Parent's Guide & FAQ to Shipwrecked:

What is Hack Club?

Hack Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster a wholesome generation of coders, makers, founders, and builders. Hack Club is a network of hundreds of student-led computer science clubs and a safe, positive online community of over 50,000 high school makers from around the world. Hack Club programs are free and accessible to all students. We support teenagers in making real projects in the real world. Hack Club is supported by notable figures in the tech industry, including GitHub founder Tom Preston-Werner, Dell Founder Michael Dell and executives at Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and GitHub, as well as many up-and-coming tech startups.

What is Shipwrecked?

Shipwrecked is a once-in-a-lifetime, four-day hackathon organized by Hack Clubbers—for Hack Clubbers. It is a themed hackathon where participants are invited to build creative projects inspired by the idea of being shipwrecked—right on the unique, historic grounds of Cathleen Stone Island in the Boston Harbor.

Shipwrecked starts on Friday, August 8th at 3:00 pm and ends on Monday, August 11th at 5:00 pm. This event offers a blend of outdoor adventure and tech creativity in a truly inspiring setting.

These times (not dates) could change, but they will be thoroughly communicated if so.

Who can participate?

Anyone 18 or under at the time of the event and who has completed The Bay is allowed to participate.

What are the costs associated?

Participation is entirely free, but there are requirements for entry that your child must meet. Without completing The Bay (our online engineering challenge), your child won't be able to join Shipwrecked. We will cover the entire four-day experience, including meals and activities. Participants are generally responsible for their own travel to Boston, but we are able to offer limited travel stipends (see Travel section for more).

What can participants expect?

Participants can expect to build creative projects inspired by the theme of being shipwrecked. There will be a variety of workshops and sessions designed for all skill levels as well as some surprises! In line with Hack Club tradition, we aim to create an experience that is wholesome, kind, collaborative, and optimistic. Similar to other Hack Club events, parents can anticipate their child's technical aptitude to increase considerably and that they will likely end the trip with projects they built. They will also have the opportunity to gain friendships and connections with technical people their age.

Location, drop-off, and pickup

Shipwrecked takes place on Cathleen Stone Island in the Boston Harbor.

Drop-off and pick-up will happen at EDIC Pier in the Seaport District. The ferry will leave promptly one hour after the start of the event and will not wait for latecomers. If your child is not able to make the scheduled ferry times, please reach out to us ASAP. Pick-up will be at EDIC Pier at 5:00 pm on Monday, August 11th (time subject to change).

EDIC Pier is near the "Silver Line Way" Silver Line stop on the MBTA. Hack Club staff will be stationed at Boston Logan International Airport both before and after the event to chaperone participants who are flying into Boston.

Proper detailed travel instructions will be sent out closer to the event.

Travel

⚠️Please carefully read the requirements for Travel Stipends before you book your child's travel.

Travel grants will be available to everyone who completes The Bay. You can find more info here on how travel grants work for the event. If you would like to book your travel now, please read this before booking travel.

Safety

Hack Club is committed to creating a safe and comfortable environment for students at our events. As with previous Hack Club events, All adults present (Hack Club staff and external contractors) have undergone rigorous background checks (both at the state and Federal level). We aim for a gender-balanced community and offer a safe space for all teenagers. We will have support available and a way for you and your child to contact us if needed. During the event, a toll-free staff helpline (+1 855-625-HACK) will be available 24/7 if you have any questions. Cathleen Stone Island has cell reception and Wi-Fi so you will be able to stay in contact with your child.

What Should My Child Bring?

Participants should bring:

  • Toiletries:
    • Towel
    • Other hygiene products
  • A laptop (with charger).
  • A water bottle.
  • Any hardware they would like to use for their project.
  • Comfortable walking shoes.
  • (Optional) Sandals for beach activities.
  • Clothes for 3 nights and clothes you are comfortable swimming in (there may be an opportunity to swim).
    • While it will be summer, it can still get chilly at night, so bring a light jacket or sweater.
  • It is too early to tell right now, but you may need a rain jacket / umbrella.

Visa Information

If you need to apply for a visa and need a Letter of Invitation, please email shipwrecked@hackclub.com with the following information for your child:

  • First and Last Name
  • Passport Details (Passport Number, Issuing Country, Expiration Date)
  • Date of Birth
  • Place of Birth (City, Country)
  • Phone Number

To reduce fraud surrounding visa letters, we ask that you only request a letter after your child has logged over 30 hours towards The Bay (more info here).

Key Personnel

Key Personnel

Who can I contact for more information?

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email: shipwrecked@hackclub.com.

We look forward to welcoming your teenager to Shipwrecked for an unforgettable experience!