Northern Ontario · Indigenous Partnership · Hands-On STEAM

Growing curious minds, one community at a time.

GrowthWithin STEAM brings hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math to youth in Northern Ontario — in ways that honor your community, your land, and your children's future.

Start a Conversation See Our Programs ↓

"His sessions are not only educational but also fun and deeply meaningful..."
Kellie Wrigley — Education Director, RRIB

2025 First STEAM camp delivered
with Red Rock Indian Band

My name is Javier Nossa, and I come to live on this land from Bogotá, Colombia. I recognize that I live and work in the Robinson-Superior Treaty Area. In Thunder Bay, I acknowledge the land of Fort William First Nation, and in Red Rock, the traditional lands of Red Rock Indian Band.

I honour the past, present, and future custodians of the land and thank Indigenous Nations for their stewardship, teachings, and guidance toward a better future.

I acknowledge my responsibility to Call to Action 63 by bringing Indigenous knowledge into the curriculum through respectful collaboration with local communities. I work to ensure this knowledge is honoured, not appropriated.

I recognize the colonial impact on these lands and commit to helping students understand this history while integrating Indigenous perspectives into STEAM education.

Miigwech. Thank you. Merci. Gracias.

Our Approach

STEAM education the way
community deserves it.

We don't arrive with a program and ask you to fit into it. We listen first. Then we design — together.

Rooted in Relationship

Every program begins with conversation — with Band Councils, educators, and families. We co-design experiences that reflect local values and priorities, not outside assumptions.

Hands-On & Real

Students don't sit and watch. They build robots, write code, wire circuits, design prototypes, and solve real problems using tools like micro:bit, Scratch, Unity, and Arduino.

Culturally Responsive

Indigenous ways of knowing are not an add-on — they are woven into how we teach, what we build, and how we celebrate student achievement.

The GrowthWithin Model

Listen

Community conversation first, always.

Co-Design

Shape the program together — not for you, with you.

Deliver

Hands-on, inclusive, culturally grounded sessions.

Celebrate

Community Showcase — students present, families gather.

Grow

Reflect, plan next steps, deepen the relationship.

Programs

Learning experiences built
for your community.

Summer Program

STEAM Discovery Camp

5 weeks · Ages 8–12 · Red Rock Indian Band

Coding, robotics, environmental sensors, maker challenges, and a community showcase. Every student goes home with their own micro:bit STEAM kit.

micro:bit Scratch Robotics IoT Sensors Maker Space

Learn More →

After-School

After-School STEAM Mentorship

Weekly · All ages welcome

Ongoing after-school programming building coding, problem-solving, and design thinking skills throughout the school year — in a welcoming, small-group environment.

Coding Design Thinking Problem Solving Arduino

Partnerships

Workshops & School Programs

For school boards, educators & organizations

From classroom workshops to full curriculum design, we partner with school boards, Indigenous education departments, and nonprofits wherever STEAM learning is needed.

Curriculum Design Teacher PD Unity 3D Modeling

Testimonials

As Manager of Indigenous Education, I have witnessed Javier Nossa demonstrate what true allyship in education looks like. He brings strong STEAM expertise, yet always begins with listening, and ensuring that programming reflects community voices, priorities, and cultural values.

Javier works in genuine partnership with Indigenous communities, recognizing that meaningful education must be relational and responsive. His approach honours Indigenous ways of knowing while supporting student confidence and growth in STEAM fields.

He models allyship not just in words, but in action while always walking alongside communities in a good way and strengthening both educational opportunity and trust.

Shy-Anne Bartlett

Manager of Indigenous Education
Superior-Greenstone District School Board

Javier Nossa has been an incredible addition to our after-school and summer camp programming in the community of Lake Helen. Through his thoughtfully designed STEAM sessions, Javier has engaged our children and youth in hands-on, creative learning experiences that spark curiosity and build confidence.

He has taken the time to come into our community, connect with the students, and provide opportunities many of them might not otherwise have had. His sessions are not only educational but also fun and deeply meaningful for the children who participate.

Javier has developed strong, positive relationships with both our staff and the children, demonstrating genuine care, patience, and enthusiasm in every interaction. We are truly grateful for the dedication, energy, and generosity he has shown in sharing his knowledge and passion for STEAM with our community.

Kellie Wrigley

Education Director
Red Rock Indian Band

Who We Work With

Is this your community?

First Nations Bands & Band Councils

Looking to bring meaningful, community-designed STEAM to your youth? We begin by listening and build from there — together, on your terms.

School Boards & Educators

Partner with us to design culturally responsive STEAM programming, teacher professional development, and curriculum integration that serves all learners.

Families & Youth

Your child deserves to see themselves as a scientist, an engineer, a designer. Our programs make that possible — in a welcoming, encouraging, safe space.

Funders & Grant Bodies

GrowthWithin STEAM programs are community-driven, measurable, and sustainable. We welcome conversations about funding STEAM education where it's needed most.

About the Founder

PhD-level expertise.
Community-level heart.

GrowthWithin STEAM was founded by Javier Nossa — a physicist, researcher, and educator whose career spans two continents, three school boards, and twenty years of teaching. His academic credentials are matched only by his commitment to listening before leading.

Meet Javier →

PhD, Engineering Physics

Lund University, Sweden · 2013

20+ Years Teaching Globally

Canada · Colombia · Sweden · USA

OSSTF Equity & Anti-Racism Officer

District 6B · Ontario

Apple Teacher · Google Educator L1&2

Certified · Canada Learning Code Mentor

Growing curious minds, one community at a time.