Registration | Inside Engineering 2.0 | Gr 9-12 | W2026  

Inside Engineering 2.0: Capstone Project Challenge

A university-style engineering project experience for high school students!

Inside Engineering 2.0 provides students with a deeper, project-based engineering experience modeled after the “Capstone Systems Design” course taken by final-year university engineering students. This course challenges students to apply their technical knowledge to open-ended, real-world problems while following the engineering design process, working in teams, and presenting their solutions through functional prototypes and professional presentations.

Over six hands-on sessions, students will design and build an automatic gate system — including 3D modelling and printing key components, assembling and wiring electronic circuits, and programming the system’s control logic. Each team will work closely with a dedicated Ontario Tech engineering student mentor as they test, troubleshoot, and refine their prototype.

The program will culminate in a Showcase Session on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM, where students present their projects to a panel of Ontario Tech faculty of Engineering and industry judges, with families invited to attend. Judges will select a top winning team and a runner-up team, whose members will each receive a 20% discount on any one of our future programs, along with custom 3D-printed medallions. The event will conclude with an exciting live demonstration of SPOT, Ontario Tech’s robotics dog.

Program Schedule & Format:

• 📅 Dates & Times:
  • Mondays and Tuesdays, March 23 – April 7, 2026: 5:30 – 8:30 PM
  • Saturday, April 11, 2026 – Showcase Session: 1:00 – 4:00 PM
• Location:
  • Mondays: In-person at Ontario Tech University, North Oshawa Campus
  • Tuesdays: Virtual via Google Meet
  • Saturday: In-person at Ontario Tech University, North Oshawa Campus

💰Cost: $325 per student (plus tax). 

🏷️ Early Bird: Register before March 9, 2026 to receive $25 off, for a total of $300 per student (plus tax).

Program Fee Covers:

• 6 guided, hands-on project sessions
• A final showcase with judges from Ontario Tech Faculty of Engineering and industry professionals
• A dedicated Ontario Tech engineering student as a mentor for each team
• A final showcase with judges from Ontario Tech Faculty of Engineering and industry professionals
• A live Demo of SPOT the robotics dog 
• 3D printing all materials for the project at Ontario Tech's Design Studio/Outreach Workhub

This is a BYOD program (Bring your own device) for in-person workshops. If you do not have a laptop, please let us know so we can provide one. For virtual workshops, access to a computer/laptop/chromebook is required for participation.

Spots are VERY limited as this is our first Cohort of the Capstone Project Challenge.

You will receive a confirmation email once you make your payment via the email below. 

Any questions regarding the program can be sent to Zahraa, Engineering Outreach Coordinator, at zahraa.bassyouni@ontariotechu.ca.

Please note that this is a BYOD program (Bring Your Own Device) for in-person workshops. If you do not have a laptop, please let us know so we can provide one. For virtual workshops, access to a computer/laptop/chromebook is required for participation.

🛠️ Program Sessions:

• Monday, March 23 (In-person) – Introduction & Team Formation
  Overview of engineering fields, robotics, CAD, additive manufacturing, and 3D printing.. Students form teams, meet mentors, and brainstorm ideas for their automatic gate project.

• Tuesday, March 24 (Virtual) – Onshape & CAD Basics
  Introduction to 3D design and Onshape, including essential tools and shortcuts. Students start creating and sharing their project designs.

• Monday, March 30 (In-person) – Arduino & Circuits
  Fundamentals of electricity, circuits, Arduino setup, programming basics, and connecting electronics for the gate system.

• Tuesday, March 31 (Virtual) – CAD Design & 3D Printing Prep
  Advanced 3D printing concepts, material properties, slicing, tolerances, and preparing parts for printing.

• Monday, April 6 (In-person) – Motors, Servos & Wiring
  Introduction to DC and servo motors, wiring components, coding controls, and testing the gate system.

• Tuesday, April 7 (Virtual) – Final Touches & Project Work
  Teams finalize their project and  prepare presentations for the Showcase.

• Saturday, April 11 (In-person) – Showcase & SPOT Demo (1:00 – 4:00 PM)
  Students present projects to Ontario Tech faculty and industry judges, participate in Q&A and receive certificates. Top teams also receive medallions as awards. Families also can enjoy a live demonstration of SPOT, Ontario Tech’s robotics dog.

Parents/guardians are expected to drop off and pick up their child for each day of the program.

Students (ages 13 and above) can opt to register themselves for the program and sign out at the end of the day without parental/guardian supervision.

By saying yes, you acknowledge and agree that Ontario Tech University shall not be responsible for the health, safety and supervision of the Participant as of the date and time he or she is signed out of the Program. You hereby release Ontario Tech University (including its employees, directors, officers, students, volunteers, contractors and agents) from any and all liability, claims, suits, costs, losses and damages, however caused, at is relates to circumstances occurring before the Participant signs in, or after the Participant signs out of the Program.

Parents/guardians are responsible for reading, understanding, and agreeing to the detailed information on the following documents:  Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability and Code of Conduct. The notes below do not contain all the information on the forms. 

