A Summer of Curiosity: Our STEAM Mentors Share Their Stories

Every summer, across the Atlantic provinces, from New Brunswick to Newfoundland and Labrador, through Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, a team of passionate young mentors takes the lead to bring Brilliant Labs' Summer Camps to life. This year again, they guided hundreds of youth through discoveries in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. At the end of the season, we asked them to reflect on their experience. Here's what they had to share.

Kids' Curiosity Fuels the Summer

"They all did something different and really used their creativity"

One theme comes up again and again in the testimonials: the boundless energy and creativity of the young participants. In Edmundston, Jasmine Roussel was struck by the kids' resourcefulness when she handed them nothing but hot glue and popsicle sticks, no example provided, and asked them to build a bridge: "They all did something different and really used their creativity." Karema Alarabi, in Halifax, saw the same spark as kids built bridges, made boats, created flower circuits, and even fixed their own robots: "The best part was seeing the children and youth get excited when their ideas actually worked, and even when they didn't, seeing how they came up with alternate solutions to fixing the problems was really inspiring."

Connections That Leave a Mark

Beyond the activities, it's often the human connections that leave the deepest impression. In Prince Edward Island, Mackenzie Alexander still thinks about a chance encounter with a mother at the Charlottetown Library, who came to thank her for sparking her son's newfound interest in Scratch and computers. Ali Alburaki, in Saint John, remembers a young girl who asked him to sit beside her every week and always ended the session with a hug and the words, "I hope to see you next week." Jules Hilaire Foka Foka, in Bathurst, recalls the transformation of a participant who once refused to work as part of a team, and who, by the end of the summer, was the one spontaneously offering to help others.

Growing Alongside the Kids

Mentors agree: this experience helped them grow just as much as the campers. Many point to improved communication, patience, leadership, and the ability to adapt to a wide range of age groups. Ellie Gauthier, in Malpeque, is on her third summer and notes that drop-in sessions, where attendance could range anywhere from one to thirty kids, pushed her to build real flexibility. In Halifax, Reggie Kissi-Appiah took on the challenge of leading a team solo for the first time in a professional setting. For Titiksha Dogra, back for a second year, the highlight was sharing her own experience with the Brilliant Blue Challenge, which she won at both the national and global level, with campers who were discovering, in their own way, that they too could make a difference.

New Tools, New Passions

For many mentors, the summer was also a chance to get hands-on with new technology: Scratch, micro:bits, b.Boards, LEGO Spike, and even biodegradable bio-textiles left a lasting impression on mentors and kids alike. Shawn Bérubé, in Miramichi, was especially glad to see kids who don't have access to technology at home get the chance to use it, and to see how grateful they were for the opportunity. Jasmine Roussel, a future teacher, can already picture how she'll bring these tools into her own classroom. Kevin Kakeu and Vyclane Kemmogne Sitcheu, in Bathurst, teamed up around robotics, coding, and artificial intelligence, building their teamwork and confidence along the way.

A Summer Worth Recommending

Despite a few challenges, organizing virtual camps, limited access to resources at times, or adapting activities to wide age gaps, the takeaway is the same from coast to coast: this experience is worth it. As Charlie Fitz, in Summerside, puts it: "One thing I loved the most about being a mentor this summer is getting to spend time with the youth and further growing as a community. I've learned how to better connect and communicate with those around me... I'd definitely recommend!" And for Riley Farnham, in Fredericton, the experience was simply "fun, meaningful, and a great learning experience."

A huge thank you to all our STEAM Mentors from summer 2026 for their dedication, creativity, and the spark they lit in so many kids this summer. We'd also like to warmly thank our partner, Canada Summer Jobs, whose support and funding helped make our summer programming possible this year. Finally, thank you to all the kids, partners, and communities who helped make our 2026 Summer Camps a season full of curiosity, creativity, and discovery. See you next year for more STEAM adventures!