Bitcamp 2019

Bitcamp is a place for exploration. You will have 36 hours to delve into your curiosities, learn something new, and make something awesome. With world-class mentors and 1,200+ fellow campers, you're in for an amazing time. Whether you’re a seasoned hacker or completely new to the world of hacking, we’ll have something for you. If you're ready for an adventure, we'll see you by the campfire! Our History The idea of Bitcamp was conceived by a group of UMD students back in 2013. “Camp” represented an event that evoked togetherness, warmth, and adventure. “Bit” was the embodiment of tech. Bit+camp = Bitcamp! The first ever Bitcamp focused on the idea of YOU+TECH, where participants (“Bitcampers”) were encouraged to take something they loved and fuse it with technology. The team focused on collaboration, fun, and a commitment to the Bitcamp experience, which are all values we carry forward today. Build With Purpose Since its inception, Bitcamp has always been about bringing people together through their love for technology. This year, we want to bridge the gap between our hackers and the rest of our community with our theme “Build With Purpose.” We want to focus on directly impacting local businesses and nonprofits by incorporating real-world problems at the forefront of our challenges. Hoping to shed light towards key issues that are prevalent in our local community, we launched this year’s program, Compass Challenge. To go along with the theme, “Build with Purpose,” the Compass Challenge allows your team to focus on a cause that interests you. Just as each of the four cardinal directions of a compass direct travelers to a destination, the four directions of the Compass Challenge represent real-world social challenges that your team can help solve with technology. Your team will have the opportunity to work with local social change organizations from the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas who can provide valuable insight into the social challenge that your team focuses on. Ever wanted to learn more about hacking with hardware? Hardware Village is a place where you can explore and learn cool things like soldering wires, building circuits, and programming microcontrollers. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, there will be something available for everyone! Volunteers will be on deck at all times to show you the ropes and be well equipped with all your electronics needs. If you’re still under the age of 18 by April 12th, you won’t be able to register as a normal hacker for Bitcamp 2019. However, if you’re interested in coming with a group of high school friends and a chaperone or two, email us at hello@bit.camp for more information on how you can be a part of Minors Tent and join in on the fun as a minor! Colorwar is a rapid-fire live-design competition and one of the highlights of Bitcamp. Compete in our online design challenge for a chance to draw in front of a live audience at Bitcamp for some cool prizes! Stay tuned on our social media platforms for more information on how to enter, starting in March! Through this program, you will have the opportunity to submit a portfolio of your design work for the chance to participate in Bitcamp as a designer. You will act as a mentor and contributor to multiple teams at the event, while developing a portfolio of your designs (your Bitfolio) which will be judged at the end of the hackathon by design professionals. Stay tuned on our social media platforms for more information!