Hak4Kidz is the first official youth-based ethical hacking conference in Chicago that is not a hackathon, providing a unique blend of educational and communal benefits from white hat hacking conferences to young participants.
Hak4Kidz Chicago 2026 offers a dynamic, hands-on experience for children and young adults interested in cybersecurity and STEM. Participants will engage in a variety of interactive activities and workshops designed to introduce them to ethical hacking, coding, and robotics. Key activities include the jrCTF (Capture the Flag) competition, a Hacker Escape Room, Snap Circuits for building electrical circuits, and a Technology Destruction Village where kids can safely disassemble old electronics to understand their construction. The program also features SpyMath for critical thinking and cryptic puzzles, Locksport for ethical lock-picking, and a Hardware Hacking Station with soldering activities and take-home kits. Workshops, such as the Web Warrior Workshop, delve into web penetration testing basics, teaching participants to identify and fix security vulnerabilities. The event aims to expand technical interests, develop problem-solving skills, and foster responsible technology use under the guidance of ethical hackers and information security professionals.
A typical day involves engaging in various STEHM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Hacking, and Math) stations and concentrated workshops, with doors opening at 9:00 AM and activities concluding by 4:00 PM.
This camp is best for youths going into 3rd grade through high school seniors who are curious about technology, cybersecurity, and ethical hacking, and enjoy hands-on learning and problem-solving.
Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
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