Inspiring and empowering youth, giving them the confidence to reach their potential.
What We Do
At the heart of everything we do is our goal to foster new leaders who will make a positive difference in communities across Nova Scotia. Our programs are intentionally designed for high school students who demonstrate natural leadership qualities and because of their circumstances may not always be afforded opportunities to achieve their full potential.
Each year grade 9 educators nominate deserving students for acceptance into the Catapult program. The 50 selected students are able to participate in a blend of experiences and activities focused on academic pursuit, extra-curricular exploration and volunteerism that span several years. Catapult provides students with a well rounded set of leadership skills and experiences to help them make a difference in their community and prepare for their exciting futures.
Our programming includes:
Catapult Camp- Camp is designed to boost confidence at a pivotal age so they start high school as active leaders. The 7-day camp is held at Acadia University each August. Campers learn problem solving techniques, decision-making skills, effective communication, and the benefits of effective teamwork. Catapult Camp is a transformational week of intense positivity and inspiring role models focused on boosting confidence. Learn more about Catapult Camp.
Catapult Plus- Plus supports camp alumni through high school and the transition to post-secondary goals. The expectation is that the ongoing guidance will motivate our students to reach higher and improve their chances of success. Students receive ongoing mentorship with a focus on leadership and life skills. Upon completion of the program, students attend a 4-day conference at Acadia University each August. On average, more than 80% of eligible students commit to the Catapult Plus program. Learn more about Catapult Plus programs.
Catapult Alumni- After Catapult Camp and/or Catapult Plus, all participants of the Catapult program are invited to participate in alumni activities, such as our grade 12 grad workshop, a fall alumni conference, student inspired workshops and community volunteering. Learn more about Catapult Alumni programs.
Participation in our programs is at no cost to students due to the generous support of our investors.
Our Core Values
In everything we do, we look to five core values to guide us in our work:
Inspire. We believe in inspiring our students to recognize their capabilities and envision strong goals so they can reach their full potential.
Empower. We believe in building skills and confidence to empower our students to become stronger individuals and community members.
Inclusivity. We believe in being inclusive and having respect for our own unique talents, abilities and backgrounds and those of others which is key to positive relationships.
Integrity. We believe in leading by example with our commitment to honesty, excellence and integrity.
Community. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging in Catapult and encourage giving back to our community.
Our Impact
We strive to offer high quality programming and support facilitated by caring, dedicated and motivational staff. We meet students where they are and help them recognize their potential, create meaningful bonds and gain useful life skills. Every student, no matter their circumstance, has greatness within them. Our Catapult programs helps each student grow, share and let their their greatness shine.
Our impact is reflected in our Annual Reports. Check them out below: