Enrichment programs

Alberta's provincial honour choir for singers aged 16 to 22, led by conductors from across Canada and abroad. For AYC 2027 your teacher or conductor recommends you by November 2, 2026, and auditions run November 23 to 28. The choir meets for a rehearsal weekend and a residency.

Lethbridge's competitive festival for music and speech arts. You perform for an adjudicator, solo or in a group, and can win awards. The 2027 festival runs April 12 to 23, and registration is open December 1 to January 29. The 2027 syllabus lists the classes and fees.

One of North America's largest competitive performing arts festivals, with over 3,000 entries a year. You perform for an adjudicator in music or speech arts, solo or in a group, and compete for more than $40,000 in scholarships. Registration for 2027 opens November 1, 2026 and closes January 31, 2027. Fees depend on your age, how long you perform and how many are on stage.

Canada's national training orchestra. Musicians spend the summer in intensive rehearsal and coaching with professional faculty, then perform. No member pays tuition: everyone gets a full scholarship and an honorarium. You apply with an audition video. The application fee rises the later you apply: $50 in the first week of October, $75 to November 30 and $100 after that. Videos are due February 1, 2027.

The Peace Country's competitive music festival. You perform for an adjudicator in classes from the Alberta and local syllabi, and top performers are featured in the Grand Concert. The 2027 festival runs March 21 to April 30, and entries close February 11, 2027. You register online through the festival site.

High school students take college courses for credit alongside Harvard Summer School students, in four- or seven-week sessions on campus, commuting or online. Early and regular deadlines are January 13 and February 10, 2027, and the late deadline is March 31. International residential students get visa sponsorship.

4-H Alberta's Senior division runs from age 15 to 20. Members carry a project through the October-to-September club year and present it to judges. The project list reaches well past agriculture (Veterinary Sciences, Engineering, Welding, Entomology, Photography and Written Communications are all on it), grouped under four pillars including Science & Technology. Senior members can also compete at the spring Senior Symposium at Olds College for national and international travel selection; it charges a registration fee, and its dates are announced each year.

Volunteer alongside science communicators at Calgary's science centre, running workshops, staffing exhibits and supporting summer camps. A steady way into science outreach experience, and one of the few STEM volunteer roles in Calgary open at 14 through the camp stream.

A non-competitive award earned by logging hours in four areas: physical recreation, a skill, voluntary service and an adventurous journey, with a residential project added at Gold. It is the standard way to get formal, internationally recognized credit for the sport, clubs and volunteering you are already doing, and it is recognized in more than 130 countries. Over 4,000 young Albertans are enrolled. Bronze is presented by a community leader, Silver by the Lieutenant Governor and Gold by the Governor General or a member of the Royal Family.

Volunteer at Edmonton's science centre: welcome visitors, lead hands-on activities and experiments, and explain the space, nature and health galleries. Applications are taken anytime, with intakes in late August, late November and late March.

Hundreds of guided group volunteer projects across Calgary that you sign up for one at a time, with no minimum commitment. After 20 volunteer hours, Youth Central writes you a reference letter, useful for scholarship applications.

The federal youth volunteer service program: find a service placement with a partner organization, or propose your own project and apply for a micro-grant to run it. Placements are volunteer, not paid. Search and apply for current placements at youth.volunteer.ca.

A free national youth program in three elements: Air Cadets (aviation, including ground school), Army Cadets and Sea Cadets, all built around leadership, fitness, marksmanship, public speaking and community service. Pick an element, find the nearest unit in the corps and squadron directory, register online, then meet local staff to finish joining.

The Scouts Canada section for ages 15–17: youth plan and lead their own outdoor expeditions, service projects and leadership challenges with others who share their interests. Fees combine the national membership fee and a local group fee; Scouts Canada offers financial assistance so cost is not a barrier.

The Girl Guides branch for teens: Rangers lead community projects, mentor younger girls, raise awareness for causes they choose, and go on overnight canoe trips while learning skills like budgeting and resume writing. Registration for 2026–27 is open.

Rotary's service and leadership clubs for teens. Members plan local and international service projects, run fundraisers and build leadership skills with support from a sponsoring Rotary club. Northern Alberta's District 5370 alone has about 18 high school clubs, and southern Alberta's District 5360 sponsors more.

Kiwanis's high school service club, on more than 5,000 campuses in 30 countries. Members run service projects and build leadership skills with support from a local Kiwanis club. Alberta clubs are at Brooks Composite, North Trail in Calgary, Jasper Place, J. Percy Page and Strathcona Composite in Edmonton, Holy Rosary in Lloydminster and Crescent Heights in Medicine Hat. Kiwanis Western Canada can help start one at your school.

A Calgary youth theatre that runs weekly drama classes, summer camps and a season of four productions that young actors audition for. Teens have their own classes and specialty camps, including musical theatre, improv, stage makeup, and acting with stage combat. Register through the CYPT registration store.

