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Hack Club Games for Change
Hack Club Haven

Charlotte

Game jam for teens in 200+ citiesNov 15, 2026

Johnson C. Smith University
Contact us: [email protected]
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What's a "game jam"?

It's a hackathon but BETTER. You get to hang out and be social, make a video game with your friends + get free food, prizes, and merch!!

follow workshops or create at your own pace

Learn & Build

  • Attendees hanging out together
  • A group of teens working at a shared table

meet new people and form lifelong connections <3

Make Friends

  • A spread of snacks and merch
  • Attendees holding up their prizes

can’t say no to free snacks :)

or refills for said snacks

Free Food & Prizes

Don’t game jams sound AWESOME?

This November, YOU can join the world's largest teen game jam. Yes, YOU! It doesn’t matter if you're a seasoned coding veteran or just learned to code today!

You’ll join thousands of teens making games from all around the world. Don't consider yourself a game dev? We have TONS of workshops to help you get started :)

THIS IS YOUR CHANCEto learn something newmeetnew friends, and go on an incredible adventure TOGETHER.

Here's how you can join a game jam this November!

(Don't worry, we'll guide you through each step)

What happens on the day?

Sunday, November 15

  1. 8:00 am Check-in + Breakfast
  2. 9:00 pm Opening Ceremony
  3. 9:30 am Godot + Ren'Py Workshop
  4. 10:30 am Code
  5. 12:00 pm Lunch
  6. 1:00 pm Code
  7. 5:00 pm Shipping!! (submissions)
  8. 5:30 pm Voting
  9. 6:00 pm Closing Ceremony + Cleanup
  10. 6:30 pm Go Home :

Hack Club has helped teens organize hundreds of events woldwide!Check out some of our past events ~

We take safety seriously. You can see our parent guide here, or they can reach out to us at [email protected] for questions. For Charlotte specific questions, please reach out to [email protected] We cannot wait to see you at our event!!

Our sponsors

FAQ

  • Am I eligible?

    If you're age 13-18, you're eligible! No prior experience required.

  • But I've never coded before!

    Perfect! Game jams are designed for beginners. You'll have workshops, mentors, and teammates to help you every step of the way.

  • I still have questions!

    Join #haven-help on Slack or reach out to us at [email protected]!

  • Why the heck is it eight hours ?

    I know, eight hours seems like a lot, right? Turns out it flies fast, especially when you're learning and having fun at the same time. We want to make sure everyone has enough time to get settled, get in their flow states and leave with something they're proud of.

  • Are the organizers my age?

    yep yep yep!! The very people who organized this event (and will be there on event day to guide you) are teenagers. Hack Club is FOR teenagers BY teenagers.

  • Is it overnight?

    Nope -- just on November 15th

  • Is this free?

    Yes! Hack Club is a nonprofit helping teens build technical projects at no cost.

  • What if my parents are concerned?

    We're here to help! You can see our parent guide here, or they can reach out to us at [email protected] for questions.

  • Is Hack Club Legit?

    YES we are legit! If you check out our website at hackclub.com you'll find that we're backed by and have partnered with NASA, MIT, GitHub, Dell, and AMD.

  • I'm worried I'll be lonely

    NONSENSE. Trust me, most of us are very silly, supportive and enthusiastic. You're going to find a helpful, welcoming community. It's recommended to bring a friend along to amp up the fun, but, as many people find, you can make friends AT haven too!

  • Can I help spread the word?

    Yes please!! It'd be awesome to have a full room of people :D

  • I have allergies...

    No problem -- let us know ASAP. We won't let you go hungry at Haven ;)

Sign up!