Workshops & Curriculum
Building foundational technology fluency through hands-on problem-solving
How We Teach
We teach students how technology actually works so they can understand, troubleshoot, and build solutions to real problems.
We start with the fundamentals: how to navigate a file system, use common software, and understand how networks function. A student who understands what's happening when they type a URL into a browser, who has traced network issues and fixed hardware problems, becomes far more capable - whether they're building applications, supporting their workplace's technology needs, or just being more effective in their daily life. From there, we layer on deeper concepts, development tools, and best practices - all through hands-on problem-solving.
How Workshop Learning Works
Our workshops & curriculum are designed to help students build real skills through a combination of guided instruction and independent problem-solving. You won't see endless slides or lectures here - instead, we focus on active learning. Our instructors guide students through hands-on tutorials by demonstrating concepts and walking step-by-step through examples themselves, having students complete each step alongside them. These very direct tutorials give the students the skills to then complete exercises on their own that require applying what they've learned.
Instructors are there every step of the way to provide guidance, answer questions, and help troubleshoot issues as they arise. This blend of direct instruction and independent practice helps students internalize concepts and build confidence in their abilities. This "learn by doing" approach ensures students aren't just passively absorbing information, but actively engaging with the material. They build confidence as they solve problems, troubleshoot issues, and create projects from scratch - all with expert guidance along the way.
Many of our workshops also build on each other, so students can progress from foundational skills to more advanced topics over time. Beyond their membership & prerequisite skills, students don't need to bring anything but their brains - working in spaces provided by our community partners, we provide all the hardware, tools, and resources they need to succeed.
This Summer's Workshops
Our workshop lineup for summer 2026. We offer both quick introductory sessions and deeper week-long tracks - pick the format that fits your schedule and what you want to get out of it.
The Bedrock Series
Not sure where to start? Start here. The Bedrock Series is designed to give students a real, grounded introduction to computing and programming - not theory-heavy, not watered down, just hands-on experience with the tools and concepts that matter.
Bedrock 101
Late elementary – early high school
A fast-moving, hands-on introduction to what computing actually looks like: navigating systems, writing your first lines of code, and beginning to understand all the concepts behind it. You'll leave with a taste of some real experience and a clearer picture of whether you want to dig deeper.
No prior experience required.
Bedrock 102
Late elementary – early high school
Everything in 101, but with more room to breathe. Each session of the week focuses on one topic - we'll spend an entire session on a topic instead of 20 minutes. Expect more exercises, more chance to get stuck & unstuck, and more time to experiment with each concept.
No prior experience required, but 101 is a good warm-up if you're brand new to this stuff.
Week-Long Topic Workshops
Week-long deep dives into a single language or technology. Same format as Bedrock 102 - 2-hour daily sessions - but these are more focused and move a little faster.
HTML & CSS
Learn a little bit about how the internet works, how to structure content with HTML, how styles work with CSS, and how to lay out a page that actually looks good.
No prior experience required, but Bedrock 101 or 102 is a good warm-up if you're brand new to this stuff.
Ruby
A week focused on programming fundamentals using Ruby, a language that prides itself on simplicity and providing a good developer experience.
No prior experience required, but Bedrock 101 or 102 is a good warm-up if you're brand new to this stuff.
Java
A week focused on programming fundamentals using Java, a language that's widely used in industry and has a strong emphasis on object-oriented programming.
No prior experience required, but Bedrock 101 or 102 is a good warm-up if you're brand new to this stuff.
Single-Session Workshops
Standalone 1-3 hour sessions covering a specific topic. Some are beginner-friendly; others assume you've already got some technical footing. Keep an eye out - we'll announce individual sessions as they're scheduled.
Git & Version Control
How to track changes to your code, collaborate without overwriting each other's work, and use GitHub to manage projects. An essential skill for anyone writing code.
How the Internet Works
Trace what actually happens between you typing a URL and a webpage appearing on screen. DNS, HTTP, TCP/IP - these aren't just acronyms. Understanding the stack makes you far better at everything that runs on top of it.
More Coming
We're planning additional sessions to add throughout the summer. Topics will include command-line tools, databases, security basics, and more. Get in touch if there's something specific you'd like to see.
Ready to Start Learning?
Whether you're a student ready to dive in or an organization interested in hosting workshops, we'd love to hear from you.