Discovery program

Bridging learning with higher education

Discovery, part of Promise Partnership at UNB Saint John, connects children and youth with hands-on learning, university life, and new possibilities for their futures.

Through summer camps, evening programs, and community outreach, participants explore their interests, build confidence, and learn alongside UNB student instructors, mentors, and high school volunteers. Programs encourage curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration through engaging experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

By creating meaningful connections between the community and the university, Discovery helps young people see post-secondary education as an achievable option while opening doors to new opportunities and experiences. Discovery also creates leadership and mentorship opportunities for older youth, fostering a culture of learning, service, and belonging.

While other Promise Partnership programs bring UNB into the community, Discovery also welcomes young people and families to experience campus life firsthand and discover the possibilities that higher education can offer.

Evening programs

During the school year, Discovery offers ten week evening programming for up to 15 middle school students at the Promise Partnership Maker Space at UNB Saint John. Participants explore technology, design, and creative projects in a supportive environment, learning alongside UNB student instructors.

Summer program

Discovery’s summer day program offers eight weeks of hands-on learning at UNB Saint John for youth in grades 4-9.

Each week, campers explore new interests, build new skills, and discover connections between what they enjoy today and future education and career possibilities. Through experiences in university classrooms, labs, makerspaces, and creative learning environments, young people gain firsthand exposure to campus life and the opportunities that higher education can offer.

Led by UNB student instructors and supported by high school volunteers, small-group activities encourage curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and confidence. Campers connect with mentors who share their experiences and help make post-secondary education feel accessible, welcoming, and achievable. Discovery also provides meaningful leadership and mentorship opportunities for high school and university students, creating pathways for learners to grow into future leaders.

Discovery is also a learning experience for the student instructors who lead our programs. Before camps begin, UNB student instructors participate in extensive training and program preparation, including first aid, inclusive practices, child and youth safety practices, lesson planning, classroom management, and hands-on activity development. This preparation helps ensure that campers enjoy safe, inclusive, engaging, and high-quality learning experiences throughout the summer.

More than a summer camp, Discovery helps young people build confidence, expand their horizons, and develop meaningful connections with the university community.

Summer 2026 camp themes

Maker Camp: Business Builders: Designing and creating products while exploring entrepreneurship, engineering, and technology.
Movie Making: Special Effects Studio: Bringing stories to life through green screens, sound design, props, and practical effects.
Robotics and Coding: Exploring robotics, 3D printing, coding, and creative design.
Minecraft Engineering: Connecting hands-on building with planning and design in Minecraft Education.
UNB Student for a Week: Exploring university subjects, meeting faculty and staff, and discovering campus labs, learning spaces, and career possibilities.
Ancient Worlds: Myths and Legends: Exploring ancient civilizations through storytelling, creative arts, and hands-on challenges.
Wildlife Explorers: Discovering plants, animals, and marine life through hands-on science and opportunities to explore UNB labs.
Brain and Body: Learning about anatomy, psychology, and how the body and brain work.

Access and impact

Discovery believes every child should have the opportunity to explore, learn, and imagine new possibilities for their future. With support from donors and community partners, financial assistance helps make Discovery programs more accessible to families. In Summer 2026, 51% of registrations were supported by bursaries, exceeding our 50% goal.

Learning beyond campus

In 2026, Discovery expanded its longstanding partnership with PALS and strengthened its collaboration with Port Saint John to create additional learning opportunities for children from uptown Saint John schools.

Since 2023, PALS has supported Discovery by providing transportation for students from priority schools to attend a week of summer camp at UNB Saint John. In 2026, that partnership grew even further. PALS worked closely with Discovery to connect with local schools, identify participants, and support transportation and camp fees for a week-long community-based camp experience, helping reduce barriers to participation and expand access to enriching summer learning opportunities.

As part of the initiative, UNB Saint John shared its Fundy Room space within the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal, creating a unique learning environment beyond the traditional campus setting. Port Saint John enhanced the experience by coordinating behind-the-scenes tours of Area 506, providing opportunities for campers to try virtual machinery-operation simulators, and introducing youth to the technologies, industries, and careers connected to the port and transportation sector.

Together, these partnerships helped connect young people with new experiences, community leaders, and future possibilities while strengthening the relationship between the university and the broader Saint John community.

Discovery also brought learning directly into the community through four drop-in family learning sessions at Area 506 during the summer. Themes included Marine Mysteries, Code & Conquer, Ancient Explorers, and Minecraft Engineering. These free sessions provided hands-on learning opportunities for children and families while introducing new audiences to Discovery, Promise Partnership, and UNB.

Youth volunteer opportunities

In 2026, Discovery established a formal youth volunteer program, building on previous volunteer opportunities. It welcomed both new volunteers and former campers who had grown beyond the camp age range.

The program provides opportunities for youth to develop leadership skills, gain volunteer experience, and serve as role models for younger participants.

For many volunteers, Discovery becomes more than a camp experience, offering a pathway to stay connected, give back, and continue growing as leaders within the community.

This reinforces the camper → volunteer → leader pathway, which is a unique part of Discovery.

Connecting youth with university and community

Discovery brings together children and youth, UNB faculty and staff, university students, schools, and community partners through presentations, hands-on activities, tours, and mentorship opportunities. These experiences help young people explore new interests, build confidence, and learn about educational and career pathways.

By creating meaningful connections between the community and the university, Discovery helps make post-secondary education feel more accessible and achievable for young people across New Brunswick.

We are grateful to the faculty, staff, students, schools, and community partners who share their time, expertise, and enthusiasm with Discovery participants each year. Their contributions help inspire young people and enrich learning experiences across our programs.

Local Saint John and surrounding area schools interested in booking a professor or staff member from UNB Saint John are encouraged to contact Catrina Russell, Discovery Program Coordinator, at catrina.russell@unb.ca.