Lindsay, Ontario, 15/06/2026 – Mentorship is a key component of Ampere’s identity, approach, and lifecycle, so when opportunities to expand our mentorship network arise — like the recent volunteer fair at a Kawartha Lakes high school — we’re thrilled to participate.
It’s not just about students getting their community hours, although that’s a big part of it for this particular demographic, it’s about being a space for teen learners to explore their passions and consider what their futures could look like.
On June 2, members of the Ampere team attended Lindsay Collegiate Vocational Institute’s Volunteer Fair organized by Kelly Neumann, the school’s Careers & Civics teacher. Among them was Kyle Gordon, who attended LCVI as a student prior to his employment with Ampere, where he has grown over the past three and a half years.
“Coming back to LCVI as an Ampere employee felt like a full-circle moment. As a student, I never would have imagined I’d return to talk about opportunities for youth in the community,” says Gordon.
“It was inspiring to meet students who are eager to learn, volunteer, and explore their interests,” says Gordon.
Offering volunteer opportunities aligns with the Mentorship aspect of the Ampere Lifecycle, the organization’s commitment to supporting learners in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, at all stages of learning and life. Ampere believes mentoring builds capacity by amplifying voices, projects and ideas that create mutually beneficial opportunities. That’s why connecting with local schools and school boards is so impactful: it helps Ampere meet the needs of the students while also bringing the students’ strengths to the community.
“As a Careers and Civics teacher, I believe volunteer fairs and community partnerships are invaluable because they help students see themselves as active contributors to their communities. Events like Civics in Action connect students with organizations that make a difference and demonstrate that volunteering is about much more than completing the required 40 hours,” says Neumann.
“Through these experiences, students develop skills, confidence, and meaningful relationships while gaining a deeper understanding of civic responsibility and the common good. At the same time, our community benefits from the energy, talents, and perspectives that young people bring.”
For example, many of the students at LCVI expressed interest in volunteering at one of Ampere’s seven STEAM-centred summer camps. These camps are tailored to learners between the ages of 5 and 12, with different ranges for each camp. This means that not only are high school students able to learn from experienced Ampere educators, they also have the opportunity to support the learning journey for younger youth, and potentially discover their own interests in STEAM along the way.
The volunteer fair was also a welcomed opportunity for Ampere to connect with other community organizations – such as Five Counties Children’s Centre, Victoria Manor, BGC Kawarthas and more – many of whom are working towards the shared goal of a more inclusive community of hope and belonging.
Ampere is grateful to LCVI and the entire Trillium Lakelands District School Board for their continued efforts in supporting Kawartha Lakes learners.
To learn more about volunteering with Ampere, visit amp.ca/jobs or submit a volunteer application.
Ampere−ᑯᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ:
For over a decade, Ampere (formerly the Pinnguaq Association) has partnered with rural, remote and Indigenous communities to provide access to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education and opportunities. Founded in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Ampere applies a Lifecycle approach to ensure that its supporting learners at every age, and every stage of life. Ampere offers programming directly through Makerspaces in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Bathurst, New Brunswick, and in the Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, and works directly with community partners, social organizations, governmental funders and educational institutions from coast to coast to coast.