Program Schedule
What happens during the 5 day program?
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What happens during the 5 day program?
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The program schedule provides a detailed outline of hour-by-hour events and corresponding locations (e.g. classrooms, Zoom meeting links, etc.) for each day of the CS Kickstart program. Typically, program schedules are created on Google Sheets and made accessible to students through a Notion website or Google doc that contains resources and information pertaining to the program. The schedule is shared with students as early as possible, although it may not be finalized. The schedule is often subject to change even during the program, sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances, so students should be able to view any updates to the program schedule at all times.
The following section provides ideas for different events types (Blocks A, B, and C) in the program schedule shown below.
Move-in is the first part of the program. It may be a good idea to separate participants into different time slots to minimize long wait times for the check-in and move-in processes. When all participants have arrived, a welcome lunch will allow them to become acquainted with one another.
Block A, which follows move-in, should familiarize participants with the program, campus, and, of course, each other. Events during this time slot include a “Welcome to CSK” lecture, campus tour or a more engaging scavenger hunt, and icebreakers. Here are a list of possible icebreaker activities:
Two Truths and a Lie: Each person shares two true statements and one false statement about themselves. The group tries to guess which statement is the lie.
Human Bingo: Create a bingo grid with different characteristics or experiences (e.g., "Has traveled to another country," "Speaks more than one language," etc.). Participants need to find others in the group who match each characteristic to fill their grid.
Name That Song: Play a snippet of a popular song and have participants guess the title and artist. It can be played individually or in teams.
Desert Island: Ask participants to imagine they're stranded on a desert island and can only bring a limited number of items. Have them share their chosen items and explain why they selected them.
Would You Rather: Pose a series of "Would you rather" scenarios, and participants take turns choosing which option they prefer. This activity encourages discussion and reveals individuals' preferences.
Block B covers a majority of the program and includes the CSK curriculum, professional development workshops, field trips, and more. Please refer to the Curriculum and Events sections for more information and ideas for this block.
Block C will allow for unwinding after a long day of seminars and workshops and includes social and recreational activities. Examples of activities include:
Sticker Design Workshop: Invite a guest speaker or club to teach participants how to design stickers using Figma or other applications. Allow participants time to create their own designs, and print out participants’ designs as stickers.
Team Sports/Outdoor Adventures: Organize friendly matches or tournaments for sports like ultimate frisbee, spikeball, volleyball, basketball, etc. Plan outdoor activities like hiking or nature walks/runs in areas around campus.
Board Game/Card Game Night: Set up different board games or card games in a common area.
Movie Night: Have participants vote on a movie, and host a movie night with snacks in a common area.
Dessert Trip: Head to a local ice cream parlor, frozen yogurt shop, or other local store to familiarize students with the food scene around campus and to grab a sweet treat!
A closing ceremony is encouraged at the conclusion of the program to acknowledge participants’ efforts and leave them with any final takeaways. The program concludes with the move-out process.