A University of Alberta student group running science workshops for high school students in Edmonton and at Augustana in Camrose, plus a free summer camp. The Interdisciplinary Science Competition is its oldest event, alongside health sciences, engineering and computer science workshops, and the six-week STEM Potential Enrichment Camp runs over the summer. Dates are posted per event rather than on a fixed calendar, so the homepage often reads "no events at the moment" between cycles; check the events page instead.

Applications for SHAD 2027 open in mid-September and close in early January. Month-long STEAM program on a Canadian university campus: solve real-world problems in teams, live in residence, and build a cross-country network.

The high-school stream is InSRA, a six-week paid Indigenous Summer Research Academy ($3,000 award, plus a $500 travel bursary) for students who have completed Grade 11, running alongside HYRS at ULethbridge. There is also a 3-week paid summer intern role for Gr 9+. Dates for the next cycle are not yet posted.

Fully-funded regional summits covering themes like Energy, Water, and Agriculture. High school teams attend expert workshops, conduct environmental field research, and develop action plans to implement back in their local communities.

Enrol through your school counsellor rather than applying separately. Dual Credit lets Medicine Hat Public students take real post-secondary courses while in high school, earning 5 to 30-level high school credits plus 3 post-secondary credits per course.

These are childrens camps. Rattlers Athletics and the Child Development Centre run them for ages 6-17, with much of the programming aimed at elementary ages rather than senior high school research.

High-level, day-long symposiums run by UAlberta and UCalgary LTS chapters on niche topics like stem cell research, space exploration, and AI ethics. Distinct from the Space Lab/Tomatosphere citizen science programs; these are lecture and lab-based days for high schoolers.

The camp runs the last week of July, with registration closing in mid-July. A five-day MacEwan design camp covering graphic design, app design, illustration, photography and videography.

For students aged 16+: Pre-College is a four-week summer immersive covering both Fine Art and Design at university level, and Arts-Bridge is a shorter two-week introduction for students who cannot commit to the full month.

A global talent program that names 100 Global Winners a year and backs them for life. Winners get a four-year post-secondary scholarship covering tuition and a living stipend, awarded on need and only where other financial aid does not already cover it, plus a fully funded residential summit, a laptop or tablet, and the ability to apply for funding for their own projects later on. It suits students who already run something that serves other people rather than students with a strong report card alone. Check the status before you plan around it: the most recent cohort announced on the Rise site is 2024, and as of August 2026 the apply subdomain redirects to the homepage with no open cycle posted.

Application portals open September 14, 2026 for the 2027 sessions. Explore is a federally funded bursary covering tuition, accommodation and meals for a spring or summer French immersion session in another province, for students aged 16 and up.

Youth volunteers at the Calgary Zoo help with visitor engagement, summer camps, ZOOLIGHTS and Easter events (not with the animals). Apply online, then attend a group interview, orientation and training, and a 20-hour shadowing period.

Youth volunteers at Edmonton's aviation museum work as docents, visitor representatives and historical interpreters alongside the programming and visitor services teams: museum and public-speaking experience with a focus on aviation history.

A paid summer job of 6 to 16 weeks, with Rupertsland Institute subsidizing part of the wage, for Métis students heading back to school in the fall. Call 1-888-48-MÉTIS (1-888-486-8847) to confirm the current intake and register.

The long-running North American awards for teen art and writing, with more than 100,000 entries a year across art and writing categories. The 2027 Awards open October 1, 2026, with regional deadlines from early December to early January; Canadian students are placed in an art region and a writing region by their postal code.

First-year-level summer courses and mini schools taught by UBC instructors, without exams, in areas like business and economics, engineering and technology, health and life sciences, media and fine arts, history, law and politics. On-campus students add workshops and social activities; everyone gets a letter of completion.

A national improv theatre program for high school teams. Teams of up to eight practise through the school year with trainer support, compete at one of 15 regional tournaments, and top teams go to the national festival in Ottawa. In Alberta the tournament is run by Rapid Fire Theatre, which handles registration.

A paid summer program at CFB Wainwright for Indigenous youth from Western Canada that combines basic military training with cultural teachings led by Elders. You learn drill, navigation, first aid and weapons handling, and finish with the Army Reserve Basic Military Qualification. After it you can stay in the Forces or be released, and some high schools count the time as career experience credits. The Forces pay you and cover travel, food and lodging. Applications usually close at the end of April. The 2026 course, its 37th year, graduated 64 people.

Calgary's senior youth orchestra, run by the Mount Royal University Conservatory. Auditions are held once a year, in person in late May and June, and adjudicated by the music director. New players bring two contrasting pieces plus scales, and returning players also prepare orchestral excerpts. Private lessons are strongly recommended. The 2026-27 season has no harp part.

