US: Design Thinking in the Silicon Valley

Arrive at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and meet your Program Leaders. Head to the hotel to settle in, and join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Have a healthy local dinner and get some sleep for your adventure this week.

Talk with entrepreneurs and innovators about their professional journeys and learn why this corner of the world is known for innovation and creativity. This will be an open discussion so come prepared with questions and ideas to share! Break into groups in the afternoon and begin the design thinking process by generating ideas and working through its early stages. Have dinner in the city and head to bed after a long day.

Start your day by brainstorming, sketching, and building your prototypes before visiting another site to pitch your ideas to mentors, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the Bay Area. After receiving feedback about your prototypes, head to the Exploratorium, an interactive museum to learn about creative solutions to complex problems in the world.

Continue to refine your prototypes and take part in several practice activities the pros use to enhance their presentations. After lunch, head to another site to pitch your concepts before an afternoon visit to Alcatraz, the infamous prison from legends and movies. End the evening with another local dinner in a city known for its freshness and diversity of food.

Put the finishing touches on your pitches and give mock presentations with a Q&A from your peers. After lunch, present your prototypes to local judges and have a debrief discussion about the design thinking process and what you learned over the past four days. Celebrate your hard work with a meal in the city and dessert at a local hotspot.

After a week of hard work, spend the next day and a half exploring Big Sur and Monterey County. Cruise down Highway 1 as you make your way along the coastline with stops for hikes, swims, and picturesque views like McWay Falls. Set up your campsite and relax under the redwoods and stars, telling stories and enjoying the fresh air of the ancient woods. Spend the next day hiking and enjoying the scenery as you head back to San Francisco.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.