How much does it cost?
Nothing! Registration and attendance are 100% free, with meals, drinks, swag, & workshops included.
A hackathon for high schoolers
What can you make in 12 hours that could change the world?
We are still locking in the date, time, and venue. Register now and we will let you know as soon as they are set.
What is HackFTW?
Build something in a day.
Hack For the World is a 12-hour hackathon for high-schoolers. Students from across the Chicagoland area will come for the weekend, teaming up (or going solo) to build an app, game, or website. We’ll provide free meals & drinks. In the evening, judges will pick the best projects to demo for everyone and win prizes. You’ll meet people, create amazing new things, & most importantly, have fun.
Good question
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate?
Any current student grades 9–12. If you’re under that age, send an email to us here.
Hacking!? Is that safe?
Hold up! No, we’re not “hacking” servers or databases. The word is being constructively re-defined as building things—apps, games, websites, etc. At HackFTW, it’s all safe, supervised, & entirely educational.
What if I’m new to coding?
At HackFTW, complete beginners are not only welcome, but expected! Learn as you go with our intro workshops & mentors.
What if I can already code?
HackFTW is for you, too! We welcome (and have prizes for) absolute beginners, experts, & everyone in between.
Do I need a team?
Nope! You’ll have an opportunity to meet fellow hackers and make teams of up to 4; find some new friends, bring yours, or work alone.
What should I bring?
Plan to bring a student ID, computer (any kind), chargers, and anything else for your hack (e.g. hardware).
Who runs this? Is it supervised?
We’re independently-organized by high schoolers in the Naperville area, mainly Naperville North Computer Science Club members. It’s fully supervised by adult mentors & chaperones.
What can I make?
Think outside of the box! We encourage students to channel their creativity into their projects. You can create anything from a game, an app, or an interactive website. Let your imagination be your bottleneck!
Thank you
Made possible by our sponsors
What are you waiting for?
Date, time, and venue are still TBD — grab your spot now and we will fill you in.
Fill out our registration form