Creative Encounters History
In 2025, Creative Encounters turned 30!
Creative Encounters, formerly Creative Encounters with Science, has a rich legacy rooted in hands-on STEM outreach:
- 1993 – The program began under the name Emagineering, launching its first summer programs and community clubs focused on creative engineering challenges for youth.
- 1995 – Emagineering officially rebranded and became known as Creative Encounters with Science, expanding programming and outreach across Guelph and nearby communities.
- 1998 – Creative Encounters introduced the P.A.G.E.S. (Promoting Awareness of Girls in Engineering and Science) program. The initiative creates dedicated STEM programming for girls and nonbinary youth in supportive, allgenders-inclusive settings.
Our Growth through to 2025
Over the years, the organization expanded its reach further:
- Hosting summer camps, school and library workshops, after-school clubs, and dedicated Indigenous programming.
- Becoming a fully student-run, not-for-profit outreach group housed in the University of Guelph’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) and joining Actua, Canada’s national STEM outreach network.
- Dropping the “with Science” to reflect Creative Encounters’ engagement in all areas of STEM, including technology, engineering and mathematics.
- Including Indigenous outreach (InSTEM), digital literacy and computer science skill-building, and focused efforts to reach under-represented youth.
- Now supporting STEM Girl initiatives through workshops at Go ENG Girl, Go PHYS Girl, and Go CODE Girl, in collaboration with the Women in Engineering Chair at the University of Guelph.
As of summer 2025, Creative Encounters marked its 30th season, delivering weeklong camps to 600+ youth each summer, and engaging over 1,000 students annually through in-school and community workshops in Guelph and surrounding regions.
