what is hackstudio?

Hackstudio is a place in Evanston, Illinois where kids come together with their supportive peers for two hours, once-a-week to learn how to succeed by being who they are. Kids define their own projects from scratch, work to get them done and learn who they are by overcoming every obstacle they face along the way.

What do you deliver?

We help kids build a sense of self through passion-fueled struggle and develop the ability to connect deeply with themselves and others - so they can accomplish any goal they choose. 

How do you do it?

1:  By guiding kids to explore and discover their true passions and interests,

2:  by empowering them to define and complete their own projects around those interests and

3:  by providing the structure and support they'll need in order to dream, risk, struggle, grow and serve.

SO AT HACKSTUDIO YOU JUST DO WHATEVER YOU FEEL LIKE DOING?

No. What you "feel like" doing changes from moment to moment. It's not enough to get you what you really want in life. At Hackstudio, kids do what they LOVE.

Kids thoughtfully explore their true passions and interests then commit to accomplishing something they really want. Once committed to a project, Hackstudio kids may not quit on themselves or switch projects midstream. Mentors work with kids to right-size their projects, meet kids' struggles with empathy and encouragement and guide kids to pull themselves over every hurdle they encounter. By clearly defining projects ahead of time and then working until they're "phinished," kids come to see themselves as people who can accomplish the things they want to in life.

WHAT'S "PHINISHING?'

"Phinishing" is just like "finishing" but without perfectionism.

At Hackstudio, we stress that hiding work until it is beyond criticism is a great way to ensure that your work will never see the light of day, but that if you get in the habit of sharing better and better imperfect work, you get to hone your abilities while connecting with the world around you and expanding your place in it.

WHAT KINDS OF PROJECTS CAN KIDS PURSUE?

Kids can choose literally ANYTHING. The important thing to us is that kids' projects are pointed in a direction they really want to go. Our program has been painstakingly designed to meet kids where they are and help them get where they're going. 

WHAT IF their GOALS ARE UNREALISTIC?

We don't believe in unrealistic goals, only goals with longer timelines.

For big dreams, we break it up. We work with kids to see their dream as a goal sitting at the top of a ladder. Then we help them to accurately estimate the height of the ladder and work with them to identify the different rungs between them and the top. If they're still interested, they commit to the first rung. This is what they're required to "phinish." After that, they'll have the choice to either continue up the ladder or choose a new pursuit.

ARE YOU OPEN YET?

We are currently in beta testing and are scheduled to open in September 2015 with registration beginning in late spring/early summer.