively by Destination Exploration, the U of L Art Gallery, the Conservatory of Music and Sport & Recreation Services.

“We know kids throughout southern Alberta love the U of L summer camp experience as much as we do and we are doing all we can to bring them the same engaging, enriching summer experience they’ve all come to expect,” says Archibald.

For continuing camp updates, visit the Community Programs web page.

Destination Exploration takes community outreach activities online to bring STEM into homes

trevor.kenney — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 19:26:50 +0000

Recognizing the need for engaging young minds with STEM lessons has never been greater, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Destination Exploration (DE) community outreach program has taken its delivery online with the launch of At Home with Destination Exploration.

Destination Exploration lives for "Ah-ha" moments like these.

The DE program was just getting used to its new outreach space in Science Commons when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to shift its operations to a remote delivery model. Destination Exploration was quick to adapt to a new way of reaching its audience and launched At Home with Destination Exploration on Mar. 30. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities are now delivered to an even wider audience and designed to excite the entire family.

“We are thrilled to engage with our STEM community (from big to small) in this new format,” says Valerie Archibald, the director of youth outreach for Destination Exploration. “Our day-to-day lives may look different, but we know that STEM hasn’t changed. Together, we can explore new ideas, create new projects and join others in our love of science, technology, engineering and math.”

Destination Exploration has always been about empowering and inspiring youth, parents and teachers to experience and learn about STEM in their lives. Just because many of us are now at home, doesn’t mean that has to change. The blog-style webpage will be filled with resources, challenges, activities and helpful hints on how to keep up with STEM at home. Whether it’s catching up on a science unit, learning a skill, making family time away from the tv and screens or just trying something new, Destination Exploration has it covered. They will post three times per week with fun ways to pass the time.

“The best part of STEM is that there is creativity in all of it. It’s not just following a procedure or working to check a box. It challenges us to think, explore and find ways to improve,” adds Elder, the program coordinator for DE.

She will be managing this new resource and is enthusiastic about the initiative.

“I am so excited to engage with everyone in this new format. My hope is that it brings families together to learn about all the neat STEM-related things we interact with every day, but don’t notice or realize,” says Elder. “What I’m going to miss is all of the “ah ha!” moments people get when something clicks. I hope everyone shares what they get up to because that’s my favourite part of all this and really makes my day.”

Join Destination Exploration as they explore STEM at home by visiting uleth.ca/destination-exploration/at-home, following @ULethbridgeDE and the hashtag #AtHomewithDE, or checking Facebook.

PromoScience funding supports greater reach for Destination Exploration Travelling Lab Coats program

trevor.kenney — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 16:32:37 +0000

Even more young minds will soon be ignited by the wonders of science thanks to a three-year investment from the federal government in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Destination Exploration Travelling Lab Coats (TLC) program.

The government’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) PromoScience funding for 2017-2020 was announced today with Destination Exploration awarded $54,000 over the next three years to augment its already robust TLC program. In total, $11.9 million in funding was awarded for 163 grants across the country.

“Our government understands the importance of fostering a culture of curiosity and a passion for science among our kids and youth,” says The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport. “PromoScience funding will help inspire young Canadians to make science part of not only their education, but their careers and their lives. When we support young Canadians, as these grants will do, we teach them that they can achieve their greatest dreams.”

Valerie Archibald, the U of L’s director of Youth Outreach, says the funding will allow the TLC program to expand its reach as it strives to bring science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programing to a broader group of kindergarten to Grade 8 level students.

“Annually, we have been able to reach between 700 to 800 students, and with this funding we are trying to double that reach and specifically, bring more rural students into the program,” she says.

STEM programming consists of in-class workshops from a team of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ undergraduate students, designed to spur interest in the sciences through interactive activities. The workshops are tied to the teaching curriculum for Alberta students and often involve equipment and activities otherwise unavailable to schools.

“Our whole goal is to show STEM in a new and fun way that gets students engaged and inspires them to want to continue to learn more,” says Archibald.

NSERC's PromoScience Program offers financial support for organizations working with young Canadians to promote an understanding of science and engineering, including mathematics and technology. PromoScience supports hands-on learning experiences for young students and their teachers.

The TLC program runs in May and June each year, while Destination Exploration also offers a variety of science clubs, summer camps, PD camps and birthday parties. For more information, visit their web page at uleth.ca/destination-exploration/programs.

Destination Exploration earns Mentorship Award

caroline.zentner — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 17:33:30 +0000

Destination Exploration, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s youth science program, netted a Mentorship Award at the Actua awards banquet in Ottawa recently. Actua is a Canadian charitable organization delivering science and technology experiences to youth, with membership that spans 36 colleges and universities.

From left to right are Jennifer Flanagan, president and CEO of Actua, Valerie Archibald, director, youth outreach, Cassandra Allenby (BFA '14), Codemakers coordinator, and Dr. Laura Keffer-Wilkes (MSc '12, PhD '16), program coordinator.

“We were very excited to be nominated for this award through Actua,” says Valerie Archibald, director of youth outreach for the Faculty of Arts & Science. “We do a large amount of work with mentoring and connecting mentors into our programming, so to be acknowledged for that work is just phenomenal.”

Archibald says Destination Exploration programs operate under the belief that youth can’t be who they don’t see.

“If a young girl can see a strong, female engineer working in an engineering role, then she knows that’s something she can aspire to,” Archibald says. “We want to be able to provide a whole spectrum of people and jobs and opportunities in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields and have kids see that those are real jobs, careers and life choices that are available to them.”

Destination Exploration programs connect youth with both graduate students and professional people in the workforce. By inviting mentors to the programs, youth get the opportunity to learn about the educational paths they’ve taken and the work they do every day.

“Providing role models of what young people can do and be in the future is paramount to the programming that we do. This award solidifies that the work we’re doing is on the right track,” says Archibald. “It’s nice also to be acknowledged amongst the network and across the country for the work that we do with our mentorship program and to hopefully assist others that may be struggling with that.”

Destination Exploration started in 2002, running a week of science camp in the summer and doing some workshops in schools. Today, the programs reach more than 4,500 youths through workshops, summer camps, school visits and general outreach programming. This year, the focus is on adding coding and digital literacy into science programming.

“Moving forward, we’re really excited to be reaching the young people of Lethbridge and southern Alberta, providing them with STEM opportunities and encouraging them to keep going with their studies,” says Archibald. “We’re preparing the next generation of the workforce and making sure that they’re critical thinkers and problem solvers and high-functioning members of society.”

Archibald also received a Service of Excellence award, which is reserved for directors with five or more years of service.

UNews - Destination Exploration

Destination Exploration at the ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge receives $186,000 in funding from Actua to support youth STEM programs

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