Safety and supervision
Small mentor-led pods, structured day blocks, and clear family communication.
Parent Guide
What families should know before applying
HackerCamp is built for trust: structured days, mentored pods, transparent communication, and visible outcomes by the end of the week.
Parent priorities
Real skill growth
Students learn practical AI + technology fluency through actual building.
Tangible outcomes
Every student ships a project and participates in a final showcase.
Daily structure
Morning
Skill primer, project planning, and mentor check-ins.
Midday
Focused build sprint with guided feedback.
Afternoon
Testing, iteration, and team collaboration.
End of day
Demo standup, reflection log, and next-day planning.
Common questions from families
Does my child need coding experience?
No prior experience is needed. We accept complete beginners alongside experienced builders. Kids are grouped into pods by age and confidence level so mentors can meet each student where they are. Beginners learn foundational skills through their project; advanced students push into more ambitious builds.
What ages is HackerCamp designed for?
We run cohorts for ages 10 through 14. Students are grouped by age and confidence level so mentors can tailor guidance appropriately. Every student presents at demo day regardless of experience level.
How do you keep kids safe during the week?
Every pod has a dedicated mentor with a maximum ratio of 5 students per mentor. The day runs on a structured schedule with clear check-in and check-out times. Parents receive daily progress updates and can reach the team directly at any point during the week. We do not allow unsupervised free time.
What does my child actually walk away with?
A working project they built and shipped, a recorded demo-day presentation, and real experience collaborating in a small team. Many students also leave with a clearer sense of what they want to build next — which is often the most valuable outcome.
How does the application process work?
Families fill out a short application covering the student's interests, experience level, and what they hope to get out of the week. We review for motivation and cohort balance — not for technical skill. Decisions go out quickly so you can plan summer logistics with confidence.
What if my child is shy or unsure about joining?
That is common and totally fine. We use structured icebreakers on day one, pair students up early for collaborative tasks, and mentors actively check in with quieter kids. By day two or three, most students who started hesitant are fully engaged in their projects.
What tools and technology will they use?
Students use real tools — not toy versions. Depending on their project, that might include AI assistants, code editors, design tools, and deployment platforms. We provide all hardware and software. Students just need to show up ready to build.