We’re proud to share that Mathstronauts has received a Grow Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) and its funder, the Government of Ontario, to expand our SPARK Program —a community-based, after-school program that helps children build social, emotional, leadership, and digital skills through hands-on STEM workshops. This vital funding will allow us to bring this free program to hundreds of students ages 7 to 9 who otherwise face barriers to such opportunities.

We are incredibly grateful to OTF for this investment in our mission and for recognizing the importance of creating supportive, skill-building opportunities for children in Hamilton’s underserved communities.

Building Social, Emotional, and Leadership Skills Through STEM

Social and emotional skills, such as teamwork, confidence, emotional regulation, and leadership— play a foundational role in a child’s long-term success. These are the building blocks not just for academic achievement, but also for mental wellness, healthy relationships, and the ability to navigate life’s challenges.

Yet, too many children from low-income and underserved communities face barriers to accessing safe, enriching programs that nurture these skills. Without supportive environments and trusted adults, youth are more likely to miss out on the experiences that help them build resilience, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging.

SPARK Program Fills the Gap

The SPARK Program fills this critical need through a series of eight weekly workshops in trusted community settings like libraries, after-school centres, and local programs. Designed for students ages 7 to 9, SPARK creates opportunities for learning through teamwork, play, and creativity, while building emotional regulation, communication, and leadership.

Each session features fun, interactive activities that promote goal-setting, collaboration, and peer presentations, giving children the chance to feel accomplished and confident in a supportive, culturally responsive environment.

As we wrap up another program year at Mathstronauts, we’re celebrating the milestones that reflect our mission: making high-quality STEM education more accessible and inclusive for youth across Canada.

Over the past 2024–2025 school year, we reached 1,936 students through a range of programming, including afterschool programs, in-class programs at both the elementary and high school levels, and outreach events. Each initiative played a unique role in helping students build skills, confidence, and curiosity in STEM.

We also expanded beyond Ontario for the first time, delivering our Intro to Coding workshops in Vancouver, BC, where we helped 80 students learn foundational coding concepts through hands-on workshops.

In addition to growth in reach, we launched and expanded several key programs this year:

• Our first-ever independent summer camp. Through support from the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), we engaged youth in emerging tech fields through two targeted summer initiatives—Turbo Tech Summer Camp and the AmpedUp EV Workshop Series. These programs introduced students to coding and electric vehicles, helping them discover future career pathways in Ontario’s growing tech and mobility sectors.
• The expansion of the STEAM Engine Program to the Durham Region.
• The development of the teacher training program —supported by a grant from the United Way Hamilton Halton— aimed at supporting educators in delivering coding with confidence.

We’re proud to share that we’re reaching male and female students at nearly equal rates: this year, 48% of participants were girls and 52% were boys. This is an exciting step forward in our efforts to promote gender equity in STEM.