What is this Program about?

AI Foundations for Youth is an interactive introduction to artificial intelligence designed to help young people understand how AI works, explore how they can use it in school and everyday life, and develop the skills to use AI safely and responsibly.

Through hands-on activities, prompting exercises, career exploration, and real-world examples, participants learn how AI can support their ideas and goals, while also learning when to question, verify, and take responsibility for what AI produces.

Introduction to AI

Explain artificial intelligence in age-appropriate terms and identify where AI appears in everyday life

Prompt Engineering

Apply basic prompting techniques to generate clearer, more useful AI responses.

Refine Your Idea

Pitch your idea to our AI Idea Judge Tool to receive feedback on how to improve your submission.

AI Resume Building

Use AI to create your own resume. Describe ways AI skills connect to high school success and future opportunities

Real Life Use Cases

Use AI tools to create study materials, summaries, and practice questions.

Responsible AI & Bias

Demonstrate safe and responsible AI use, including privacy awareness and academic integrity.

“What stood out was CILAR's ability to make the learning approachable and relevant. Students were not simply introduced to new tools; they were encouraged to think critically about how AI works, how it can be used responsibly and how these skills may connect to their futures.”

Laura Pearce

Head of Marketing, Google Canada

Who is this program for?

AI Foundations for Youth was designed for young people at the beginning of their secondary-school journey, including Grade 7-9 students.

Do I need to know anything about AI?

No. The program is designed as an introduction to AI, so no previous AI experience is required.

Will I learn how to code?

No. The focus is on AI literacy, prompting, creativity, critical thinking, safety, and practical applications, rather than coding.

How will I use AI in school?

Participants explore practical ways AI can support learning, brainstorming, research, and other school-related activities, while also learning about responsible use and the importance of doing their own work.

AI Foundations