Where Big Ideas Come to Life
Shad offers a suite of immersive programs designed to ignite curiosity, build confidence, and prepare students in Grades 10 and 11 to thrive in a fast-changing world.
Every Shad program follows a balanced design—blending hands-on STEAM and entrepreneurship projects, vibrant community-building experiences, and real-world design challenges. Beyond classroom-based projects, participants also take part in unforgettable excursions that spark discovery and showcase the wonders of Canada’s nature and heritage.
Whether you’re looking to explore a new campus, connect face-to-face with peers, or challenge yourself digitally, every Shad program provides the same rigorous learning, collaborative problem-solving, and national network of like-minded youth. This ensures that wherever you take part on campus or online, you’ll experience the same transformative mix of skills, friendships, and inspiration.
Shad Canada currently offers four pathways, each with its own flavour of discovery:
Experience life on campus and build lasting connections through a fully immersive, in-person Shad journey.
Format: In-person, staying on a post-secondary campus 24/7
Duration: 27-days, July 5 – July 31, 2026 (24 hrs/day, 7 days a week)
Includes: Staying at a post-secondary campus, hands-on workshops, team projects, real campus life, off-campus field trips
Best for: Students who want the full immersive experience.
Innovation without borders. Same transformative Shad experience with more flexibility and a digital-first approach built for today’s world.
Format: Online
Access: From anywhere in Canada (or even abroad), July 6 – July 31, 2025 (Monday – Friday only, 11 am – 5 pm ET)
Includes: Virtual workshops, lectures, group projects, guest speakers, virtual field trips
Best for: Students who require flexibility to stay local—whether balancing part-time work, supporting family, or pursuing elite-level athletics. A full immersive program right to your home.
No big problem was ever solved alone—Shad A-Plus hones your leadership, teamwork, and changemaking skills to drive real-world impact through a powerful blend of humanities, arts, business thinking and STEM.
Format: In-person, living 24/7 on a post-secondary campus
Duration: 27-days, July 5 – July 31, 2026 (24 hrs/day, 7 days a week)
Includes: Staying at a post-secondary campus, hands-on workshops, team projects, real campus life
Best for: Deep thinkers and big question-askers—students who are curious about people, culture, and the forces shaping our world. Through creative collaboration, discussion, and exploration, you’ll discover how the arts can drive innovation and meaningful change.
Go offline to plug into deeper conversations, meaningful friendships, and distraction-free discovery.
Format: In-person, staying on a post-secondary campus in a semi-tech-free (no social media) environment
Duration: 27-days, July 5 – July 31, 2026 (24 hrs/day, 7 days a week)
Includes: Staying at a post-secondary campus, hands-on workshops, team projects, real campus life
Best for: Students who want to ditch the noise—no phones, just real conversations, deep connections, and hands-on challenges in a campus setting. With your laptop, your mind, and your team, you’ll take on innovation and adventure like never before.
Turn your Shad experience into academic power—earn high school credits while exploring innovation, leadership, and STEM.
Get an inside look at Shad—where innovation meets community.
Our best advocates are the Shad participants themselves — hear from a few of our favourites.
