Program Overview

STEM Leadership Program

The UBC Geering Up STEM Leadership Program (STEM-LP) is a year-long initiative focused on the professional development and training of high school students for the purposes of establishing strong values indicative of a STEM Ambassador.

Description of Program

The summer component of the program will focus on a Social Development Project (SDP) in addition to volunteer work with Geering Up. This time will provide the Leaders-in-Training with the tools they need to be successful STEM Leaders in the future.

What are Leaders In Training (LITs)?

Leaders-In-Training (LITs) are high school volunteers who support our summer camps for kids. They work closely with our instructor team in leading a minimum of 2 one-week-long daily STEM summer camps with up to 24 youth by creating a hands-on and dynamic learning environment. Camps will be held in person at UBC Vancouver or an Offsite location (South Surrey, Coquitlam, Richmond, or North Vancouver). Leaders-In-Training have the opportunity to learn hands-on Engineering skills and apply them in a summer-long Social Development Project (SDP).

Program Components

The program consists of 3 major components:

1. February -April: Hiring, Technical Skills Training, and biweekly in-person meetings.
2. May-June: Social Development Project, Camps Volunteer Training, and biweekly in-person meetings.
3. July – August: SDP Work Time, Volunteering in Summer Camps, STEM-LP Gala, and weekly in-person meetings on Wednesday from 2:30-4:30 pm.

Program Objectives

The STEM-LP Program provides Leaders-In-Training (LITs) with an opportunity to:

• Learn technical engineering skills (Python, JavaScript, HTML, C++, Arduinos, CAD…)
• Apply the Engineering Design Cycle through a summer-long project
• Understand the real-world applications of Engineering
• Gain experience teaching others
• Work with a team of like-minded peers
• Facilitate STEM education in week-long camps
• Present projects and findings in an end of summer gala

Qualifications

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

1. Be entering Grades 10-12 in September, 2025
2. Be located in British Columbia Lower Mainland
3. Have not previously been an LIT
4. Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills
5. Demonstrate proven teamwork abilities and strong leadership skills
6. Have experience working with children in a teaching environment (an asset)
7. Show a passion for social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion

Become a STEM Ambassador

Upon successful completion of the Leader-In-Training Program, LITs are invited, and encouraged, to remain in the program during the fall as STEM Ambassadors for their communities. They will become part of the STEM Ambassador Council, which acts as a bridge between Geering Up and high schools in BC through the sharing of ideas and improvement of outreach initiatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What's the difference between a Junior Instructor and a Leader-In-Training (LIT)?
  • The STEM Leadership Program and Junior Instructor Program differ in term, duration, training, and special projects.
  • The STEM Leadership Program runs from February to September, with a minimum of two weeks of volunteering in summer camps, and includes technical, professional, and teaching skills training, as well as a summer-long social development project.
  • The Junior Instructor Program runs for one or more terms (January - April, July - August, or September - December), with a minimum of one week of volunteering in summer camps or one club term, and includes professional development, teaching, and classroom management training, as well as the opportunity to design and lead a STEM lesson.