ABOUT US
LAUNCH Waterloo is a not-for-profit organization that designs and delivers science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) programs for children and youth in grades K-12.
LAUNCH programs make STEAM learning fun and accessible to all. In our programs, children explore their creativity and curiosity while developing their critical thinking and collaboration skills in a supportive, team environment.
It’s about:
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Learning essential skills for the future together through fun and unique STEAM-based activities.
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Putting the TEAM in STEAM through creative programs, events, and resources.
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Making STEAM a new sport!
We’re transforming traditional STEAM programming from one-day or one-week touchpoints to long-term, progressive, fun recreational programs.
WHY LAUNCH?
STEAM careers are the future:
STEAM jobs are projected to grow 10.8% between 2022 and 2032, almost 5x faster than non-STEAM jobs. And STEAM education is found to improve skills in collaboration, creativity, socializing, critical thinking, and much more.
But there are gender and diversity gaps in STEAM:
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Women are nearly four times less likely to be employed in tech jobs than men.
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While 7.8 percent of all employed men in Canada work in technology-intensive occupations, only 2.1 percent of all employed women are in these occupations (Hays, 2021).
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Only 4.13 percent of the Indigenous labour force has post-secondary education in STEM compared with 10.36 percent of non-Indigenous Canadians (Statistics Canada, 2016).
WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT:
Provide mentorship
A Microsoft research study found that having an encouraging teacher who “communicates about STEM is associated with girls being an average +21 points more interested in all STEM subjects compared to those girls who do not.”
Act now and start young
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Students from 11 to 17 have a natural interest in STEM, according to a Randstad study:
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“84% enjoy working on computers, 73% enjoy science class, 60% enjoy math most of the time, and 54% say science is one of their favourite subjects."
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"Interest in STEM lessens with age 11-to-14-year olds are 18% more likely than students aged 15-17 to consider math as a favourite subject.”
MEET OUR BOARD
Tobi Day-Hamilton
Co-founder
LAUNCH is my passion project. After an amazing career working with world-leading companies, universities, researchers and more, I'm thrilled that our vision for LAUNCH is coming to life. In 2018, when we started LAUNCH, we wanted to inspire kids to explore science, technology, engineering, art and math because we knew these were the areas of the future. Today, we've welcomed hundreds of kids to our teams and I can't wait to see what they do next!
I am also a Governor with the Grand River Hospital Foundation, a board member for the Canadian Association of Science Centres, a Regional Co-chair for the 2021 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference and I seek adventure at every turn.
OUR SPONSORS
LAUNCH programs reach children and youth to inspire them to explore science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Our sponsors help us remove barriers and ensure all kids have the opportunity to participate.
In partnership with
With funding from
Thank you to our sponsors
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