The Youth Enrichment Academy (YEA!) is an after school initiative designed to address the gap in programming for youth (ages 11-14) in the Regent Park and surrounding communities. The program prepares students for success in high school and beyond by engaging them in hands on learning opportunities and science activities.

Science Unlimited offers high school students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a week of workshops from the Departments of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Math, Physics and the School of the Environment.

Class visits aim to inspire a new generation of physicists by engaging high school students in tours, talks and workshops in the Department of Physics. Participants explore physics topics through workshops, talks, or labs facilitated by professors and graduate students. Participants also tour spaces like research labs, telescopes and the campus more broadly.

This two-day event is aimed at high-school students planning to write the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) Prize examination. The goal of the event is to have the students who participate leave feeling more confident with physics and test taking in general. The first workshop discusses strategies for solving CAP exam and work in small groups to discuss practice questions (including from past exams), with guidance from Physics Faculty members. The second workshop focuses on discussion of the take home exam, question and answer session, and work in smaller groups with guidance from Undergraduate students.

High school education is delivered with a knowledge-based delivery whereas university has an emphasis on critical thinking. This presents a gap in student experience where the transition to university can be challenging. In a strong collaboration between graduate students, faculty, and high school educators, the Discovery platform aims to close the gap between learning levels. The program emphasizes data-based learning through a semester-long iterative course project and exposes senior high school cohorts to a university learning environment, enforcing critical thinking through inquiry focused experiential learning. Toronto District School Board partner schools include proactive teachers and resource-challenged schools.

African Black Caribbean, Latin American, Southeast Asian & First Generation Student Engagement is a mentorship program at UTSG. The Mentor Navigators are caring upper-year students who are African Black Caribbean, Latin American, Southeast Asian and First Generation with intersectional identities that include: racialized, international, English as a second language, religious or spiritual, 2SLGBTQIA+, mature, students with disabilities, Transitional Year Programme students (current & former), and other lived identities. Mentor Navigators provide connections to academic, career, wellness, engagement, and many other services, as well as to faculty, librarians, staff, club leaders, and peers from similar backgrounds, fostering a sense of belonging to the broader U of T community. They also help students navigate barriers to access and inclusion.

The Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) Outreach and Access Program is a school and community-based group-mentoring initiative designed to empower Black, Indigenous, and other youth from socially diverse and underrepresented communities by introducing them to careers in public health while also providing valuable guidance, resources, and networking opportunities. Through relationship building with DLSPH faculty and industry professionals, the aim is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed as future public health leaders. The program not only addresses disparities in education and career access but also works to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce in public health, ultimately contributing to healthier communities. Program components: Semester Program, Summer Institute, Fitzgerald Scholars Program, and Health Professionals Career Week.

Future Sound 6 (FS6) is a trauma-informed, community-based program connecting underserved BIPOC/racialized young women, trans, and gender-expansive high school students with U of T’s Faculty of Music. Participants are supported by faculty, staff, and students to develop skills in songwriting, musicianship, and music production. FS6 partners with the YWCA Girls’ Centre in Scarborough to provide access to teaching, mentorship, and equipment in an inclusive, gender-affirming environment. The program aims to cultivate safer learning spaces and foster a sense of belonging in arts-based and higher education settings. Participants are trained in music making, digital music production, audio engineering, and explore the positive connections between music and health. They are guided through the process of imagining, creating, producing, and performing their work in professional public settings.

Building Black Success Through Design (BBSD) is a free 12-week mentoring program for Black high school students interested in architecture, art, and design. BBSD aims to inspire Black students to pursue excellence and innovation within design industries and academia, enhancing diversity and building Black success through design. The creative work produced by the high school students during the program can be included in their portfolios for consideration in application to post-secondary art, architecture, and design programs, including the Daniels Faculty’s undergraduate programs in architectural studies and visual studies.

Daniels Design Discovery offers a comprehensive introduction to the discipline of architecture, providing an opportunity to experience different ways of seeing, thinking, and making through the lens of design. The program develops skills in a broad range of design tools and techniques, establishing a strong foundation to explore creative potential. Students are given access to use the design facilities at the Daniels Building. This course is designed for late high school (grades 10, 11, and 12) and undergraduate students of all disciplines interested in architecture (ages 14 to 18). The program welcomes all participants, including English-speaking international students.