Embark on a journey of discovery with Jr. DEEP Weekends—a crash course program tailored for the winter. Delve into the forefront of science, technology, and engineering through captivating workshops that underscore the significance of interactive learning.
Registration Open
Space is limited, register now!
When
Round 1
Sundays
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
January 25, February 1, & February 8, 2026
Round 2
Sundays
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
February 22, March 1, & March 8, 2026
Where
U of T’s St. George Campus
Who
Grade 3-8
Program Fee
$240 per round (3 Sundays)
Program Highlights
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Enter classrooms of discovery through engaging workshops and hands-on activities that bring science, technology, and engineering concepts to life.
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Tailored for students from grades 3 to 8, Jr. DEEP Weekends provides a diverse and inclusive learning environment, fostering collaboration and exploration among peers.
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Ignite your curiosity, cultivate critical thinking, and spark a lifelong passion for STEM fields as you engage in unforgettable experiences that pave the way for future discoveries.
Full Description
Jr. DEEP Weekends is a dynamic crash course program designed to spark young minds' curiosity in the captivating worlds of science, technology, and engineering. Tailored specifically for the winter season, this program aims to offer an immersive and interactive learning experience for students in grades 3 through 8. Get ready to dive into a realm of hands-on workshops, engaging activities, and unforgettable discoveries that will shape your understanding of these fields in remarkable ways.
Each round of this program spans across three Sundays. Each Sunday, participants will engage in a hands-on workshop scaled and tailored to their respective grade level.
Program Details
Dates
Round 1
Sundays
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
January 25, February 1, & February 8, 2026
Round 2
Sundays
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
February 22, March 1, & March 8, 2026
Students may take a course from one round or both rounds. Participation in Round 1 is not required before taking a course in Round 2.
Please note it is not possible to register for single days.
Grades
This program is offered to students in Grades 3-8 (in the 2025/2026 academic year).
Creating an Active Account
If this is your first time registering for one of our programs, you will be prompted to create an Active account as you register. If you are successful in getting a spot in the workshop, your spot will be held for you as you complete the registration form, so no need to rush.
Please note that it is not possible to create an account before the registration date.
Registration Steps
Here are the steps to registering:
- Wait for registration to open.
- Click on the "Register" button on the top or bottom of this page.
- When registration is open, all the available courses will appear on the registration page.
- Add courses to your cart by clicking "ADD TO CART" after each course you are interested in.
- If a course is full, it will be listed as "WAITING LIST ONLY." Add it to your cart to add yourself to the waitlist.
- Hit "CONTINUE" at the top of the page when you have added all the courses you are interested in to your cart.
- On the next page, enter your email address to sign in or create an account.
- Indicate which child should be registered for each session you have added to your cart.
- Answer the registration questions.
- Read and scroll through the waivers.
- Complete your online signature and click "CONTINUE TO CART."
- Double check all course information is correct.
- Enter in payment information and click "Pay now."
- After registering, be sure you receive a confirmation email after your submission- if you do not, please reach out to us.
Waitlist
If you see that a course is waitlisted on the registration page, that means there are no available spaces. If a space opens up in the course, those on the waitlist will be notified immediately in the order that they registered.
Cost
$240 per round (3 Sundays).
Please note it is not possible to register for single days.
Cancellation Policy
A refund, less a $40 administration fee, is available for cancellation requests received on or before 11:59 PM the following cancellation dates:
- For Round 1 courses (Jan 25-Feb 8): Cancel by Sunday, January 18, 2026
- For Round 2 courses (Feb 22-Mar 8): Cancel by Sunday, February 15, 2026
Any cancellations made after these days are not eligible for a refund.
Cancellations can be done through your online account, or by emailing us at outreach@engineering.utoronto.ca.
Bursaries and Financial Aid
Our bursary program for Jr. DEEP Weekends is currently on hold. If you are interested in hearing if bursaries become available in the future, please add your email to our Bursary Mailing List here.
Do you have questions about Jr. DEEP Weekends?
Contact us at outreach@engineering.utoronto.ca
Workshops
In Jr. DEEP Weekends, students are grouped by grade level and will have the opportunity to explore a series of three workshops tailored to their grade.
Winter 2026 classes will be offered in two rounds:
- Round 1: January 25, February 1, February 8, 2026
- Round 2: February 22, March 1, March 8, 2026
Students are welcome to take courses from both rounds if they like! Participation in Round 1 is not required before taking a course in Round 2.
Round 1 (January 25, February 1, February 8, 2026)
Grade 3/4
Adventures in Light & Refraction
Investigate how light travels, bends, and creates images through hands-on experiments. Build a simple pinhole viewer, explore how shadows change with distance, create rainbow patterns using refraction, and navigate a mirror-based light maze. Discover how light reveals — and hides — the world around us.
