Eligibility

  • Open to students in grades 6–12 (Fall 2026).

  • All participants must complete registration and have a signed Parental Consent & Liability Waiver on file. Students cannot attend without it.

  • Spots are limited; registering does not guarantee a spot until confirmed by organizers.

Teams & projects

  • Work solo or in teams of up to 6 people.

  • All project work must be created during the event. Planning and ideas beforehand are fine; the building happens on-site.

  • Projects must be your team’s original work. Cite any third-party code, assets, APIs, or AI models you use.

Judging

  • Projects are judged live at the project expo on creativity, technical execution, impact, use of AI (theme fit), and design. Full rubric is posted on the Judging page.

  • Judges’ decisions are final.

Code of Conduct

Gear Up Hacks is a welcoming, harassment-free event for everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, religion, or experience level.

  • Be respectful to fellow hackers, mentors, judges, volunteers, and organizers.

  • Harassment of any kind — including offensive comments, intimidation, unwelcome attention, or disruptive behavior — will not be tolerated.

  • Because this is an event for minors, all attendees must follow organizer and chaperone instructions at all times and stay within event areas.

  • Anyone violating these rules may be removed from the event without a refund, at the organizers’ discretion.

To report a concern during the event, contact any organizer immediately, or email team@gear-up-foundation.org.