CAGIS Virtual
CAGIS Virtual brings STEM into your home with fun, weekly, hands-on, live sessions led by real experts and a CAGIS instructor!
Each session includes an introduction to the topic, a hands-on or virtual activity, and time for questions at the end.
Sessions occur on Saturdays at the following times:
Ages 7-12: 8 am Pacific • 9 am Mountain • 10 am Central • 11 am Eastern • 12 pm Atlantic
Ages 11-16: 10 am Pacific • 11 am Mountain • 12 pm Central • 1 pm Eastern • 2 pm Atlantic
CAGIS Virtual sessions are free for members and open to non-members for $16 per session. Registration will be open to members before the general public.
Did you know that you can purchase tickets to CAGIS Virtual sessions as a gift? Available here.
2022-2023 CAGIS Virtual Events Schedule
CAGIS Virtual members must log in before registering for events. Click here for more information.
CAGIS works hard to create a safe online environment for participants. Adult supervision is always required for youth attending CAGIS Virtual sessions.
Upcoming events will be posted at least one month in advance. Members will have access to event sign up links before the general public. We expect to always have enough space for all sign ups. However, in the event of a very popular event, spaces will go on a first-come-first-served basis with others added to a waiting list. Registration deadline is 30 minutes prior to start of the event. The schedule is subject to change, pending changes in host availability.
Saturday March 25 – Melting Permafrost
Hey there, have you ever heard about permafrost? It’s like a frozen superpower ground that stays chilly at or below 0°C (32°F) for at least two whole years. You can mostly find it in the Arctic, Antarctic, and high-altitude spots of the planet. But when permafrost gets thawed, it’s like waking up a sleeping giant, as the organic matter inside it begins to decompose and releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. And you know what that means… Climate change and global warming! Also, thawing permafrost causes chaos for the habitat of chilly species, like plants, animals, and microbes that are used to living in cold weather. And to make it worse, melting permafrost can cause the ground to shake and infrastructure to collapse or sink, making it dangerous for us. But wait, there’s more! Losing permafrost can destroy records of human history and cultural heritage, like a time machine in the deep freeze. So let’s create our own little permafrost world today and understand how it works and what we can do to help. Let’s freeze and have some fun!
Preparation (optional): 1 day before, freeze one ice cube tray with some drops of food colouring to create coloured ice cubes.
Materials: 1 small plastic food container, 200g of crackers, 1 cup of water, ice cubes, Play Dough or modelling clay (1 white stick + 2 sticks in other colours), black sharpie.
Expert: Katie Bennett, M. Sc., is a biogeochemist – researching biology, geology, and chemistry – pursuing her Ph. D. at the University of Montreal. Katie studies how climate change impacts how nutrients move through soil, water, and air in the Arctic.
Ages 7-12: 8 am Pacific • 9 am Mountain • 10 am Central • 11 am Eastern • 12 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign up here.
Ages 11-16: 10 am Pacific • 11 am Mountain • 12 pm Central • 1 pm Eastern • 2 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign up here.
To become a member, join here.
Saturday April 1st – Sustainable Seas
Materials: Instructions will be provided on the week of the event.
Hey there, ocean lovers! Are you ready to dive into an exciting adventure? Join us for a sea turtle extravaganza where you’ll learn all about how these fascinating creatures are protected and get to build your very own turtle model that actually swims using recycled materials! It’s a chance to connect with nature, unleash your creativity, and make a positive impact on the environment all at the same time. So grab your sunscreen, put on your adventurous spirit, and join us for a fin-tastic time! We’ll see you there!
Ages 7-12: 8 am Pacific • 9 am Mountain • 10 am Central • 11 am Eastern • 12 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign up here.
Ages 11-16: 10 am Pacific • 11 am Mountain • 12 pm Central • 1 pm Eastern • 2 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign up here.
To become a member, join here.
Saturday April 8 – Python for Climate Change
Let’s harness the power of coding to make a positive impact on our world! Python, an exceptional programming language, offers numerous ways to address climate change, such as simulating and predicting the behavior of the Earth’s climate system through climate modeling, analyzing the vast amounts of data generated by climate sensors and satellites, and tracking and managing carbon emissions. Python can even be used for climate education, including creating interactive simulations and visualizations that help people understand the causes and effects of climate change. In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to code in Python and collaborate with like-minded individuals who care about the environment. By working on exciting projects, you’ll be part of the solution and help make the world a better place. Don’t miss out on this fantastic chance to use your skills to create positive change!
