Explore Appleby's Enrichment Courses

Adventures in Math: Geometry and Number Patterns

This class is designed for students who will be entering Grade 7 or 8 in September 2022 and want to extend their mathematical understanding beyond the classroom curriculum. Students will investigate and discover the patterns found in geometry and numbers. Students will explore these variables through class discussions, individual work, creative math games, and hands on activities. This course will challenge students to approach math in a new way and develop their problem-solving skills. 

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

Adventures in Math: Word Problems and Algebra

This class is designed for students who will be entering Grade 7 or 8 in September 2022 and want to extend their mathematical understanding beyond the classroom curriculum. The mathematical adventure will focus on word problems and algebra, helping students solve algebraic equations that are provided, as well and building equations and identifying equations from word problems. Students will explore these variables through class discussions, individual work, creative math games, and hands on activities. This course will challenge students to approach math in a new way and develop their problem-solving skill. 

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

Ancient Engineering

This course is designed to introduce students to basic engineering concepts and allows them to travel back in time to explore their original applications. Students will discover how different civilizations used engineering to provide water, food, shelter, create art, and build places of worship. Some examples of ancient engineering that will be studied in this course include the construction of Roman Aqueducts and roads, Medieval places of worship, the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, Stonehenge, and early boats and sailing ships.

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

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. 

*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.

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.

Engineering Challenge

This course is designed to help students develop creative problem solving, critical thinking, and planning skills. Each day, students will work individually or in a group learning and applying skills to solve everyday engineering problems. Students will be asked to complete several small take-home assignments and readings, so they can arrive ready and prepared for class the next day. This course is perfect for students who love challenging problem solving and creative STEM learning opportunities.

*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.

Extreme Environments

This course is designed to improve introduce students to the question “how does life survive?” Through in-class activities and projects, students will travel around the world to some of the most extreme and difficult to survive locations on planet Earth. Students will learn about what and how different species survive these environments, how humans interact with these environments and what potential or known benefit these locations offer.  Some examples include the salt flats of Atacama in Chile, the high altitude of the Himalayas, the deep ocean of the Mariana Trench, the freezing waters of Polar Oceans, and the high salinity of the Dead Sea. Students will learn not only the unique biodiversity each of these environments is home to, but also the way that humans are able to use resources, survive, and adapt.

*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.

History of Plants and People

This course is designed to be an introduction to Ethnobotany, the study of plants and their uses through traditional knowledge of the local culture, people, and customs. Plants play an important role in human civilization, from past to present, with uses including shelter, food, medicine, clothing, culture, and intoxicants (like coffee and tea). Students will investigate how traditional plant uses have paved the way for modern day society.

*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.

Long Form Improv Comedy

This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of long form 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.

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.

Mythology

Human civilization has long told stories of humans and monsters, and gods and goddesses. This course will take students on an adventure through the mythological realm and examining ways myths and legends have made their way to modern times, through art, literature, film, and language. Students will examine and compare mythologies from around the world and will have an opportunity to write their own story!

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

Oceans

This course is designed to help students think in systems by examining the multiple ways that humans interact with oceans. Students will learn about the different ecosystems and rich biodiversity found within the ocean, from the kelp forests, open ocean, to the coral reefs, and explore the interaction humans have with these environments. Students will explore ocean science as it relates to economics, politics, law, and engineering. Some examples of current issues that will be discussed in this course include off-shore oil drilling, tourism and its impact on coral reefs, commercial fishing, engineering of floodgates to prevent rising ocean levels, open ocean wind farms, plate tectonics and tsunamis, and pollution.

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

Short Stories

This course is designed to help students develop their creative writing skills and focuses on the art of writing short stories. Class instruction will cover the development of key short story elements: character, setting, conflict, plot, and theme. Students learn about these elements by both reading and analyzing short stories and writing their own. Students are asked to bring a personal laptop with access to Microsoft Word to this course. 

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

Space Science

This course will introduce students to the science of space and importance in human culture and scientific development. Class time will involve lessons, class discussion, and hands on labs and activities. Some examples of topics that will be discussed include examining the impact of the moon’s gravity on earth processes like the tides, nuclear fission and how star energy is harnessed on earth in solar farms, the history of space exploration and rocket ships, and history of the universe.

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

Sport Science

This course will explore the important and vital role sports play in human interactions, development, and history. This course will examine the kinesiology behind specific competitive sports, as well as the emotional and cognitive benefits sports, competition, and teams bring, and the importance of these concepts in the history of sports and humans. Class time will involve lessons, discussions, student-led presentations, and hands-on activities.

*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.

Virtual Reality Video Game Design

Are you creative, a big fan of video games, and like working with computers? Then this is the Enrichment course for you! This course introduces students to video game design and lets them channel their creativity while improving their computational literacy. Using Unity software and C# programming, students will design video games in three dimensions and then have a chance to test play their games using VR technology. 

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

NEW this summer, we are excited to 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! We are thrilled to be offering this brand new experience in 2022, and can’t wait to have week-long overnight program adventures with our students!

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