X-Chem Outreach to deliver new coding activities to youth free of charge

St. Francis Xavier University’s X-Chem Outreach is offering six free coding camps this summer, thanks to a $40,000 grant received from the Government of Canada’s CanCode fund through Actua. One of the camps will be all-girls.

“This grant from Actua expands our ability to reach more youth in northern Nova Scotia, offering various levels of coding activities. We are working with the Computer Science department at StFX and the undergraduate leaders have excellent digital programming skills,” says Dr. Truis Smith-Palmer, director, X-Chem Outreach. “Our X-Chem programs for youth have been very successful over the years encouraging children to develop an interest and love for chemistry. We added coding camps a few years ago that are just as popular, now our camps are almost full for the summer.”

Actua represents a network of 36 university and college-based members. The first portion of the Cancode grant was allocated to delivering workshops in the winter and to purchasing a variety of techbased equipment for participants to have fun and interact with.

Some of these purchases included robot mice, Botleys, Edbots, Spheros and Lego boosters. There will also be lots of other activities where youth can learn about computer science and coding, both on-screen and unplugged.

“I am thrilled to see the federal government support the financial barriers lifted to offer these camps free of charge to youth participants, said Central Nova MP Sean Fraser. “Participation in summer camps have a lasting impression throughout your lifetime, and having experienced a coding class at StFX myself, I’m delighted that these youth will have this exciting experience and be armed with skills needed for the future.”

This programming is offered in addition to the usual schedule of seven chemistry and science camps on campus, one of which is all-girls, and various satellite camps. This year there are 12 undergraduate students involved in leading the camps, nine of whom have already started their delivery and are busy visiting schools and presenting STEM and coding workshops. The leaders come from all branches of science and love doing hands-on activities that allow them to inspire youth and generally have fun.

“We welcome all youth, whether they have no prior experience or lots of experience. We will have something to interest and challenge all levels,” adds Dr. Truis Smith-Palmer.

For more information about the programs visit https://www2. mystfx.ca/chemistry/welcome-xchem-outreach or email xchem@ stfx.ca.