All youth and staff have the right to a positive and safe experience.  For this reason, youth are asked to follow the Code of Conduct when attending Engineering Outreach programs (whether virtual or in person). In general, we ask that youth:

1. Be safe
2. Be kind to yourself and others
3. Respect yourself and others
4. Listen to others and follow directions
5. Have fun!

Please read the Code of Conduct before continuing

Over the counter medication(s) will not be administered by program staff and should not be brought to campus. Program staff will confiscate any over the counter medication(s) from students, which will be held until check-out for the parent/guardian to retrieve.

We recognize that participants may carry an inhaler and/or epi-pen. If this is the case please contact engineeringoutreach@ontariotechu.ca to complete the necessary forms, share pertinent information, and/or address any further questions. Epi-pens required for life-threatening allergies must remain in close proximity to the participant.

We will be taking photos and videos during in-person programs that may be used in future marketing materials. By consenting to the Photo/Video Release you give Ontario Tech University permanent permission:

• to take photos and video of the student.
• to use all photos and video taken in various ways for marketing, promotion and advertising.
• to fully own and edit all photos and video taken.
• to use all photos and video taken without the need for approval from you of its use or how it is used.
• to not be prevented from using all photos and video taken.

By checking Yes, you give permission for your child's photo and video to be used externally through social media and the Engineering Outreach website to share this experience with the community. This also gives permission to Actua, the national organization, and Ontario Tech University to use this material for the purpose of promotional activities.

The goal of Engineering Outreach at Ontario Tech University is to create a safe virtual environment where all participants feel safe and welcome to learn. The following are our standards of behaviour.

Participant Expectations

• Every participant has the responsibility to promote a safe environment and the right to be treated with respect and dignity 
• Participants must come prepared, on time and ready to learn 
• Microphones must remain on mute during the program unless called on by an instructor to ask a question or share their thoughts
• Participants are encouraged, but not required, to turn on their video camera so the instructor can assist and provide feedback as needed
• The chat function should only be used to talk about content relating to the activity such as asking or answering questions

The following behaviours will not be tolerated and will either receive a warning or removal from the virtual program at the discretion of the instructor: 

• Bullying, threatening or aggressive behaviour towards the instructor or other participants 
• Using profane language or symbols in the chat 
• Engaging in hate propaganda or other types of behaviour caused by hate or bias
• Send any information that is hostile, insulting, threatening or otherwise offensive in the chat
• Making inappropriate gestures or using objects to threaten or intimidate another person through video
• Knowingly uploading any links to the chat that contains a virus and malware
• Recording the programming or taking pictures of the participants 
• Consistently refusing to mute their microphone or saying inappropriate things over the microphone

To protect personal safety, it is important that participants do the following: 

• Never reveal any personal information such as an address, phone number, etc. during the program to any participants
• Report any messages or behaviours during the program to your parent immediately and contact the instructor immediately

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY!

In accordance with the section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) Ontario Tech University is seeking consent to host the Program with the participant minor as named below (the “Participant Minor”).

1. By signing this Consent and Waiver I agree and acknowledge that:
    1.1 The Participant Minor’s participation in the Program is NOT MANDATORY;
    1.2 There will be other participants in the Program, such as but not limited to:
          1.2.1 employees of the Faculty of Engineering at Ontario Tech University,
          1.2.2 other registered participant minors of the Program, and

2. I release Ontario Tech University, its directors, officers, employees, agents and contractors (the “Released Parties”) from all claims, costs, damages, liability or responsibility whatsoever for personal injury, property damage, breach of personal information, security breaches, use of third party services, wrongful death howsoever caused, including, but not limited to, the
negligence of the Released Parties, whether passive or active, which arise from my participation in the Program and related activities.

3. I acknowledge and agree that the Participant Minor’s participation in the Program and associated activities may have inherent risks as a result of which personal injury, including death, property damage or breach of personal information may occur and I accept and assume all such risks arising from the Program and related activities and hereby waive my individual right to commence legal action against the Released Parties for all claims I, or the Participant Minor, my representatives, may have for such personal injury, death or property damage.

4. I understand and agree that I am not only giving up my right to sue the Released Parties but also any rights my heirs, assigns or beneficiaries may have to sue the Released Parties resulting from my death.

5. I confirm that I have read and understood this Consent and Waiver and agree that by initialing in the box below, this agreement will be binding on me, the Participant Minor and on my, and their, heirs, next of kin, executors and administrators.

6. I agree that this Consent and Waiver shall be governed in all respects by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein.

Personal information on this form is collected under the authority of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Act, SO 2002, c 8, Sch O and will be collected, protected, used, disclosed and retained in compliance with Ontario's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act R.S.O. 1990, c. F.31. This information will be used to administer the Engineering Outreach Program for which your child is registered at Ontario Tech University. Questions regarding the collection of your personal information may be directed to: Ontario Tech University Access and Privacy Office, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, 905.721.8668, ext. 6705, email: accessandprivacy@ontariotechu.ca.

By checking Yes, you have read, understand and agree to the Collection of Personal Information Notice. You warrant that you are the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the individual named in the online registration form who is a minor and that you are entitled to give consent to this Collection of Personal Information Notice. You indemnify Ontario Tech University, and its successors and assigns against any loss or claim if the minor disavows the Collection of Personal Information Notice because the minor was a minor or for any other similar grounds.