Don’t take our lack of posts to this site as a stagnation on our part. We are still very busy growing Curiosity Hacked in the Bay Area and supporting new groups forming accross the country, neh The World!

I received several emails yesterday from parents who were offended by this article we were apparently tagged in. The author clearly feels that the DIY Maker educational scene is not supporting the individual interests and passions of our young ones and that we could be doing better. Much of the freedom to...

Happy Autumn!We have lots of news to share with you this month! We signed a lease and got the keys for our headquarters here in Oakland, CA. This space is essential to us. It not only allows us to expand the kinds of programs we offer locally, but it will expand...

Dear Hacker Scouts Community,We have good news and bad news. The bad news , which should always be delivered first, is that we have received another letter from the BSA refusing to compromise or consider a licensing agreement and reaffirming their demand that we change our name or they will...

This week we are heading back to Oakland because Simon's sister was highly offended she wasn't interviewed as well.Lucy, age 4.5Sparks 001, Oakland CAWhat kinds of things do you like to make?Well, I like to sew and I like to use the hammer to make things. I made a treasure...

 Azad, age 12Guild 002, Menlo Park CA What kinds of things do you like to make?I like doing electronics and etextiles. What is your favorite project you have done? I liked making the Larson Scanner because it reminds me of one of my favorite old shows. What are you excited about learning in...

It has been our dream from the beginning to open a space designed for kids and their families, and it is now becoming a reality! In order to meet the demand for our programs and expand what we can do for both our local and national community, we are opening...

   Sean, age 7 from Guild 024, Oak Park (Chicago)What kinds of things do you like to make?I've only done it few times, but cap rockets.  It's where I mix vinegar and baking soda in a sealed container and then I just wait a few seconds and then boom! it just flies...

My friends, THIS is why we do what we do. It was awesome receiving this in an email from Hannah's mother."Her assignment was to write an essay about something memorable in her life that changed her in some way. We talked about numerous events in her life and she wanted...

Guild 005 // Elijah // Age 12 What kinds of things do you like to make?Video games in Scratch, robots, photos, videoWhat is your favorite project you have done?Making the Raspberry Pi arcade machine for the Oakland Hacker Scouts. What are you excited about learning in the future?RC robots and high-end...

First, I want to thank everyone who has supported us either online or through emails. The outpouring of understanding regarding our situation and encouragement around our mission has been amazing. We feel confident that no matter what happens, we will move forward all together and continue to serve our community...

One of the great things that came out of our HackTogether 2013 was the connection the kids made to each other as a larger community. When we asked for other ideas on how we could continue to celebrate this, the kids came up with a new idea: they would like...

On the weekend of 8/9-12 2013, we managed to pull together our first multi-Guild event! Bay Area Scouts were joined by kids and mentors from Guild 005 (Las Vegas New Mexico). Sight seeing, a tour of the Exploratorium, an Open Lab, and a party made this a memorable occasion! We...

  First, this has been an overwhelming and inspiring time for us. We have received so many emails of support and encouragement, which has meant more to us than we can say. Thank you for your messages that have been powerful, uplifting, hilarious, and sometimes heart breaking. We appreciate all the...

Dear Hacker Scouts Family,For the past several months we have been dealing with an issue that we now feel is at a point where it is important to let you know what is going on. A few months ago, we received a Cease and Desist letter from the Boy Scouts...

Hacker Scouts learned this weekend that we have been awarded a grant by SpaceGambit to build our a branch of our Badge Tree devoted to Space Technology! SpaceGAMBIT is an international collaboration of space enthusiasts, operating through makerspaces, hackerspaces and other community groups. GAMBIT stands for Global Alliance of Makers Building...

The 2013 Bay Area Maker Faire is over, and Hacker Scouts had a great time! Word on the street was that 120,000 tickets were sold (could not confirm this at the time of writing), and we certainly saw a lot of those families come by our booth!At the booth, we...

The Bay Area Maker Faire is coming up on May 18-19th at the San Mateo County Events Center and Hacker Scouts will be there! Come visit our booth, see some of the projects our Scouts have done, meet the founders and the families dedicated to the Hacker Scouts mission, and...

 When we started Hacker Scouts, we envisioned a program where kids could learn real, relevant skills in order to achieve the greatest inventions of their imaginations. A program that honored their developmental process and supported their autonomy. A program that was fun and filled with activities that showed kids the...

Not long ago at an Open Lab in Oakland, I was approached by a parent. Her daughter, who comes to our event regularly, was only interested in the sewing and art activities we offer. She and her husband were concerned, because they wanted her to learn to solder, to dive...

Dear Maker Families, It is with great enthusiasm that I announce an addition to our programming. At Hacker Scouts, our mission has always been very clear to us. While our Guild must maintain an age limit to encourage and support complex concepts and skill building at a developmentally appropriate level,...

We have some big news. Because of the way in which Hacker Scouts is resonating and growing with so many, we have made some organizational changes. Hacker Scouts is joining the School Factory under their fiscal umbrella. They are an organization that shares our core values and our dedication to...

Co-Founder Samantha Cook shares her tips on mentoring kids in the Maker community:

NPR Reporter Jon Kalish proudly wearing his Hacker Scout Badge!

In September, AMT's youth program Hacker Scouts was honored to host NPR reporter Jon Kalish at one of our Open Labs. Since he focuses on the DIY movement, Mr. Kalish was curious about how we were serving the next generation of Makers.  He seemed particularly interested in our approach of...

Stop by any Hacker Scouts Open Lab and you'll find a hive of activity. Busy adults and kids focusing on the projects they have chosen , mentors moving between anyone who needs assistance, machines humming a busy tune in the background. But what makes Hacker Scouts unique is the opportunity...

Back in March I wrote about the idea of a Hacker Scouts program addressing the needs of a progressive maker community and how my husband and I shared an attraction to joining or developing a structured program of helping our children develop skills in the areas they are truly interested in, abilities that...

Recently Phillip Torrone wrote an excellent post on the history of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, pondering whether it wasn't time for a new version of these programs that spoke to the technologically changing world. I think he hit the nail on the head. We have never participated in Scouts, or...

The other day I was interviewed by NPR about Hacker Scouts and I was asked an interesting question. The reporter asked me my opinion on the DIY program sites that are cropping up for kids like DIY.org and Maker Camp and a few more that are specifically utilizing an online presence to connect with kids and...