Edmonton's youth orchestra has two ensembles, Intermediate and Senior, placed by skill. You audition by video with a 2 to 5 minute piece with contrasting sections, uploaded as an unlisted YouTube video; no accompanist needed. For the 2026-27 season submissions closed May 29, 2026 with results by the end of June. Members pay a membership fee by the first September rehearsal, and scholarships and bursaries are available.

A music education and performance program in which youth aged 16 to 21 rehearse all year and perform through the 10 days of the Stampede. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings plus one full band-camp weekend a month, with a week of full-day rehearsals right before Stampede. Auditions for the 2026-27 season were June 5 to 7, 2026 on Stampede Park. Members pay an annual fee for uniforms, equipment, instruction and local travel; tours cost extra, and there is fundraising help.

The Calgary Stampede's performing arts school, whose members sing and dance in the Grandstand Show every July. Seniors (15 to 21) train 12 to 15 hours a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and some Sundays, and attendance is mandatory. Tuition is $2,100 a year plus a one-time fee for new members, with financial help and payment plans. Audition dates for 2027-28 are not posted yet.

Pre-professional theatre training at the Citadel in Edmonton for 16 to 21 year olds planning on theatre school or a theatre career. One cohort trains as actors and the other in production (tech, design and stage management). Local theatre professionals teach, and the season ends with a spring production in the Rice Theatre. Submissions for 2026-27 are closed; 2027-28 audition details come later.

A national classical music competition with a first round run by local chapters. Albertans audition with the Calgary Chapter, which also takes Edmonton candidates. Top performers go to the national final in Montreal (July 2 to 10 in 2026), where category winners are invited to play with a Canadian orchestra and scholarships are awarded. Each chapter sets its own registration deadline and fee, so contact the Calgary Chapter directly.

Alberta's provincial honour band for high school and university players. The ensemble meets for one weekend with a guest conductor of national or international standing and ends with a concert. Admission is by individual audition: submit the questionnaire and a recording. Auditions have opened September 3 and closed December 1. There is a participation fee of $275.

Edmonton's competitive music and speech arts festival, formerly the Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival, with over 2,500 performances a year. You perform for an adjudicator, solo or in a group, and can enter special scholarship classes. It runs under Alberta Music Festival Association standards. Registration for 2026 closed February 5, so expect a similar deadline for 2027.

Medicine Hat's competitive music festival, where students perform for an adjudicator, from soloists to choirs, orchestras and musical theatre. It is a member of the Alberta Music Festival Association, so strong performers can be recommended on to the provincial festival. The 2027 festival runs March 8 to 21. For the 2025 festival, registration ran November 11 to January 16, so expect a similar window.

Central Alberta's competitive performing arts festival, with more than 1,000 student performers. You perform for an adjudicator and can be recommended on to the Alberta provincial festival; in 2026 two Red Deer entries took first place in their provincial classes. The 2027 festival runs April 13 to 15 at Red Deer Polytechnic and April 26 to May 1 at Sunnybrook United Church. Registration details for 2027 are not posted yet.

The provincial finals for Alberta's local music festivals. You cannot enter directly: first win a recommendation at your local member festival, then compete for provincial standings and scholarships. Alberta's top provincial competitors can go on to the Canada West Performing Arts Festival, which is in Victoria, BC on July 22 to 24, 2027.

Alberta's high school one-act play festival. Your school's drama program performs a one-act play at its zone festival in April, and the plays chosen there go to the provincial festival. The provincial festival is a celebration rather than a competition, though schools are recognized and awarded. The 2026 provincial festival was May 7 to 9 at the University of Lethbridge. Ask your drama teacher to enter.

A three-week pre-professional ballet intensive at Alberta Ballet School in Calgary. Classes include ballet, pointe, pas de deux for some levels, repertoire, variations, contemporary and character dance, plus conditioning. Students in Grades 9 to 12 audition as seniors. Out-of-town students can live in residence at Mount Royal University, with supervised social activities. There are two 2027 sessions.

Canada's high school quiz competition, running since 1966. Teams of four buzz in on fast trivia questions across every subject. Alberta holds a provincial tournament each spring: about 216 students played at Paul Kane High School on April 18, 2026, and the winners went to the national championship in May. Ask a teacher whether your school has a team, or to start one.

An overnight filmmaking camp where you go from brainstorming and writing a screenplay to screening a finished film in a week. Professional instructors teach cinematography, directing, editing, sound and acting. The 2026 camp ran July 12 to 17 and is full; 2027 dates are not posted on the camp page yet. YouthWrite offers scholarships, so ask about financial help.

A free four-day leadership camp run by Rotary. You spend a long weekend on team activities, outdoor challenges and workshops on confidence, communication and goal setting, led by trained counsellors and peer leaders, many of them past campers. Grades do not matter. A local Rotary club sponsors you and covers the $625 cost, including meals and lodging, and arranges your ride. The southern Alberta camp is May 7 to 10, 2027; clubs confirm spots by March 31 and it fills quickly.