Day 01
Engineering
Bridge load tests, cardboard hydraulics, and a class-wide Rube Goldberg that shouldn't work but does.
- · Lansdowne workshop
- · Pasta truss challenge
- · Hydraulic arm build
A free, week-long STEM camp at York University for curious kids who'd rather take things apart than sit still. Five disciplines. Real labs. Zero cost.
TSE Camp exists for one reason: to make sure that no kid in the GTA misses out on serious, hands-on science because their family can't afford a summer program. We're a volunteer-run non-profit operating out of York University.
Across five days, campers rotate through five real disciplines — Engineering, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Science — guided by undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty mentors. They use real equipment, ask real questions, and build something they keep.
We provide lunch, snacks, lab notebooks, safety gear, and TTC tokens for families who need them. Every cost we can absorb, we do.
Each camper rotates through every discipline. No tracks, no choosing — we believe the best way to find what you love is to try the thing you'd never have picked.
Bridge load tests, cardboard hydraulics, and a class-wide Rube Goldberg that shouldn't work but does.
Microscopes, pond water, strawberry DNA in a test tube. Turns out you're 60% water and 100% interesting.
Goggles on. Color-changing reactions, pH indicators from red cabbage, and the safest "explosion" you'll ever cause.
Catapults, pendulums, and the day we drop watermelons from a roof. (Safely. With math.)
From Scratch sprites to micro:bit robots. By Friday, your code controls something physical in the room.
Families come at 3 PM. Campers demo their builds, present a finding, and collect a TSE certificate.
Save your spot →Mornings are a deep-dive into one discipline. Afternoons are mixed teams tackling the day's challenge. Snacks happen. Naps don't.
Lunch, snacks, notebooks, goggles, and lab coats are all provided.
Anything we didn't cover? Email [email protected] — we usually reply within a day.
Yes. TSE Camp is a registered non-profit funded by York University, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. There is no cost to families — including lunch, snacks, materials, and TTC tokens if you need them.
Campers must be 10 to 14 years old (entering grades 5–9 in September 2026). We group campers by age for some activities and mix them for others.
A hot lunch and two snacks are included every day, prepared by York's catering team. The kitchen is nut-free and accommodates vegetarian, halal, kosher, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets. Note allergies on the registration form and we'll confirm a plan with you.
Every staff member has a current Vulnerable Sector Check and Standard First Aid + CPR-C certification. The camper-to-mentor ratio is 6:1. All chemistry and physics labs follow York's WHMIS protocol with mandatory safety briefings, goggles, and lab coats. A registered nurse is on site daily.
That is exactly who this camp is for. Every activity starts from zero. We assume no prior experience with any of the disciplines — only that your kid is willing to try.
Spots are limited to 240. We prioritize first-time STEM-camp attendees and families for whom paid camps are out of reach. Registrations open March 1; selections are confirmed by May 15. We never ask for proof of income — your word is enough.
Fill this out and we'll be in touch within 7 days. We'll never share your info, and we'll never ask for payment — that's the whole point.