When I started my engineering career, there were less than five women working amongst 100’s of men. It was the encouragement and mentorship of those women that guided me along my way. Now, over 20 years later, I’m honoured to have been able to mentor many new female engineers to this exciting career and encouraged to witness the growing number of women in the field. Camp Engies is a wonderful introduction to the infinite possibilities engineering has to offer, learning through fun activities and guided by a team of female engineers.

Up until grade 11 I had no idea Engineering was an avenue for a career, not until a favourite teacher and a former female swim teammate encouraged it would be a program I would enjoy since I loved math and physics. Since completing my undergraduate I have been exposed to just how broad engineering is and all the opportunity it holds, I want to share that and expose all the young female minds to this and hopefully help them find something they are passionate about.

If you just give it a chance, Engineering can be exciting, fun and very rewarding. Camp Engies is an amazing way for young girls to discover early on the satisfaction that comes from implementing fundamental principles and the warm feeling that follows

I love that Camp Engies shows young girls that an engineer can look like anyone. I am so excited to show the next generation how creative, fun, and educational STEM can be. The community and memories built from Camp Engies is something you won’t forget!

As the first in my family to pursue a degree in engineering, I am so grateful for all the help and guidance I received throughout my academic and professional journey. By being a part of Camp Engies this summer, I hope to pass it forward and inspire more young females to do the same!

"When I was in highschool I wasn't sure what I wanted to do but my dad encouraged me to pursue engineering, since he had done it himself and understood what kind of promising career it could be. Not everyone has this opportunity if they don't have access to engineering role models, and this is often the case with younger women, especially given the smaller representation of females in engineering. In addition to the lack of available role models, outreach programs often wait until kids are in their later years of highschool to discuss their future, but considering students need to make decisions about their courses in the first half of high school I think it's too late. This is why I love the concept of Camp Engies, because we are able to connect with girls at a younger age in an engaging way to educate them about engineering. I truly think earlier engaging education is the key to increasing the number of women in engineering!"

I didn't think girls like me had any place in engineering. I later realized that everything I do in my day-to-day life is related to engineering in some way. I work with Camp Engies to help girls, that were just like me, experience the fun and versatility of engineering and know that they can be an engineer too.

“Engineering has opened up my life to the most incredible people and experiences. I’m proud to be in this industry where challenging myself and the world around me is part of my day to day. I can’t wait to see our girls bring creativity and their brilliant ideas to make our communities a better place.”

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For me this is an opportunity to give back. I hope to impart the idea to be curious and try different things; as experience is important and to keep in mind that it is experience even when not fun or as expected.

Engineering was and still is a grey area when it comes to gender diversity, and I hope being part of CampEngies, I can create a long-lasting change to how women, especially young girls, are viewed and illuminated in engineering fields. As a kid, I wish I had more windows of opportunity myself growing up and navigating around the true meaning of what an Engineer is-and what it feels like to wake up one day and choose to see the world differently.

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I love working with the youth directly so I enjoying being “on ground”. I have worked in the past as a STEM Instructor for the University of Ottawa’s Engineering Outreach (e.g., Makermobile, Makerspace, and Adventures in Engineering and Science summer camps). I have also been involved with GoENGGirl since 2016. I was recently volunteering with Let’s Talk Science where I went to Waswanipi and worked with indigenous youth in remote northern Quebec.

Growing up, I had wish I had seen more women who looked like me in the field of engineering. If I had, I wouldn't have ever hesitated to choose an education that I now know to be a gateway to any number of possibilities and exciting career paths. Camp Engies not only shows young girls just how 'cool' engineering can be, but it also gives them the opportunity to see how there's a place for them in these fields.

In order to be able to create something, one must start by fixing it. This is something I have learnt in my own journey as a woman in STEM and it is also something that engineers live by. Growing up I never once saw female representation in the Engineering field, but as a young adult now, I see why. CampEngies is a sanctuary for the code I live by, where I am given the chance to help fix the image young girls like I face, before they are given a chance to make an engineer out of themselves.

"STEM is such an exciting field with so many opportunities for women and girls to get involved. Camp Engies is a great way to show girls all the fun and interesting aspects of engineering, with supportive and inspiring mentors by their side!"

My passion for volunteering and mentoring young students stems from a desire to give back and inspire the next generation of engineers who will shape the future. Moreover, by supporting women in STEM and promoting leadership, I want to break down barriers and encourage greater diversity in the field. My ultimate goal is to show young people that engineering is not only a fulfilling career, but one that can be glamorous and rewarding, with endless opportunities for innovation and problem-solving.

"Camp Engies is important to reach our 30 by 30 initiative from Engineers Canada. It is also important to build an inclusive and equitable fair playing field for our female engineers."

