Let's Talk Science
Let’s Talk Science is a national charitable organization committed to inspiring and empowering Canadian youth to develop the skills they need to participate and thrive in an ever-changing world. To accomplish this, Let’s Talk Science offers a comprehensive suite of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) based programs and training to support youth, educators and volunteers across Canada in both official languages. For more information about Let's Talk Science, visit www.letstalkscience.ca.
Let’s Talk Science Outreach is a free, national program that connects youth and educators with post-secondary and industry volunteers at over 50 Let’s Talk Science Outreach sites, including the University of Calgary. Our volunteers engage youth in a wide variety of hands-on / minds-on STEM learning experiences in schools and community settings. Typically, volunteers work in teams to deliver pre-developed activity kits in a classroom setting or running activity booths at large events. There are also opportunities to deliver content online with a variety of national programs such as career panels or live broadcasts.
What's Involved
Volunteers will deliver hands-on science outreach activities to youth. Participating students will receive Let’s Talk Science training on science communication and outreach policies, and gain access to other PD offerings. Upon completion of the mandatory basic training, volunteers can access volunteer opportunities at their convenience throughout the year, including EDIA initiatives.
Requirements
- Volunteers will sign up on our online volunteer portal and participate in Volunteer Basic Training prior to any volunteer opportunities.
- Police Information Checks including Vulnerable Sector Searches are required for some volunteer opportunities.
- Current Let’s Talk Science policy requires all volunteers participating in in-person activities to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 according to their local health authority’s recommendations.
Program Locations
Local opportunities are at any formal and informal educator centres in Calgary including schools, museums, and libraries.
Arrangements can be made with remote students to engage schools and organizations within their local community anywhere within Canada.
Program Learning Outcomes
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Apply a variety of teaching strategies to meet the needs of individual learners in different educational settings.
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Examine a variety of approaches to teaching and learning in non-traditional educational settings.
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Examine how educators apply teaching concepts in their daily work.
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Examine how teaching and learning take place in other contexts.
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Gain experience working with youth in a small group setting
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Identify specific opportunities for you to contribute to program communities in a positive, professional manner
Let's Talk Science Dates
- Program Dates:
- Fall: late September - mid-December
- Winter: early January - mid-March
- Training Session: September (days and time TBA). Self-paced training options are offered throughout the academic year.
- Classroom outreach opportunities typically run during regular school instructional hours (8:00 am to 4:00 pm), with occasional opportunities during weekends
There are no minimum participation requirements, but most volunteers attend 2-10 activities per year contributing 4+ hours.
Co-Curricular Service-Learning Dates
Fall Semester Timeline
- Fall 2024 Applications Open: August 28, 2024
- Werklund Information Sessions:
- Cancelled; please email wse.experiential@ucalgary.ca with any questions about the Service-Learning program or to arrange for a meeting.
- Fall 2024 Applications Close: September 17, 2024 for smaller programs, larger placement applications are ongoing.
- Fall 2024 Placements Start: early October (program dependent)
- Fall 2024 Placements End: mid-December (program dependent)
Winter Semester Timeline
- Winter 2025 Applications Open: November 15, 2024
- Winter 2025 Information Session: November 26, 5:00 pm (Zoom)
- Winter 2025 Applications Close: December 1, 2024 (program dependent)
- Winter 2025 Placements Start: early January (program dependent)
- Winter 2025 Placements End: mid-March (program dependent)
Experiential Learning Check-In & Reflection Opportunities
All participants in Experiential Learning programs are welcome and encouraged to attend at least two of the check-in & reflection sessions below as part of their program. Reflection is an incredibly important part of experiential learning. It encourages students to consider their experience so far and to adjusted as needed as they go forward through the rest of their program, or into the next step of their career.
Fall Check-In & Reflection Sessions
- Tuesday, October 15, 2024: 9:30 am (Zoom)
- Monday, October 21, 2024: 2:45 pm (in-person, register here)
- Tuesday, October 29, 2024: 5:00 pm (Zoom)
- Monday, November 4, 2024: 9:30 am (Zoom)
- Tuesday, November 19, 2024: 12:00 pm (Zoom)
- Friday, November 29, 2024: 9:30 am (in-person, register here)
- Tuesday, December 10, 2024: 5:00 pm (Zoom)
- Thursday, December 12, 2024: 9:30 am (in-person, register here)
Winter Check-In & Reflection Sessions
- Monday, January 20, 2025: 9:30 am (in-person, register here)
- Monday, January 20, 2025: 2:30 pm (Zoom)
- Thursday, January 30, 2025: 9:00 am (in-person, register here)
- Monday, February 3, 2025: 9:30 am (in-person, register here)
- Tuesday, February 4, 2025: 12:00 pm (Zoom)
- Thursday, February 20, 2025: 1:30 pm (Zoom)
- Tuesday, March 4, 2025: 5:00 pm (Zoom)
Applications for some Fall 2024 placements are still open!
Interested in applying for a volunteer opportunity?
- Log on to Elevate and go to My Werklund Experiences > Courses/Programs
- Find the Service-Learning program and click Apply
- Complete the Service-Learning Application
“Teaching in a small rural school, we have limited access to field trips and exposure to experts in their field. This activity was a valuable opportunity for my students to engage with experts in a fun and engaging way.“
Participating Educator
“I think this virtual outreach has given me a great starting opportunity to develop my public speaking and presentation skills. With each event I do, I feel more and more confident about my ability to communicate and be a good role model in STEM! “
Outreach Volunteer