Ready Set Code

Weekend coding program for girls and non-binary students in elementary school and high school

Discover Ready Set Code, a hands-on coding weekend program designed for girls and non-binary students in elementary school and high school. Students in Grades 3 to 12 explore exciting topics in coding through fun, hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity. Inspired by the diverse disciplines within the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, this program offers a unique opportunity to explore STEM in a university setting.

Registration Open

Space is limited, register soon!

DATES

Round 1
Jan. 24, Jan. 31, & Feb. 7, 2026

Round 2
Feb. 21, Feb. 28, & Mar. 7, 2026

WHEN

Saturdays
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Where

U of T's
St. George Campus

Who

Girls and non-binary students
in Grades 3–12

Course Fees

$240 per round
(3 Saturdays)

Program Highlights

Ready, Set Code is a 3-week in-person program designed for girls in Grades 3-12, covering all things coding!

Participants will learn through cohort-based lessons tailored to their age groups, engaging in creative and collaborative activities.

This program aims to inspire and equip young female coders with the skills and confidence to thrive in the world of technology. Join us to empower the next generation of female tech leaders!

Hands-On Coding

Hands-on activities that make coding concepts accessible, fun, and engaging.

2 Rounds of Courses

Students can register for Round 1, Round 2, or both rounds. Each round is full of interactive coding activities.

Mentorship Opportunities

Courses are taught by undergraduate students in STEM fields who are passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Supportive Environment

A collaborative and supportive learning environment where students are encouraged to ask questions, take risks, and think creatively.

Camaraderie

Students have the opportunity to make friends with other like-minded students while exploring exciting topics in coding and technology!

Dates & Registration Policies

Dates & Schedule

Eligibility

Registration Steps

Cancellations

Waitlists

Dates & Schedule

Dates

Round 1
Saturdays
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
January 24, January 31, & February 7, 2026

Round 2
Saturdays
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
February 21, February 28, & March 7, 2026

Students may take a course from one round or both rounds. Participation in Round 1 is not required before taking a course in Round 2.

Please note it is not possible to register for single days.

Eligibility

This program is offered to girls and non-binary students in Grades 3-12 during the 2025/2026 academic year.

Classes are divided into Grade 3-5, Grade 6-8, and Grade 9-12.

Students who are in Grade 2 this year, going into Grade 3 next fall, will not be eligible for Ready Set Code this year.

Coding Experience

This program does not require previous experience with coding.

Registration Steps

Click on the "Register" button on the top or bottom of this page.
When registration is open, all the available courses will appear on the registration page.
Add the courses to your cart by clicking "ADD TO CART" after each course you are interested in.
If a course is full, it will say "WAITING LIST ONLY." Add it to your cart to add yourself to the waitlist.
After adding all the courses you're interested in to your cart, hit "CONTINUE" at the top of the page.
On the next page, enter your email address to sign in or create an account.
Indicate which child should be registered for each session you have added to your cart.
Answer the registration questions and read and scroll through the waivers.
Complete your online signature and click "CONTINUE TO CART."
Double check all course information is correct, then enter payment information and click "Pay now."

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email - if you do not, please reach out to us.

Cancellations

Cancellation Policy

A refund, less a $40 administration fee, is available for cancellation requests received on or before 11:59 PM the following cancellation date:

For Round 1 courses (Jan 24-Feb 7): Cancel by Sunday, January 18, 2026
For Round 2 courses (Feb 21-Mar 7): Cancel by Sunday, February 15, 2026

Any cancellations made after these days are not eligible for a refund.

Cancellations can be done through your online account, or by emailing us at outreach@engineering.utoronto.ca.

Waitlists

If a course you are interested in is listed as waitlisted on the registration page, it means all spots are currently full. If the course is full, add it to your cart and go through all the registration steps to join the waitlist.

If a spot opens up in the course and you are the next person on the waitlist, the system will automatically send you an email asking if you would like to register for the spot. At that point you can decide if you would like to register or be removed from the waitlist.

Please note that waitlist offers have a deadline. If your waitlist offer deadline passes and you have not responded to the offer, your waitlist offer will expire and the spot will be offered to the next person on the waitlist.

Questions about Ready Set Code?

Fees

Course Fees

$240 per round (3 Saturdays).

Please note it is not possible to register for single days.

Bursaries and Financial Aid

We are able to offer bursaries towards our Ready Set Code courses. Please note we have a limited number of bursaries available, so not all applications will be approved. Bursaries may cover 10-75% of the course fees.

To apply for this bursary, please fill out an application here:

Winter 2026 Bursary Application

Course Offerings

Winter 2026 courses will be offered in two rounds:

Round 1: January 24, January 31, & February 7, 2026
Round 2: February 21, February 28, & March 7, 2026

Students are welcome to take courses from both rounds if they like! Participation in Round 1 is not required before taking a course in Round 2.