It’s so important for girls to see people in engineering that they can relate to. Camp Engies gives young girls the opportunity to see more examples of women in engineering so they have confidence that they can, and should, be an engineer if they want to be.

"I feel so lucky that I had a dad and family friends influence me into engineering, otherwise I never would have thought to pursue it in university or as a career. For this reason, I so badly want to convey to young girls not only that engineering is an option but that it is attractive, powerful and provides endless opportunities to make the world a better place! If you want to help people, save lives and change the world, CHOOSE ENGINEERING!"

"Camp Engies shows that anyone can be an engineer! It's a great opportunity to learn more about STEM in a fun environment and make new friends. I hope I can show young girls all the paths engineering has to offer and help them find what they are passionate about."

It is important to help out at camp to show young girls that engineering isn’t just for boys, something I never knew about growing up!

What I think is exciting about engineering is that you can chose to work on projects that will benefit society. I have a passion for water, so I chose to start my career working on project that will treat water before it gets discharged to the environment. I hope I can help other young girls find what they are passionate about!

Diverse teams contribute to innovative solutions and fresh perspectives. Together, we can challenge the 'status quo' and bridge the gender gaps in STEM. There's no doubt engineering is an exciting industry - let's show these girls they've got what it takes to tackle our world's greatest challenges!

Camp Engies is an amazing opportunity to expose young girls to engineering and encourage them to follow a career path in STEM. I am proud to be an engineering graduate student and hope that I could share some of my enthusiasm and experience with the next generation of female engineers!

Camp Engies is the perfect place for any girl to explore engineering concepts, meet new friends, and learn that creativity, communication and teamwork are just as important as math and science.

It is a very rewarding experience to be part of initiatives that encourage women to discover their passion for engineering. Camp Engies is a great platform for kids to bring out and realize their full potential as future engineers. I like to support and encourage women to achieve their dreams to make a difference in society.

"Engineering is learning how to solve a problem which is a great skill to have wherever you are in life. Whether your interests are in applying math, helping others or advancements in chemistry, problem solving and working on a team are important skills which you will learn through engineering and apply the rest of your life."

"I never grew up knowing what I wanted to do, in high school I was good at Math and Science so figured I would look into nursing and engineering. After I started working I found my passion for code and data and analytics, something I never knew was an option for study. Being able to mentor and expand on the possibilities for girls in engineering would be amazing because it wasn't an opportunity that I had."

To me, engineering is design. When I was younger, I always knew I wanted to design something. Without any engineers in my family, I didn’t actually learn what engineering was until my first year of University. I hope that through Camp Engies I can help inspire at least one little to think about using their creativity, teamwork and analytical skills in their future career as an engineer!

When I was growing up, I didn't have a woman in engineering to look up to as a role model so I didn't know it was an option as a career for me until university. I am so passionate about showing young women the endless possibilities engineering can offer and encourage them to think outside the box by increasing their confidence in themselves and their skills.

10-year-old me would not have anticipated all the opportunities and skills that come with pursuing engineering. By joining Camp Engies, I can help inspire the next generation of engineers and show these young girls that there is a space for them in this industry. 10-year-old me would have loved Camp Engies!

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Ensuring that girls are equipped with the tools, confidence, and passion for problem solving ensures that we are creating a new generation of thinkers and trailblazers to tackle the world’s most challenging problems. Together we can forge our own table, create spaces to learn, and amplify our voices as women in STEM. Through this, I hope we can see diverse and inclusive teams within STEM fields in the near future!

I believe it's important to promote engineering because diversity of thought encourages better work. The more diverse we, as engineers, are, the better the creations we make will be!

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"Camp Engies is an amazing programs that can help youth learn about Engineering in a fun and memorable way, impact future decision making about career paths and simply help young adults experience the opportunities Engineering and STEM can provide. It is important to get better women representation in these fields, which starts at the youth level to help encourage and educate."

"Diversifying the engineering profession has to start early - we need these intelligent, hard working, and curious girls to develop an interest and love for engineering, and we need to keep them engaged as they grow! Camp Engies helps to capture their interest and keep it as they grow into young-adults and (hopefully) enter STEM fields of study and work."

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"When I was a young teenager, I truly never pictured myself as an engineer. It was the people that encouraged me to get involved in the community that caught me at such an important turnpike. These moments were some of the most influential experiences I had, it’s where my passion was born and where I learned the most about the values I wanted to implement for myself, and the space I wanted to make for others."

Engineering more than a discipline or profession is a frame of mind. Engineering has taught me to see the world in a different way, to think more critically, to be analytical and creative when problem solving, among other fundamental skills that I have been able to apply in my professional and personal life. Helping young women realize through Camp Engies that Engineering is an amazing foundation to help them become everything they want to be has been an amazing experience.