Membership
Full access to resources, tools, community, and open lab time
More Than Access
Membership is where learning at Bedrock really opens up. You get access to our full library of learning resources and tools, a community of people at different points on the same path, and the computing infrastructure you need to practice, experiment, and build.
You also get a seat at our open lab sessions - regular working sessions where members and mentors collaborate on real software & IT projects for Bedrock and our community partner organizations.
What's Included
Learning Resource Library
Access to our full collection of guides, references, and self-paced learning materials covering computing, programming languages, development tools, and more. Material is built around the same hands-on approach we use in workshops.
- Self-paced guides and tutorials
- Reference materials by topic
- Workshop notes and materials
Computing Infrastructure
Personal sandbox environments where you can deploy projects, experiment with different technologies, and work through exercises without having to set up complex infrastructure on your own machine.
- Linux server environment with web and SSH access
- Secure, access-controlled web hosting for your projects
- Pre-configured development tools
Community & Communication Tools
Access to the communication and collaboration tools that members use to connect, ask questions, share what they're building, and coordinate on projects.
- Forums for discussion & questions
- Chat channels for members
- Updates on workshops and events
Workshop Discounts
Members receive discounts on Bedrock workshops and events. If you're going to be attending workshops regularly, membership more than pays for itself.
- Discounted rates on all workshops
- Priority registration for popular sessions
- Early access to new offerings
Open Lab Sessions
Regular working sessions where members build real tools alongside mentors — for Bedrock and for our community partner organizations.
Open labs aren't workshops. There's no instructor leading you through exercises. Instead, there are free-form learning opportunities, real projects in the works, and a room (physical or virtual) full of people working on stuff together. Mentors are there to help review, guide, and keep you from getting too stuck.
Projects run the same range as any small software shop: internal tooling, member-facing features, tools for nonprofits and community organizations we partner with, or anything else that our members want to build together. Members at any skill level can contribute - documentation, testing, bug fixes, UI improvements, and eventually features and architecture, as your skills grow.
Open lab sessions are also one place where the Community of Practice takes shape. As you show up and contribute, you'll naturally take on harder problems, project ownership, and mentoring roles. If you keep showing up and doing good work, you'll grow into that — and when apprenticeship and internship opportunities come up, you'll already be on our radar.
What you might work on
- Internal Bedrock tooling and the website itself
- Volunteer management systems for nonprofits
- Event scheduling tools for partner organizations
- Custom reporting for grant-tracking
- Anything else that organizations in our network actually need built
Got a project to propose?
If you're a community organization with a real software need and a willingness to work with students, reach out. We'll talk about whether it's a good fit.
Fees, Sponsorships, & Scholarships
Membership Pricing
$7
per month
$60
per year (save $24)
Membership Fee
We ask participants for a small annual or monthly fee to cover the costs of keeping these tools up & running.
The fee is deliberately kept low to minimize barriers. We want cost to be a consideration, not an obstacle. Most families can afford it, and for those who can't, scholarships are available.
Scholarships Available
Local businesses, community foundations, and partner organizations sponsor memberships for students who need them. Many communities have sponsors who specifically fund youth technology education.
If cost is a barrier, reach out. We'll work with you to find sponsorship, connect you with scholarship funds, or figure out another path forward. No student should miss out on learning technology because of money.
What Comes Next
Membership is often where students start, but it's not where they end. As you build skills and demonstrate capability, more opportunities open up.
Workshops
Want structure and direct instruction on a specific topic? Members get discounts on all Bedrock workshops and priority spots when sessions fill up.
Learn MoreThe Forge
Ready for something more sustained? The Forge is a mentor-supported cohort working through a full Ruby/Rails curriculum together. Members get first look at open cohort spots.
Learn MoreCommunity of Practice
As your skills grow through open lab participation, you'll naturally take on harder problems and start mentoring newer members. That's the Community of Practice — it's not enrolled into, it's grown into.
Learn MoreReady to Join?
Whether you're ready to sign up or want to learn more, we'd love to hear from you.