Explore Appleby's Enrichment Courses

Bay Street

This course is designed to introduce students to the basics of microeconomics. Students will begin to explore the concept of money, and the difference between borrowers, lenders, shareholders, and the terminology used in financial systems. Students will use different case studies and sample market situations to track portfolios, and learn about the stock market. Students are required to bring a personal laptop with access to Microsoft Excel. 

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Biomedical Science

This class is designed for students who are passionate about medical science. This introductory course will cover a variety of current topics in biomedical science as well as include hand on laboratory activities and experiments introducing students to the systems of the body, such as the circulatory, respiratory, nervous, digestive, and muscloskeletal system. 

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Comedy

This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of stand up and improv comedy: listening, reacting honestly, confidence in choices, creativity, imagination, and improving our ability to find agreement and build with others.  Students will play together through different games, exercises, and scene work, helping them learn and apply the skills of this comedy form. We will culminate this one week intensive program with a group performance on the last day.  There will be group discussions on what is funny and why, where long form improv comedy comes from, and studying example bits from some of the great comics of our time: Gilda Radner, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, and Christopher Guest.  Students who want to connect, build confidence, engage deeply in play, and think quickly on their feet will find this course gives them everything they need.

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Critical Thinking and Logic Puzzles

This course is designed to help students improve their critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills, with an emphasis on organization and structured analysis when approaching problems. Students will improve these skills while working through a variety of challenging logic problems, puzzles, and riddles, learning the different approaches one can take to solving problems.

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Cryptocurrency

This course is designed to introduce students to the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency and examine how these digital coins are changing the financial landscape. Topics covered will include the history of cryptocurrency, the different types of cryptocurrencies on the market, how cryptocurrency is used and stored in wallets, the theory behind block chain, and what this could mean for the future.

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Cryptography: Ancient Codes to Modern Day Encryptions

This course is designed to challenge student’s creative problem solving and critical thinking skills through an adventure in cryptography!  Students will explore ancient codes like the Caeser Code, Alberti Disk, and Vignere Square, analyze and use ciphers like the polyalphabetic cipher, the block cipher, the pig pen cipher, and examine modern day uses for cryptography like algorithms and RSA Encryption. Famous examples like the Enigma Machine, The Heiroglyphs and Rosetta Stone, and the Shugborough inscription will be discussed. Bring your creative energy and get ready to think outside the box!

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Debating and Public Speaking

This course is designed to help students improve their debating, public speaking, argumentation, and critical thinking skills. Students will learn the important skills required for successful public speaking and debate, including effective brainstorming of topics, structuring a speech, delivery techniques, argumentation and rebuttal, and audience engagement. Topics covered will include impromptu speaking, persuasive speaking, and parliamentary debate (prepared and impromptu). Students will be asked to complete several small take-home assignments, including a persuasive speech and a prepared parliamentary debate. Students who want to gain confidence when speaking in a classroom, or simply improve their public speaking skills will find this course and its accompanying materials helpful.

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Drama: Dramatic Character Development

This course is designed to help students improve their public speaking, creativity, and performance skills. Students will explore the classic stock characters from Roman theatre and use these characters to act out different scenarios through impromptu role play and scripted performance. Students who want to gain confidence when speaking and improve their acting skills will find this course and accompanying materials helpful.

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Essay Writing

This course is designed to help students develop successful essay-writing skills at the high school level. Instructional time will be devoted to different areas of essay-writing, such as research skills, thesis development, planning and organization, effective use of textual evidence, proper paragraphing, logical argumentation and the drafting process. The course will focus mainly on the research essay, the comparison and contrast essay, and the analytical essay. Students will be asked to complete several small take-home assignments, a formal essay, and a final in-class essay test. Students who want to improve their results on written assignments and develop their communication skills will find this course and its accompanying materials helpful.

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Game Theory

This course is designed to introduce students to Game Theory, the mathematical model of collaboration, conflict, and competition, while improving their decision-making and strategy skills. Students will explore Game Theory working through such classic problems as the Prisoner’s Dilemma and the Tragedy of the Commons. Students will explore the application of these concepts to decision-making and strategy by working through different real-life situations and facing each other in collaborative and competitive games, such as Settlers of Catan, Cards, and various collaboration games.

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Introduction to Permaculture

This hands-on course is designed to introduce students to the concepts of permaculture, or “Permanent Agriculture.”  Students will learn to work with nature and apply ecological principles to create sustainable, environmentally friendly, whole system outdoor spaces. This course will examine the importance of valuing biodiversity, reducing or eliminating waste, creatively and sustainably using the edges and margins of spaces, and responding to change. This course is for students who care for the earth, care for people, and want to learn how to make sustainable differences to the planet and communities. Don’t forget your gardening gloves!

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Investigative Journalism

This course is designed to help students develop editing and writing skills. Instructional time will be devoted to different areas of investigative journalism, covering topics that include choosing a story, conducting research, writing and editing news articles, choosing and verifying reliable sources, identifying bias in media, and interviewing skills. The course will draw on current, real life examples. 

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Media and the Modern World

This course is designed to develop critical thinking and communication skills, encouraging students to think critically about the messages and information around us. Students will examine the role and influence of media in society through all mediums, and the evolution of media from past to present. Students will explore these topics using real life case studies, group activities and discussion and debate.

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

Study and Organizational Skills

This course is designed to help students develop the study and organizational skills needed for academic success. Students will develop awareness of their own unique learning style and how they use this knowledge to engage as effective learners. Instructional time will be devoted to helping students improve and develop skills related to time management, note taking, test preparation, and organizational techniques in and out of the academic classroom. Students will be expected to complete a small amount of homework each night. Students who want to improve their learning habits both inside and outside of the classroom will find this course and its accompanying materials very helpful.

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic programs.

We are excited to again offer our Enrichment students the opportunity to have the incredible experience of an overnight program a little closer to home than you may expect! Appleby Overnight is ideal for students who are eager to increase their independence and spread their wings. 

Appleby Overnight is a program designed to offer students an opportunity to experience overnight camp, building independence and confidence away from home as part of a fun, safe, and inclusive community. Our condensed five-night program helps ease students into the world of overnight programs without being away from home for too long.

Offered during three separate weeks in August, students can add a five-night overnight stay session (Sunday to Thursday), to any available one-week Enrichment program. After the regular in-class academic day concludes, our overnight students make themselves at home on our beautiful campus, enjoying a full afternoon and evening of games and activities; campfires (complete with songs and marshmallows, naturally) included!

All afternoon and evening programming, hot meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), snacks, and linens are included. Caring, experienced, and trained Boarding Assistants staff the program, living alongside students in the boarding houses. These individuals run all programming, accompany students to meals, check them into their classes each morning, and of course, do a lights-out check at the end of each fun-filled day!

Accommodation is onsite in Appleby’s four boarding houses, with students and their respective staff separated by gender identity. Students are likely to have a roommate, and yes, we do take requests for matches! 😊 Students will check-in Sunday evening between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. for welcome activities, orientation, and campus tours. Our Boarding team will make sure all students are ready each morning for a nutritious hot breakfast and a fun day in their respective Enrichment classes. 

Space in this much-requested program is limited, so register early! 

*A 13% HST Tax is applicable to non-credit academic and boarding programs.