FLIGHT (Future Leaders Innovating to Go Higher in Technology)

About FLIGHT

FLIGHT, or Future Leaders Innovating to Go Higher in Technology, is a Virtual Summer Camp run by Women in Computer Science (WiCS) at the University of Waterloo, BrainSTEM Alliance, and the University of the West Indies. As of 2024, we have been running for the three seasons!!!

FLIGHT Virtual Summer Camp is an introduction to tech entrepreneurship for girls aged 13-18 who self-identify as Black and/or other underrepresented minorities.

In this 2-week program, students will work in teams to create a technology-backed business idea around a problem that they identify within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Guest speakers will teach students industry best practices from the design-thinking process - including problem definition, market research, and creating a prototype - and coaches work with teams on each step of their project. At the end of the program, students will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges for feedback and prizing. The program also includes a one-day conference focused on professional development.

Girls+ refers to women, trans, gender-fluid, gender-queer, and non-binary.

This year FLIGHT will be held via Google Classroom and Zoom!

2024 WAITLIST NOW OPEN:

If you are interested in attending FLIGHT, please register for our WAITLIST! Based on past year's offerings, spots often open up and most people move off the waitlist.

If you have previously registered and can no longer attend please email wicsoutreach@uwaterloo.ca so we can open up your spot to someone on the waitlist.

Week 1 (July 15th - 19th, 2024)

2024
1. Jul
  1. Day 1
    
    Welcome To FLIGHT!
    
    AM:
    - Introductions
    - Intro to Design Thinking
    PM:
    - Brainstorming
    - Defining the Problem
  2. Day 2
    
    Getting Started on Your Projects
    
    AM:
    - Meet Your Team Members
    - Customer Personas & Journey Mapping
    PM:
    - Customer Surveys & Researching Your Problem
    - Team Working Time
  3. Day 3
    
    Market Research
    
    AM:
    - Customer Surveys Continued
    - Team Time with Coaches
    PM:
    - Researching your target audience
    - Team Time with Coaches
  4. Day 4
    
    Prototyping
    
    AM:
    - Problem Statements Presentation
    - Developing your Team's Problem Statement
    PM:
    - Intro to Prototyping Presentation
    - Prototyping with your Team
  5. Day 5
    
    FLIGHT Mini-Conference
    
    A joint online conference with FLIGHT Atlantic!
    - How to Network
    - Career Planning Panel
    - Negotiation & Working in a
      Professional Setting
    - Schools & Programs for Entrepreneurship
    - & More

Week 2 (July 22nd - 26th, 2024)

2024
1. Jul
  1. Day 6
    
    Communicating Your Ideas
    
    AM:
    - How to Prototype with Figma Presentation
    - Additional Prototyping Resources
    PM:
    - Communications Workshop
    - Team Working Time
  2. Day 7
    
    Graphic Design
    
    AM:
    - Team Time with Coaches
    PM:
    - Graphic Design Workshop
    - Create your Project Poster (Team Working Time)
  3. Day 8
    
    Pitching Your Project!
    
    AM:
    - Team Time with Coaches
    - Refining your Prototype
    PM:
    - Pitching Workshop
    - Team Working Time
  4. Day 9
    
    Finishing Touches!
    
    AM:
    - Team Time with Coaches
    PM:
    - Finishing up prototypes, posters, and presentations
    - Presentation Practise
  5. Day 10
    
    Showcase Day!
    
    A joint day with FLIGHT Atlantic where teams will pitch their project to a panel of judges! Prizes will be awarded to the top-scoring projects, and everyone will receive a certificate of completion for the FLIGHT program.
    
    Note:This is a shorter day ending around 2:30 pm ET.

Community Partner Opportunities

There are four ways you can volunteer on the FLIGHT Crew to support our camp and engage with participants. You can even pick more than one role!

Navigators (Guest Speakers)
Air Traffic Controllers (Coaches)
Customs (Judges)
Conference Speakers/ Panelists/ or MC! (Pilots)

As a volunteer, you will have the chance to network with professionals in the entrepreneurship and tech spaces in an unconventional setting. You can contribute to social change by making a tangible impact in working with youth from underrepresented groups, widen your perspective on key issues affecting society and develop the next generation of STEM and entrepreneurial leaders.

To learn more see our Partnership Package or contact the FLIGHT Team!

Program Partners

Community Partners

What We Did

Over our 2-week camp, each team created their tech-entrepreneurship buisness idea to address a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG)! On the final day of camp, teams pitched their idea, prototype, and poster to a panel of judges and got feedback from industry pros!

5 Teams Our Teams & Their UNSDGs

SHANerty - No Poverty

Aqua Care - Clean Water

Lann - Quality Education

No Empty Stomach - Zero Hunger

Gaia - Good Health and Wellness