Digital Explorers
The Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), with support from Apple and CME Group Foundation, provides an exciting, hands-on learning opportunity for middle school students who are interested in tech and computing, but have limited access or experience. Digital Explorers is an 8-session mobile app development program for 6th through 8th grade students. Explorers learn to code using the Swift programming language – a powerful computing language used by tech professionals to build today’s most popular apps. Through focused tech time, community building, and human-centered design thinking challenges, Explorers work with high school and college mentors to problem solve and collaborate while building an iOS app prototype which addresses an unmet need in their community.
Apply for the Digital Explorers Winter 2026 – Spring 2026 Cohort
Digital Explorers
Students in 6th through 8th grades participate in the 8-session program to develop an understanding of fundamental coding and UI/UX principles. Through Swift Playgrounds, community building, and human-centered design thinking challenges, Explorers work with high school and college mentors to problem solve and collaborate while building an iOS app prototype which addresses an unmet need in their community.
The Digital Explorers Program will take place from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturdays between January 24th through March 14th, 2026 at the DPI Headquarters located at 200 S. Wacker Drive in Downtown Chicago.
All program participants and their caring adult must also attend the Digital Explorers Virtual Program Orientation, scheduled for Thursday, January 15th at 6:00 PM.
Application deadline: Friday, January 9th, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Questions? Contact dpi-pttl@uillinois.edu
We invite you to attend our virtual information session!
All students and their caring adults (family members, mentors, teachers, counselors, etc.) are invited to attend a virtual information session to learn more about the Digital Explorers Program! During this session, you’ll learn about Discovery Partners Institute, the Digital Explorers Program, key benefits for students, and have the opportunity to ask any questions. All informational sessions will take place via Zoom.
Click on the links below to register for one of the following Digital Explorers Informational Sessions!
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM | Register Here
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM | Register Here
Get Involved
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- Are you a student who would like to learn about tech and connect with practitioners in Chicago’s
dynamic tech community? - Are you a parent, teacher, or other caring adult who would like to recommend a student for
participation in our programs? - Are you an employer or donor who is interested in supporting our efforts through partnership?
- Sign up for more information! Click here to fill out our interest survey!
Contact the K-12 Student Programs Team at dpi-pttl@uillinois.edu for additional questions or more information!
- Are you a student who would like to learn about tech and connect with practitioners in Chicago’s