Our Programs

Bring Innovation to Your Classroom!

By embracing a human-centered design process, students develop creative solutions to real-world social challenges while discovering how STEM can be a powerful force for positive impact. Join us to explore, innovate, and make a difference!

Our programs are currently offered in Ottawa and the Greater Toronto-Hamilton area, in partnership with schools, post-secondary institutions, and community organizations.

Student Programs

Half-Day (2 ½ Hour)

Program Overview:

Half-day School Workshops

Empower young innovators with our immersive half-day workshop on human-centered design, crafted for students in grades 7-12.

Unlock creativity and transform ideas into impactful real-world solutions through the power of STEM.

Understanding Human-Centered Design:

Identify key end-users and their unique needs.

Assess the significance and potential impact of the challenge.

Idea Generation:

Brainstorm diverse ideas and develop concepts within a team.

Create low-fidelity prototypes and get feedback.

Implementing STEM for Social Impact:

Refine prototypes through iterative improvements.

Apply innovative solutions within the community.

Measure the impact of STEM on social outcomes.

Click here to see our Half-Day Design Challenge

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Community Partner Workshops Overview:

Community Partner Workshops

By partnering with organizations like Evergreen Brick Works, we equip youth with the tools to design innovative solutions that address real-world challenges faced by real people.

Collaborative Impact:

Partner with grassroots organizations like Evergreen Brick Works, Visions of Science, and TNO-The Neighbourhood Organization.

Gain valuable insights into local social issues through meaningful collaborations.

Youth-Driven Solutions:

Empower youth to develop actionable solutions for real-world challenges.

Foster innovation through the application of human-centered design in a collaborative environment.

Mutual Benefits:

Strengthen practical skills while contributing fresh perspectives on community challenges.

click here to see previous and ongoing workshops!

Here are previous topics we have covered:

Climate Action - Energy Conservation.
Healthy Living in Communities.
Sustainable Practices and Food Security.
Accessibility in Recreational Spaces.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Engineering.
Digital Technology for Wellbeing - Intergenerational Design.
Fast Fashion and Consumerism.
Sustainable and Accessible Transportation.
Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Considerations.

Topics We Explore:

The diverse topics offered by Up4 The Challenge are essential for engaging students in meaningful learning. We work closely with educational program leads to tailor topics to participants' interests, ensuring relevance and deeper engagement. This variety inspires critical thinking and innovation, helping students address real-world issues and preparing them to be future leaders.

Educator Programs

Educator Program Outline:

Educator Training

Leaders and educators harness the power of human-centered design to explore how STEM can drive positive change.

Each session is thoughtfully tailored to meet distinct leadership and learning objectives, ensuring a customized and impactful experience.

Understanding Human-Centered Design:

Identify end-users and their needs.

Explore the importance of the challenge and potential opportunities.

Ideation & Prototyping:

Conduct a group brainstorming session.

Create and share a low-fidelity prototype with end-users.

Collect feedback on design ideas.

Connecting STEM to Social Outcomes:

Identify the inputs and outcomes of design solutions.

Engage in self-reflection and initiate a call to action.

Click here to see our Design Thinking Workshop

Educator Resources

We offer a range of educator resources designed to boost creativity, human-centred design, and problem-solving skills in young people. These include lesson plans, activities, and toolkits that foster collaboration, critical thinking, and experiential learning through real-world challenges.

stemflower 2.0, a groundbreaking, digital tool to deepen an appreciation of how STEM supports social outcomes.

Engineering Improvisation: A New Approach to the Design Thinking Mindset, developed in collaboration with McMaster University and available for free through eCampus Ontario.

Lesson plans, worksheets, and learning toolkits that support human-centred design in STEM contexts.

Core Program Elements

Design Thinking - introduction to how it can create social change for our partner organization
Understanding the issues from the users' perspectives through listening, empathy and reflection
Hands-on, iterative design in collaboration with our community partner

Through these elements, an awareness of the interdisciplinary nature of design is fostered.

Our Community Partners

Our program thrives thanks to the unwavering support of our community partners. By collaborating with organizations that deeply understand social issues and work directly with those in the community, we empower youth to create meaningful solutions that address real-world challenges.

This collaboration creates an invaluable experience for both program participants and the community members served by our partner organizations.

Parkdale Food Centre

We are fortunate to collaborate closely with the Parkdale Food Centre, a local Ottawa organization that shares our vision of building healthier, more connected communities.

A heartfelt thank you to Karen Secord and Sue Hall for their ongoing support!

Learn more about our program with the Parkdale Food Centre here:

Evergreen Brick Works

At Evergreen, our program participants gain hands-on experience with sustainable practices that promote thriving urban communities.

Isaac Crosby, Lead Hand Urban Agriculture, imparts valuable knowledge on Indigenous agricultural techniques and shares ideas that can be applied both at home and in the broader community.

No matter the season, there’s always something to see, smell, or taste in Isaac’s vibrant gardens!

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