Clear your calendar - It's going down! Teens:Tech:Change kicks off on January 10th, and you're invited to take part in San Francisco's first youth civic hackathon.
"What's a civic hackathon," you ask? It's an intensive weekend where you'll use technology, digital art and design to create new DIY (do-it-yourself) solutions to some of San Francisco's most challenging issues.
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If you're a teenager who cares about building a better world, this event will introduce you to cutting-edge tools and ideas and challenge you to make a bigger impact than you ever thought possible... all in an intense, 2-day sprint. Hold on, this is going to be epic!
Highlights
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Build Your PortfilioÂ
Every participant will leave with a documented project that uses technology to address a local problem - perfect for your college and professional portfolios.
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Professional Coaches
Work one-on-one  with professional coders, engineers, designers, digital artists, and technologists.
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Build 21st Century Skills
Advance your skills to make a bigger impact on the issues you care about most.
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Hands-On Tech
Get access to state-of-the-art tools and software at Tech Shop.
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Real Issues
Connect with organizations addressing the biggest civic and environmental issues facing SF and the Bay Area.
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Meet Like-Minded Teens
Work with other passionate and skilled young people.
$55
$55
Covers attendence, lunches Saturday and Sunday, and a materials allowance.
Limited need-based scholarships are available.
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AGES
AGES
14-19
 for youth ages 14-19
Access cutting-edge tools
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Microelctronics & Soldering Stations
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Design  Lab
Autodesk Inventor, Adobe Creative Suite, App Design, and more
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Photography & Digital Media
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Wood Shop
Must be 16 or older and take a safety class to use.
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Laser Cutters & 3D Printers
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Metal Shop
Must be 16 or older and take a safety class to use.
Saturday
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10am
Welcome!
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10:15am
♫... Warm-up Activity... ♫
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10:45am
Introductions from your coaches
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11am
Presentations by local organizations - learn about the Challenges we'll be tackling in food, water, energy, pollution, wildlife and waste.
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Overview guidelines and expectation for your projects.
Rules & Safety overview from Tech Shop
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11:30am
15-minute brainstorms rotations, facilitated by the coaches - it's time to come up with some great ideas!
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1:30pm
Pitch time. Think you've got a great idea? Share in 90 seconds or less and recruit a team. Participants will form groups of 3-5 youth to work with for the rest of the weekend. You'll also recruit 1-2 coaches to be your team's designated advisor(s) - they'll work with you as much or as little as you like to teach you what you need to know to build your idea.
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1:45pm
Work with your coach to create an action plan for the weekend. What do you need to learn, what materials will you need, and what roles will each person play?
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6pm
Time to head out! The doors will open to you again at 10am, but feel free to keep working on your project at home.Â
Sunday
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10am
Welcome back - get settled in!
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10:10am
Group warmup.
Check in with your coach. Has your idea changed? How? Do you need to adjust your action plan? Make a plan for the day... you have 5 hours to finish building your idea.
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10:30am
Back to work!
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1pm
Lunch arrives.
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2pm
1 hour to go - time to be wrapping up your project!
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3pm
Present your project with your team - show us how it works and why you made it.
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4pm
Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes, and I'm afraid it's time again to say, well... goodbye. Thank for joining Teens:Tech:Change!
The Coaches
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Sam Lamott
Art, Technology, Making
Education Coordinator, Tech Shop
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Zev Vernon-Lapow
Video and Design
Director of Programming, IDEAco
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Libby Falck
Digital Media, Making, Design
Founder, MAKEimpact
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Audry Welch
Design
Teacher
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Kadi Franson
Design, Art, Technology
Designer & Architect