Grade 3-5 Courses

Round 1: Game Studio

Round 1:
January 24, January 31, & February 7, 2026

Game Studio welcomes girls in grades 3 to 5 to become game creators instead of game players. Through playful exploration and guided challenges, students learn how to code characters, build interactive levels, and design stories using accessible block-based programming. Each lesson blends creativity with technology, helping students understand how their ideas can become fully coded games. This course encourages curiosity and creative thinking while providing a supportive environment where beginners can succeed. By the end of the class, students will have created original games they can proudly share with others.

This program does not require previous experience with coding. Students will use Microsoft MakeCode for all game design and block-based coding activities.

Disciplines: Computer Science, Software Engineering, Creative Technology

Round 2: Science Coding Lab

Round 2:
February 21, February 28, & March 7, 2026

Science Coding Lab invites students in grades 3 to 5 to explore scientific ideas through interactive, hands-on coding projects. In this course, students investigate topics such as ecosystems, weather, motion, and simple machines while using beginner-friendly programming tools to model what they discover. Through digital simulations, animations, and mini experiments, students learn how scientists use data and technology to understand the world around them.

This course makes both science and coding feel approachable and exciting. Students build confidence as young scientists and programmers while practicing problem-solving, logical thinking, and scientific inquiry. By blending creativity with exploration, Science Coding Lab encourages curiosity and helps students develop a strong foundation for future STEM learning.

This program does not require previous experience with coding. Students will be using Microsoft Makecode for block-based programming and digital modeling.

Disciplines: Computer Science, Life Science, Physical Science, Earth and Space Science

Grade 6-8 Courses

Round 1: LevelUp: Game Design

Round 1:
January 24, January 31, & February 7, 2026

Step into the world of game design with LevelUp, a hands-on course for girls in grades 6 to 8. Students will learn how to create games by building characters, designing levels, and crafting interactive stories. Using beginner-friendly tools, they will develop skills in both visual design and coding to bring their ideas to life in playable worlds. Throughout the course, students will combine creativity, logic, and problem-solving to design unique games that reflect their imagination. They will explore how gameplay, storytelling, and art work together to make games exciting and engaging.

This program does not require previous experience with coding. Students will learn foundational concepts in Python and experiment with popular platforms like Unity and Makecode.

Disciplines: Game Design, Interactive Storytelling, Digital Art, Software Engineering

Round 2: AI Discovery Studio

Round 2:
February 21, February 28, & March 7, 2026

AI Discovery Studio introduces students in grades 6 to 8 to the exciting world of artificial intelligence through creative, hands-on learning. In this course, students explore how computers recognize patterns, make predictions, and solve problems by training their own simple machine learning models. Using accessible tools designed for beginners, students experiment with image recognition, text classification, and data-based decision making while learning how real-world AI systems work.

This course encourages students to think critically about technology and builds foundational skills in problem-solving, data literacy, and ethical reasoning. Through engaging projects, students create interactive AI-powered programs and gain an understanding of how AI is shaping science, art, engineering, and everyday life.

This program does not require previous experience with coding. Students will be using block-based and beginner-friendly AI tools such as Teachable Machine and introductory Python environments when appropriate.

Disciplines: Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy

Grade 9-12 Courses

Round 1: Cyber Security: Code Blue

Round 1:
January 24, January 31, & February 7, 2026

Cyber Security: Code Blue invites students in grades 9-12 to explore the mysterious and obscure world of information security. Students will be introduced to the techniques that work behind-the-scenes to secure the most important digital infrastructure of the modern era: the Internet. They will learn the thought processes of bad actors, the investigation skills to track them down, and the defensive measures they can take in response. Through mathematics, hands-on activities, creative problem-solving, and critical thinking, students will learn the clever coding tools we can use to keep the hackers at bay.

This program does not require previous experience with coding. Students will be learning C++ (Arduino) and Python in this course.

Disciplines: Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering

Round 2: Decode & Discover: Intro to Bio-Engineering

Round 2:
February 21, February 28, & March 7, 2026

Decode & Discover: Intro to Bio-Engineering invites students in grade 9-12 to investigate how technology can illuminate the mysteries of living systems. Throughout the program, students will experiment with biological ideas using code, transforming complex life science concepts into digital models and simulations. By exploring the tools used by researchers of today, participants will develop both computational thinking and scientific curiosity. Through the explorations of living systems and hands-on programming challenges, students will uncrack the hidden algorithms of life, taking their first steps into the world of bio-engineering.

This program does not require previous experience with coding. Students will be learning C++ (Arduino) and Python in this course.

Disciplines: Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Biology

Registration Open

Space is limited, register soon!

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Ontario Camps Association (OCA)