The Canadian Gap Year Association (CanGap) is a registered non-profit organization with a mission to support young people looking to take an intentional step off the conveyor belt of life to explore and experience ‘the real world’ according to their talents, goals and interests. They support gappers and their families through one-on-one coaching , a year-long certification program and free resources.

If you are considering taking a gap year but aren’t quite sure if it is the right decision for you, take this quiz and CanGap will help you decide and provide you with some additional resources to help you out!

Canada Roots Exchange (CRE) is a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth who believe that in order to bridge the gap between Canada’s peoples and work towards reconciliation, we need to become educated and aware of the teachings, triumphs, and daily realities of Indigenous communities. Get involved during your Gap Year!

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Workaway builds a shared community of global travellers who genuinely want to see the world whilst contributing and giving back to the places they visit.

Workaway builds a shared community of global travellers who genuinely want to see the world whilst contributing and giving back to the places they visit.

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Is a gap year right for you? The pros and cons.

While all high school students are required to complete 40 volunteer hours in order to graduate, volunteering has lots of positive benefits, acting as a great option for creating a meaningful and worthwhile gap year. From building self-esteem and confidence to gaining real-world experiences, volunteering is a great way to make a positive impact in your community. 

LOCAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Flamborough Volunteers is your source for local volunteer opportunities.  Not-for-profit and charitable organizations (service clubs, festivals, faith groups, community events, community service agencies, etc.) submit volunteer opportunities, which are reviewed and posted on the Volunteer Opportunities page.

Eagles Nest Association of Waterdown provides active, ongoing help to families in our community and by volunteering you can be a part of this process. Volunteer roles are available at The HOPE Centre and Rescued and Restored.

Waterdown’s OH Canada Ribfest requires the strong support of volunteers across the community. This annual ribfest is their most successful fundraiser, supporting projects in our local community and around the world. As they organize for the next event, visit their site for opportunities and sign up for as many shifts as you would like.

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

We believe that youth are co-creators of their community and need to be empowered to fulfill that role. Healthy Youth Network can provide you with volunteer hours in a number of ways:

• Leadership – As part of our “train the trainer” model, we involve youth to advise strategy, generate solutions and train other youth themselves.
• Flamborough Paint Challenge – This annual powder paint challenge includes an epic obstacle course that winds through Joe Sams Park, offering all levels of challenges. Throughout the course participants are doused with a burst of colour (environmentally friendly dry corn starch paint). As a youth led event, it will empower you to take on leadership roles, build relationships and connect to the community. Learn more. Volunteer opportunities will be posted here.
• Planning Team – Become part of a planning team that oversees a specific project such as our Ally Program (ending violence against women), or What’s Your Path; helping young people refine their skills, passions & interests in order to develop a path for the future based on their priorities and goals.
• Communications – An important part of what we do is communicating with and engaging youth. If you would like to research information for our website, write a blog, or help us spread the word, contact us.
• Have an idea of your own? We will work with you to create an event or program.

STEM PROGRAMS

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), can be found in every aspect of our day to day lives. The skills taught and learned in STEM programs can help youth be better equipped for the jobs of tomorrow. STEM programs teach a variety of skills that can be applied to every discipline or occupation and not just traditional careers. 

Explore the exciting field of engineering! 

WiE engages young girls in the world of science and engineering by igniting their natural curiosity and cultivating a commitment to lifelong learning, discovery, and invention.

PowerUp, run by Prospective Medical Professionals (PuMP) and STEM Fellowship, aims to connect high school students in Grades 11 and 12 to mentors in university in the health, life, and biological sciences. Mentors will help answer mentees’ questions about university admissions, programs, scholarships, and more to help guide them through the process. This program is remotely accessible and entirely free of charge.

WiTT Kits: Women in Technology & Trades (WiTT) STEM Kits

What are WiTT STEM Kits?

A curriculum kit looks at how ideas concepts and ideas in science, engineering, math, and technology work together to help students engage with STEM based curriculum and virtualizations in small achievable tasks.These kits are designed in concert with Women in Technology &Trades students at Mohawk College to ensure that the kits are interesting and appealing to a broad range of students.

Each kit provides guidance on the materials needed, suggested activities, and advice for both faculty and students on what the kit will help students to learn, and how to start using the kit. Where possible, curriculum targets for appropriate age groups and skill levels will be identified for each kit, which can be used to demonstrate, guide project work, or enable independent study for age appropriate levels.

ART/CREATIVE PROGRAMS

The arts have often been overlooked, or seen as trivial, yet they play such an important role in our life. Whether you want to explore it as a career (and there are lots of careers in the arts), are looking for a way to express yourself, or see it as a way to help relieve stress, don’t overlook the arts.

CREATIVE WRITING

The Hamilton Public Library offers online writing inspiration. All you need is a library card.

Power of the Pen Creative Writing Contest Youth between the ages of 12-18 can submit poetry or short fiction for a chance to win prizes.

Writers-in-Residence is a mentoring program for aspiring writers. The 2023-24 Mabel Pugh Taylor Writer in Residence is Jaclyn Desforges.

Jaclyn is the author of Danger Flower and Why Are You So Quiet? She is the winner of the 2022 Hamilton Literary Award for Poetry, 2022 City of Hamilton Creator Award, 2020 Hamilton Emerging Artist Award for Writing, two 2019 Short Works Prizes and the 2018 RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia’s School of Creative Writing and lives in Hamilton with her partner and daughter. You can book a one-on-one session here.

Jaclyn also hosts a writing circle, a hands-on workshop involving creative activities, writing prompts, and optional sharing. The next writing circle on October 19 is full, but you can join the waitlist here.

MUSIC

• Wave Recording Studio – Youth Unlimited Waterdown

ART

• Creative Insight Pottery
• Dundas Valley School of Art
• The Art Gallery of Hamilton
• Art Gallery of Burlington
• Hamilton Arts Council

DANCE

• Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts

LEARNING LANGUAGES

With roughly 6500 languages spoken across the world, it is never a bad idea to learn the basics of another one. Whether you plan on travelling or working internationally or in a diverse workplace knowing a second language can be a great asset.