Join Canada’s most exciting pre-university STEAM and entrepreneurship program.
One summer. Life-long Impact.
Shad is a transformative month-long program designed to ignite curiosity, build confidence, and prepares students in Grades 10 and 11 to thrive in a fast-changing world. Through hands-on STEAM learning, immersive post-secondary experience, entrepreneurship projects, vibrant community-building, and real-world design challeneges, Shad aims to inspire, connect and supercharge the next generation of changemakers.
of impact
Alumni Worldwide
Postsecondary Partners
Active Learning Topics
Shad’s curriculum is designed to spark curiosity across a wide range of disciplines and emerging fields. Rather than focusing on traditional subject boundaries, learning is organized around five interdisciplinary fields that connect STEAM, entrepreneurship, leadership and personal growth. Learning experiences vary by campus, with each offering a unique mix of topics shaped by its academic strengths, local context, and areas of expertise, providing students with diverse perspectives and opportunities for discovery.
Shad partners with more than 30 post-secondary institutions across Canada to deliver immersive learning experiences on campuses from coast to coast. From living in residence and exploring state-of-the-art facilities to connecting with faculty, mentors, and fellow participants, each Shad campus provides a unique setting for the same transformative experience in innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership, and community.
Partner institutions across Canada
Provinces represented
Transformative experience
Campus availability may vary each year.
Some institutions will not host a program in 2026.
Camrose, Alberta
Halifax, Nova Scotia
London, Ontario
Calgary, Alberta
Every Shad campus is carefully chosen for its academic excellence, inspiring spaces, and vibrant communities, giving you the environment to explore, create, and grow.
Most Shad participants have experienced the program through our signature Live-In program. Building on this foundation, Shad has expanded its offerings to include four distinctive program pathways that share the same commitment to innovation, community, and personal growth, creating more ways for students to expereince Shad.
On campus
Hands on projects
Dorm life & community
Campus availability may vary each year.
Some institutions will not host a program in 2006.
Live-in Program
Live on campus, build lifelong friendships, and immerse yourself in university life while tackling real-world challenges.
Shad Unplugged
Build resilience, confidence, and community through immersive outdoor experiences and hands-on learning.
Explore Unplugged
Shad A-Plus
Designed for students ready to challenge themselves through deeper exploration, advanced experiences, and greater impact.
Explore A-Plus
Shad French
Perfect your French, expand your perspective, and connect with students from across Canada in an immersive French-language environment.
Explore French
Shad Virtual
Join from anywhere in Canada without missing the Shad magic.
Explore Virtual
For more than 45 years, Shad has helped future leaders discover new possibilities, build lasting confidence, and develop the skills and connections to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
From STEAM learning to emerging fields, Shad enables students to explore ideas beyond the high school curriculum.
Shad helps students discover new passions, academic interests, and possibilities for future study and careers.
Through collaborative challenges and shared experiences, Shad develops the confidence, communication, and leadership skills needed to inspire others.
Shad equips students with the creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork skills needed to tackle complex challenges.
Shad connects students to a network of peers, mentors, and more than 25,000 alumni across Canada and around the world.
Through innovation and design challenges, Shad empowers students to transform ideas into meaningful impact.
Shad gave me the toolkit and mindest to dream bigger.
The friends I made here are still some of the most important people in my life.
Kento
Shad alum
Here are various common questions that come up about Shad and our programs:
Live-in / A-Plus / Unplugged: July 5 – July 31 | 24/7
Virtual: July 6 – July 31 | Monday – Friday, 11 am – 5 pm ET
Shad’s Live-in program is hosted at our carefully selected post-secondary campuses and Shad’s Virtual program is powered by Athabasca University.
Learn more about Shad’s Live-in experience and Shad’s Virtual experience and our two program options – Unplugged and A-Plus.
The number and locations of Shad campuses offering A-Plus and Unplugged will be determined by the demand from accepted applicants.
While we take into consideration your preferred campus options, Shad ultimately chooses your campus in order to promote a pan-Canadian experience for all participants.
Well-qualified team members work hard to ensure that all aspects of the experience – academic, logistical and social – meet or exceed expectations.
Many of these dedicated team members are top-rated post-secondary professors. Volunteers from all areas of the university and business community also add to the mix to create a dynamic experience. All team members and volunteers subscribe to the highest code of conduct as defined and maintained by Shad Canada.
No. Shad participants must commit to attending the entire duration of the program.
Students who require accommodations related to disabilities, cultural/religious practices, or any other human rights protected ground should contact Shad Canada as early as possible to discuss their accommodation needs and to ensure Shad Canada can meet their needs. Careful consideration should be made prior to accepting the offer to participate.
Requests can be sent to info@shad.ca
Shad can count towards high school credit for participants from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. The Shad experience can also qualify as a Sector-Partnered Experience for SHSM students in Ontario and towards CAS requirements for IB diploma students. Shad’s Virtual campus participants also have the opportunity to complete credentials from Athabasca University.
One month. Lifelong impact.
