Discover CREATE Weekends, a hands-on weekend engineering program designed for high school students. Experience immersive engineering design challenges inspired by the diverse disciplines within the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. This program offers a unique opportunity to explore real-world problem-solving, develop technical skills, and gain insight into university-level engineering pathways.
Registration Closed
Registration for spring 2026 is now closed. Please join our mailing list for updates on future programs and registration times.
Program Highlights
CREATE Weekends is a weekend program for high school students interested in exploring science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) from a design perspective. Led by a team of enthusiastic and experienced university students, you'll explore advanced engineering topics and learn how different disciplines of engineering work together to build a better society.
CREATE Weekends is more than just lectures and theories. Over multiple weekends, you'll gain hands-on experience and practical skills by working collaboratively on a real-world challenge. Using the engineering design process, you'll learn to identify a problem, brainstorm solutions, build and test prototypes, and refine your design. This is your chance to apply what you've learned in the classroom to solve a tangible problem.
CREATE Weekends is designed for motivated high school students who are curious about STEM and eager to connect with like-minded peers. If you're interested in exploring advanced topics, developing your problem-solving skills, and seeing how engineers make a difference, this program is for you. You'll not only expand your knowledge but also build a community with other students who share your passion for innovation and design.
The new iteration of program stems from small wonders in our lived experiences. Each course aims to provide context for 3 or more disciplines within the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and how they collaborate with each other to create an interdisciplinary design project.
Dates & Registration Policies
Dates
Saturdays
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
May 30, June 6, and June 13, 2026
Please note it is not possible to register for single days.
Location
Courses are held in-person on the U of T St. George campus.
Eligibility
This program is offered to students in Grades 9-12 during the 2025/2026 academic year.
Classes are divided into Grade 9/10, and Grade 11/12.
Students who are in Grade 8 this year, going into Grade 9 next fall, will not be eligible for CREATE Weekends this year.
Engineering Experience
This program does not require previous experience with engineering or STEM programs.
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.
Cancellation Policy
A refund, less a $40 administration fee, is available for cancellation requests received on or before 11:59 PM the following cancellation dates:
- For spring courses (May 30-June 13): Cancel by Sunday, May 24, 2026
Any cancellations made after this day 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 WAITING LIST ONLY 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 CREATE Weekends?
Contact us at:
outreach@engineering.utoronto.ca
Fees
Course Fees
$280 per course (3 Saturdays).
Please note it is not possible to register for single days.
Bursaries and Financial Aid
We are now able to offer a limited number of bursaries towards this program. Please note, we only 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:
Course Offerings
Classes are divided by grade. Please read the course descriptions carefully to see which courses are offered to which grade group.
Grade 9/10
Junior Engineering Sampler
Are you considering a future in engineering? This course offers an immersive look into the core disciplines of Civil, Materials, Electrical, and Mechanical engineering through a blend of interactive theory and practical application. You will be programming microcontrollers and try simulation software for mechanical systems, working in teams to optimize solutions using statistical data and creating innovative solutions to real world problems based on the engineering design cycle. Step into the role of an engineer and start building your foundation through our engineering sampler course!
Disciplines: Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering
Grade 11/12
Senior Engineering Sampler
Interested in a future in engineering? In this course, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at disciplines like civil, mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering through interactive lessons and hands-on activities. From building bridges and designing structures to coding with Arduino, analyzing data, and testing materials, you’ll experience how engineering concepts are applied in real-world scenarios. Along the way, you’ll work with other students to solve challenges, learn the engineering design process, and explore topics like optimization and statistics. Guided by current university students, you’ll gain insight into their experiences and discover which areas of engineering spark your interest.
Disciplines: Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering
Registration is Closed
Registration for spring 2026 is now closed.
Please join our mailing list for updates on future programs and registration times.
