Welcome to STEM Camp Foundation

STEM Camp Foundation is now open as of February 1, 2025, and is receiving grant applications from elementary teachers for STEM programs.

Teachers from Kindergarten to Grade 8 are eligible to receive STEM grants for their school ranging from $100 to a maximum of $500 per school application. Applications are welcome to re-apply each year, regardless of whether their application was previously successful or not. However, there is no guarantee that funding will be awarded for consecutive years.

We have worked hard to streamline our application process to make it easy for teachers to apply for grants. Once you begin the online process, you will notice that we do have a set of Project Guidelines for you to follow to let us know how our grant worked at your school.

SCF is delighted to be starting our seventh year of our STEM Camp Foundation grant program; and we look forward to receiving your application.

In alignment with our ongoing commitment to support STEM education, we are pleased to announce that the Spring 2025 grant application process will open on February 1, 2025. This initiative provides grants ranging from $100 to $500 to elementary teachers (Kindergarten to Grade 8) to fund innovative STEM projects in their classrooms.

Elementary teachers from school boards in federal constituencies that have a STEM Camp are encouraged to apply! The application deadline is February 28, 2025, at midnight. We are excited to see the creative and impactful ideas our dedicated educators bring to life with the support of these grants.

For more details on the grant application process, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, please visit stemcampfoundation.ca/grants.

The STEM Camp Foundation is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Leanne Ford as our new Executive Director, effective September 1, 2024. Dr. Ford brings a wealth of experience and passion for advancing STEM education across Canada, making her a perfect fit for our mission of inspiring young minds and empowering educators in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

With an extensive background as a teacher and chiropractor and a deep commitment to fostering innovative learning environments, Dr. Ford is poised to lead the Foundation into an exciting new chapter. Under her guidance, we look forward to expanding our impact and continuing to support educators and students with meaningful resources and opportunities.

Dr. Ford shared her enthusiasm for the role, stating, “I am honoured to join the STEM Camp Foundation and to contribute to its important mission. Supporting teachers and inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders is vital for the future of our communities and our country.”

Looking Ahead

As we welcome Dr. Ford to the Foundation, we remain steadfast in our vision of broadening awareness of STEM career opportunities for students of all ages. With her leadership, and with the continued support of our donors, partners, and educators, we are excited about the future and the many ways we will continue to inspire and nurture curiosity.

Join us in welcoming Dr. Leanne Ford and in spreading the word about our Spring 2025 grants! Together, we can create an even brighter future for STEM education in Canada.

As of August 31, 2024, Ron Cougler, the co-founder and Executive Director of the STEM Camp Foundation, has officially retired, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to promoting STEM education across Canada. From the very beginning, Ron’s vision and passion for hands-on learning opportunities helped shape the foundation into a vital source of support for educators seeking to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. His leadership has ensured that countless students have had access to enriched STEM experiences, particularly through the grants provided to elementary teachers for coding, robotics, and other critical STEM activities.

Throughout his tenure, Ron’s commitment to fostering curiosity and building essential skills in youth has not only benefited teachers and students but also strengthened the foundation’s reputation as a trusted resource in STEM education. His work has led to the foundation’s growth, helping it gain charitable status and expanding its ability to make a lasting impact. His efforts have empowered teachers to bring innovative projects into their classrooms, touching the lives of many young learners who are now better prepared for the challenges of the future.

As Ron steps into this new chapter, we extend our heartfelt thanks for his years of service and wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors. His contributions to the STEM Camp Foundation will be felt for years to come, and his legacy will continue to inspire both current and future educators. We wish him all the best as he moves forward, confident that his influence will remain a guiding force within the foundation and beyond.

Spring and fall 2024 grant applications are now closed. 

Elementary teachers interested in applying for STEM grants should watch our website for an announcement in January 2025 about STEM Camp Foundation grants.

PLEASE NOTE:  due to limited funding, only one application is allowed from an elementary school either in the FALL or in the SPRING; and a maximum of two grants will be given to one school in a two-year period.

STEM Camp Foundation is now open as of February 1, 2024, and receiving grant applications from elementary teachers for STEM programs.

Teachers from Kindergarten to Grade 8 are eligible to receive STEM grants for their school ranging from $100 to a maximum of $500 per school application. Our current policy is to help elementary teachers who have not yet received grants from our organization.