Materials: Instructions will be provided on the week of the event.
Expert: Sarah Gallah is a secondary Science and Geography teacher, 2021 Grovsenor Teacher Fellow with the National Geographic Society, a Royal Canadian Geographical Society fellow and the founder of edtechforchange.com.
Ages 7-12: 8 am Pacific • 9 am Mountain • 10 am Central • 11 am Eastern • 12 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign up here.
Ages 11-16: 10 am Pacific • 11 am Mountain • 12 pm Central • 1 pm Eastern • 2 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign up here.
To become a member, join here.
Saturday April 15 – Breeding Bees
Did you know that bees have been on Earth for about 30 million years?! If you enjoy honey, it might surprise you to learn that the average forager bee makes only 1/12 a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime. It takes nectar from about 2 million flowers to make a pound of honey! Let’s explore the vital role that bees play as pollinators in our ecosystem and learn how we can help protect them. You’ll build your own model of a Queen Bee — we guarantee it will bee a hive of activity!
Materials: Instructions will be provided on the week of the event.
Ages 7-12: 8 am Pacific • 9 am Mountain • 10 am Central • 11 am Eastern • 12 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign-up here.
Ages 11-16: 10 am Pacific • 11 am Mountain • 12 pm Central • 1 pm Eastern • 2 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign-up here.
To become a member, join here.
Saturday April 22 – Seed the Change on Earth Day
Welcome to our Earth Day celebration! Earth Day, first celebrated in April 22, 1970, was inspired by the iconic “Earthrise” image taken by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders from lunar orbit that showed us how our planet is a fragile outpost of life where we are all connected. In this session we will discuss invasive species that can outcompete native plants and cause harm to the local environment. One way we can protect our planet is by planting seeds of native species, which will provide food and habitat for wildlife. In this session, we’ll make seed bombs with native seeds to fight invasive species and promote a healthy ecosystem. Let’s honor the “Earthrise” image and work together to make our planet a better place for generations to come!
Materials: Instructions will be provided on the week of the event.
Ages 7-12: 8 am Pacific • 9 am Mountain • 10 am Central • 11 am Eastern • 12 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign-up will be available soon.
Ages 11-16: 10 am Pacific • 11 am Mountain • 12 pm Central • 1 pm Eastern • 2 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign-up will be available soon.
To become a member, join here.
Saturday April 29 – Learning Machines
Do you know how computers can learn and make decisions? In this session, we will dive into the thrilling world of machine learning and Artificial Intelligence! We will understand how machines can learn from their mistakes, get smarter with each try, and even develop a reinforcement learning agent to navigate through a maze! Join us in creating intelligence!
Materials: Instructions will be provided on the week of the event.
Ages 7-12: 8 am Pacific • 9 am Mountain • 10 am Central • 11 am Eastern • 12 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign up here.
Ages 11-16: 10 am Pacific • 11 am Mountain • 12 pm Central • 1 pm Eastern • 2 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign up here.
To become a member, join here.
Saturday May 6 – TBD
Saturday May 13 – No Cause for Alarm
There’s no cause for alarm! Did you know that fire safety codes are based on the Seven Principles of Life Safety, a set of guidelines for buildings. These help save lives in an emergency. We’ll cover fire detectors, prevention mechanisms, safe egress (access to exits), compartmentation, and smoke removal. You will have the opportunity to create your own electromagnet like the ones used to lock and open doors! Let’s get fired up about fire safety!
Materials: Instructions will be provided on the week of the event.
Ages 7-12: 8 am Pacific • 9 am Mountain • 10 am Central • 11 am Eastern • 12 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign-up will be available soon.
Ages 11-16: 10 am Pacific • 11 am Mountain • 12 pm Central • 1 pm Eastern • 2 pm Atlantic. Members (free), Non-members ($16). Sign-up will be available soon.
To become a member, join here.
This program is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
