If you’re thinking about coming
Who is this for?
Ship School is for people who’ve done a bit of building in the past. If you’ve been to a hackathon, had an agent write something for you, or anything like that, Ship School is for you. If you’ve never opened a terminal, then this day might move too fast for you.
What do I need to bring?
A laptop that can install software, a charger, and Codex or Claude Code already set up. And, of course, good vibes.
Is Claude Code or Codex better for this?
Either of them work, just make sure to have one of them set up before coming.
My laptop is school-managed and blocks installs. Now what?
Yeah, you can’t use that. No worries though, let us know on the signup form, and we’ll tell you before September whether or not we can get you a loaner.
Is this a hackathon?
Not really. For four hours, you’re taught valuable skills that definitely apply to hackathons, then you do a sprint build for another four hours, then you demo, and go home at nine.
Do I need a team?
No, most people will come alone. If you really want a team, we’ll have time before the sprint to form them.
What does Ship School cost?
Nothing. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
Can I start early?
No.
What are the prizes?
We’ll announce them before the event, once we know what we’ve raised. If you win cash, we encourage you to put it into the project you built and take it even farther!
What if my parents have questions?
Send them to the safety page, or they can email hello@shipschool.org and we’ll help them out.
If your kid is thinking about coming
What is this?
Ship School is a free one-day program for about 120 Bay Area high schoolers, teaching how to design and build software effectively using current AI coding tools.
What are the hours, and when do I pick them up?
Doors open at 8:00am with breakfast, and the day runs to 9:00pm. Pickup is at 9:00pm, when the doors close.
Who is responsible for the students?
An adult Event Director is accountable for safety on the day and is the person you can call. We don’t open the doors without a named adult in that role.
Who else is in the room?
Mentors and volunteers, consisting of working engineers and builders. All adults are required to sign a code of conduct before the day.
Is food provided, and how do you handle allergies?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, from a licensed caterer. Allergies are collected on the consent form, and the food and allergy plan is on the safety page.
What does it cost, and what’s the catch?
It’s free, and there’s no catch.
I teach. Can I send students, or help?
Please do! Email hello@shipschool.org and we’ll sort out a group signup, or a mentor slot if you build professionally.