The Press Start CoLab High School Program FAQ’s

The program is a team-based challenge for high school students. Teams pick a youth mental health sub-focus area to address, build a solution together, are guided by mentors, and pitch for real funding at the end. It’s a structured program that takes students from idea to funded project — with mentorship, practical entrepreneurial tools, and a real pitch at the end for grant money to make it happen.  

Designed to be extracurricular, not an extra burden, The Press Start CoLab High School Program is built with students' schedules in mind. Most weeks involve a single virtual session, and teams set their own pace for the project work in between. 

To foster community connections across Ontario and overcome challenges with travel and access, the Press Start CoLab High School Program is set up to be completely online. 

There is no application fee required. We welcome all levels of ideas, so don't hesitate to join! 

For this program, a member of the educational community is someone like a teacher, education worker, guidance counsellor, or social worker who is at least 18 years old and is employed in the Ontario education system. If you need clarification on whether you qualify for the Press Start CoLab High School Program, feel free to reach out and ask us any questions. We’re here to help! For more information on the role and responsibilities of the educator, click here.

Past participant groups have created a range of solutions, such as:

• Creating safe, community spaces for students to hang out and socialize at school
• Developing opportunities for individuals to share their experiences through recorded video storytelling
• Reducing stress through art therapy workshops
• A podcast that supports the mental health of students
• Solutions that address digital isolation and mental health challenges 

If you're a high school student in Ontario and care about mental health, we encourage you to apply with a team of 2-5 people. Your application must be sent in by a group leader who is a member of the educational community. Applications for the 2026 fall program open on September 8, 2026, and close on October 6, 2026. There is no application fee required. We welcome all levels of ideas, so don't hesitate to join! 

That’s ok! On the online application, you’ll be asked which sub-focus area interests your group the most, but you don’t have to commit to one before applying. Our mentors can help you figure out which sub-focus area is best for your group and help to steer you in the right direction to kick start your project. 

We know that students and educators are very busy and your time is limited. The time commitment is around 1-2 hours per week for 7 weeks. The program curriculum is tailored for high school students and takes into consideration their busy schedules and extra-curricular activities. Our mentors and speakers are highly sensitive and encouraging (Most of them started as program participants). Our aim is to always create a safe, inclusive and welcoming space for learning at a reasonable pace.  

Unfortunately, no, they all start at 4pm. The Kick-off and Grants & Awards Ceremony are from 4-6pm and all others are 4-5pm 
It was difficult to choose a time, as we wanted it to be after any after school programs, yet still finish before any possible evening activities 
Please note that the students don’t all have to be together for the sessions, and they could join them from their phones while commuting, or from home, etc. 

Yes, the Educator will need to attend every session, as they are the main point of contact for the program itself 

There would have to be 1 main Educator for each school, that attends all sessions/events; however, there could be a second Educator included for back-up.  

Your grant will be issued to your school as a mailed cheque.

• A written Proposal PDF (max 5MB)
• Completed External Feedback Challenge PDF (max 5MB)
• Link to your groups 1-3 minute Video Pitch (this is your groups proposal as a pitch, no video is required for the feedback challenge)