Disciplines: Electrical Engineering, Engineering Science, Materials Engineering
Tiny Engineers: Bridge Building
Explore the fundamentals of bridge engineering through hands-on design and testing. Use everyday materials to experiment with shape, balance, and support, then build your own miniature bridge to test its strength. Learn how engineers keep real structures safe and stable.
Disciplines: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering
Little Scientists: Chemical Reactions!
Discover what happens when different substances interact in real time. Explore acids, bases, and chemical changes using kitchen-safe materials like baking soda, vinegar, and natural pH indicators. Mix, test, record, and compare your results as you experiment like a true young scientist.
Disciplines: Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Environmental Engineering
Grade 5/6
Mythical Creature Lab
Bring a mythical creature to life using real STEM principles. Design wings, build habitats, and test survival adaptations while exploring physics, biology, and environmental science.
Disciplines: Bioengineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Arcade STEM Challenge
Design and build three arcade-style mini-games using simple machines, force, and motion. Prototype, test, and refine your creations as you build your own working arcade.
Disciplines: Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics
Egg Drop Engineering
Engineer a protective device that keeps an egg safe during a dramatic drop test. Experiment with crumple zones, parachutes, shock absorbers, and smart design strategies.
Disciplines: Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering
Grade 7/8
Structural Forces & Motion Lab
Experiment with how real structures respond to forces like tension, compression, bending, and torsion. Build and test small-scale components to see how changes in geometry, reinforcement, and support affect strength and stability. Learn how engineers design buildings and bridges to remain safe in real-world conditions.
Disciplines: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering
Sensors & Circuits Challenge
Design and build electronic circuits that can sense changes in light, pressure, or motion. Use your sensors to complete engineering challenges, such as triggering alarms, activating motors, or responding to environmental conditions. Discover how smart systems gather information from the world and use it to make decisions.
Disciplines: Electrical & Computer Engineering, Robotics & Mechatronics, Engineering Science
Water Filtration Engineering
Create and optimize a working water filtration system capable of removing simulated contaminants. Experiment with different material layers, flow rates, and design strategies to maximize clarity and efficiency. Explore how engineers protect communities by ensuring access to clean, safe water.
Disciplines: Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering
Round 2 (February 22, March 1, March 8, 2026)
Grade 3/4
Optical Illusion Makers
Step into the world of visual perception as you create your own mind-bending illusions. Design two different artworks, including a 3D pop-up dinosaur, to explore how our brains interpret shapes, shadows, and depth. See how simple patterns can trick the eye through a blend of art and science.
Disciplines: Engineering Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Eco Rovers
Engineer a landscape and program your own eco-rover to navigate obstacles and complete environmental missions. Learn how human activity impacts ecosystems while exploring real technologies designed to help clean and protect the Earth.
Disciplines: Electrical & Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Robotics & Mechatronics
Magnetic Minerals
Uncover the hidden world beneath your feet through a magnetic mineral hunt. Experiment with magnetism, simple tools, and engineering techniques to “extract” buried magnetic materials. Explore the connection between geology, electricity, and magnetic forces.
Disciplines: Mineral Engineering, Materials Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Grade 5/6
Arduino Robots
Program a small robot using Arduino technology. Combine sensors, motors, and logic-based coding to make your robot move and react to its environment.
Disciplines: Electrical & Computer Engineering, Robotics & Mechatronics, Engineering Science
Solar-Powered Speed Racers
Construct and race solar-powered mini vehicles. Explore how light energy becomes motion and experiment with angles, gears, and lightweight materials to optimize speed.
Disciplines: Sustainable Energy, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Heartbeat Detectives: Build Your Own Stethoscope
Build a working stethoscope to explore how vibrations become sound. Test different materials for clarity, amplify real heartbeats, and discover how engineers design diagnostic tools.
Disciplines: Bioengineering, Materials Engineering, Industrial Engineering
Grade 7/8
Balsa Wood Structural Challenge
Use balsa wood and strategic reinforcements to engineer a high-strength truss bridge or structural frame. Apply concepts such as load paths, triangulation, and the balance between tension and compression. Load-test your final structure to analyze failure points and evaluate its strength-to-weight performance.
Disciplines: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering
Training AI: The Data-Driven Classifier
Train a simple AI model using labeled data to classify patterns such as shapes, images, or symbols. Test how data quality, quantity, and bias influence the model’s accuracy, and iterate to improve performance. Explore how engineers use data-driven systems to make predictions and automate decision-making.
Disciplines: Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Science
Autonomous Rover Navigation
Build and program an autonomous rover equipped with sensors to navigate an obstacle course. Explore how movement algorithms, object detection, and decision-making systems work together as you develop logic for self-driving navigation. Test and refine your rover to handle increasingly complex challenges.
Disciplines: Robotics & Mechatronics, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Registration Open
Space is limited. Register now to confirm your spot!
