Youth Summer Camp 2026
Date: August 10-21,2026
Location: Forest Lawn Community Association
The UDJI Youth Summer Camp is a free, hands-on learning and mentorship program designed for youth in the Forest Lawn community. The camp introduces youth to design justice, urban planning, architecture, and community-building through creative, place-based learning. Through workshops, site visits, creative design activities, and mentorship from professionals and community leaders, youth will explore how the built environment shapes everyday life and how design can be used as a tool for equity, inclusion, and community empowerment. The program encourages youth to examine their neighbourhoods, identify local challenges and opportunities, and imagine new possibilities for more just and inclusive communities. By integrating creative learning, mentorship, and community engagement, the camp aims to foster confidence, leadership skills, and pathways into design and planning education and careers, nurturing the next generation of community leaders, designers, and planners.
Program Structure
Design Justice Foundations: Introduction to equity, justice, and the role of design and planning in shaping neighbourhoods and public spaces.
Skill Building Workshops
Hands-on sessions in mapping, storytelling, visual communication, model-making, and basic urban design and planning concepts.
Mentorship and Pathways
Youth will be mentored by University of Calgary students from the School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture (SAPL), alongside students from other faculties and universities, creating near-peer mentorship and exposure to post-secondary learning environments.
Tactical Urbanism Project
Youth will collaboratively identify a local site (or potential sites) within their communities and co-design a small-scale tactical urbanism intervention (e.g., pop-up public space, placemaking installation, or community activation) that responds to local needs and aspirations.
Community Reflection and Celebration
The camp will conclude with a community sharing session where youth present their ideas, designs, and reflections to families, community partners, and local stakeholders.
Accessibility and Cost
The UDJI Youth Summer Camp will be offered at no cost to participants, ensuring accessibility for youth and families. All materials, programming, and mentorship will be provided free of charge.