We have worked hard to streamline our application process to make it easy for teachers to apply for grants. Once you begin the online process, you will notice that we do have a set of Project Guidelines for you to follow to let us know how our grant worked at your school.

SCF is delighted to be starting our sixth year of our STEM Camp Foundation grant program; and we look forward to receiving your application.

SPRING 2024 Grant Applications are now closed.

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Grant Report: Fall 2023-2024
Indian Creek Road Public School
Lambton Kent District School Board

Indian Creek’s $500 STEM Camp Foundation Grant was used to buy Ultimaker Filament for use in our Math classes for their Tiny House Projects.

Grade 7/8 students have the opportunity to work on two different styles of models, exterior buildings – and interior floor plans – both of which required slightly different workflows.

This project is directly connected to a number of different strands in Math – most notably Geometry and Spatial Sense, Measurement and Number Sense and Numeration. Exposure to this kind of project resulted in increased engagement, especially amongst some students who find it difficult to engage in traditional Math activities. It also led to an uptick in cross-curricular skills, many of which will be particularly useful in high-school Technology and Engineering classes.

The Big Takeaway

Students can learn to use real-world blueprinting and CAD skills without having access to a 3D printer, but without the ability to prototype their models, it can be difficult to assess and evaluate structural issues and flaws in a design. Models can look fine on a screen when a user has the ability to zoom in and out of the environment. If the student has missed foundational connections between lines and vertices in a design, the resulting print will fail, so being able to iteratively prototype models to find these problems and produce solutions is an important part of the process when preparing students with 21st Century STEAM skills.

The STEM Camp Foundation grant allowed us the flexibility to access the resources we needed for this project. Indian Creek Road students have gained new skills related to design and manufacturing and are well-positioned to pass on their knowledge to future cohorts of students and peers. We are extremely appreciative of the STEM Camp Foundation’s ongoing commitment to the advancement of education and 21st Century Skills and the work they do to equip teachers with the tools that they need to impact their students.

Sincerely
Colin Pattison
Grade 7/8, Indian Creek Road Public School Teacher
February 2, 2024

We are very excited to let everyone know that we were granted charitable registration status in 2023 from the Canada Revenue Agency. This has opened the door for us to branch out and accept donations from individuals and business partners that will help us expand our grant program for elementary teachers.

Donors to STEM Camp Foundation will be able to be issued charitable donation receipts for income tax purposes. Our main goal each school year will be to promote our charity status and hence increase STEM Camp Foundation grants that we will be able to give to teachers.

Please note that, due to limited funding, only one application is allowed from an elementary school either in the FALL or in the SPRING.

Welcome back for the 2023-2024 school year!

STEM Camp Foundation is now open and receiving grant applications from elementary teachers for STEM programs for the first half of your new school year.

Teachers from Kindergarten to Grade 8 are eligible to receive STEM grants for their school ranging from $100 to a maximum of $500 per school application. Our preference this coming school year will be to help elementary teachers who have not yet received grants for our organization.

We have worked hard to streamline our application process to make it easy for teachers to apply for grants. Once you begin the online process, you will notice that we do have a set of Project Guidelines for you to follow to let us know how our grant worked at your school.

SCF is delighted to be starting our fifth year of our STEM Grant program; and we look forward to receiving your application.

Grant Report FALL 2022
Montgomery Village PS
Orangeville Ontario

Susan Penfold’s Grade 5 class, and Sharon Taylor’s Grade 1 class, were awarded a $500 grant from STEM Camp Foundation. The grant was used to purchase Makedo kits, a Makey Makey, rolls of conductive tape, LED lights and coin cell batteries. The ultimate. Project goal was to build a STEM fort, FORT STEM we presume, in the
school gymnasium. I had the pleasure to visit the school in late May to see the final project and enjoy watching students from both grade levels enjoy the results of their hard (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) work.

Throughout the year, the “Learning Buddies” (Grades 5 and 1) at Montgomery PS worked on mini-projects, conductivity testers, game controllers, and a model community. These projects provided the students with hands-on building activities leading up to their massive Fort STEM project in late May. Activities included construction, electricity, and iterative design, and they had a significant impact on the young students. The projects provided opportunities for cross-grade level engagement, and a chance to develop important STEM skills, problem solving, collaboration and creativity.

The Montgomery Project PS events have shown that project-based learning can be an effective way to excite students about STEM education, while promoting a positive school culture.