About
GrowthWithin STEAM exists to make high-quality, hands-on STEAM education accessible to every young person in Northern Ontario — especially those in Indigenous and rural communities who have historically been underserved by educational sySTEAMs.
To make high-quality STEAM education accessible, relational, and community-led — for every youth in Northern Ontario, wherever they are.
Our Vision
Regardless of their postal code, their background, or their community — every child deserves access to the tools, mentorship, and experiences that ignite a lifelong relationship with science and technology.
Our Values
Before we design a single activity, we seek to understand. We ask questions, we listen deeply, and we let community wisdom guide us. Respect is not a box we check — it is the foundation of everything we do.
Programs are built with communities, not for them. Families, elders, educators, and Band Council voices shape what we create. We are guests in every community we serve, and we act like it.
We provide take-home STEAM materials, free or subsidized participation where possible, and programs designed for learners of all backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles. Equity is structural — not symbolic.
The natural world is a STEAM curriculum. We draw connections between local ecosySTEAMs, traditional land stewardship, and contemporary science — because they are not separate worlds, they belong together.
Every program ends with a Community Showcase. Students present their work, families gather, and community members witness what their children are capable of. This is not optional — it is essential to the learning.
The relationship does not end when the camp ends. We reflect, gather feedback, and plan together. Our goal is not a one-time program — it is a lasting partnership that grows season by season.
How We Work
Five steps that define how every community partnership unfolds — from the first conversation to ongoing growth.
Start a Conversation ?We begin every new partnership with community conversation — formal or informal. We want to understand your needs, your concerns, and your hopes for your youth before anything else.
Together, we shape a program that fits your community's context, schedule, cultural values, and learning goals. Nothing is imposed. Everything is built in partnership.
Our educator arrives prepared, resourced, and ready. Every session is hands-on, inclusive, and culturally grounded — with real tools and real problems to solve.
Programs culminate in a community showcase — a moment for students, families, and community members to share, celebrate, and feel proud of what's been built.
We reflect, gather feedback, and plan next steps together. The relationship doesn't end when the camp ends — it deepens.
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
Meet the founder behind GrowthWithin STEAM, or reach out directly to start a conversation about what's possible for your community.
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.