Welcome to OCSEFhacks 3!

OCSEFhacks 3 is a FREE coding event on November 14-15th, 2026 at Westminster High School .

High schoolers and middle schoolers will collaborate to build innovative apps & games to share with the world. We will provide mentorship, free meals & drinks, and places to work.

After hacking is finished, judges will pick the best projects and awards will be handed out!

Prompt

There will be multiple prompts this year specifically tailored to advanced/novice tracks, which we will announce at the event. Students will also have the option to create a project addressing one of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Note: You may NOT start working on your project before the event. All code must be written during the duration of the event.

Tracks

Students will select 1 of the following tracks based on their skill level

Novice (Beginner): students who enter the event knowing some basic coding skills or none at all

Advanced (Intermediate to Higher Proficiency): students who have created projects, taken coding classes or summer workshops that demonstrate higher proficiency

Image from OCSEFHacks 2025

FAQ

Hacking? Isnt that illegal?

Nope! Hacking was first used at MIT to describe an interaction with a computer. Just like those internet pioneers, we will "hack" to create innovative apps, games, and websites!

How Much Does It Cost?

Absolutely nothing! We believe that all middle and high schoolers should be able to pursue computer science for free!

What Should I Bring?

Anything you need to hack! Anything from a laptop to a RaspberryPi is accepted. However, we don't recommend bringing external monitors, as we are not sure how many outlets we will have. If you do have a lot of devices that you are planning to bring, please bring your own power strip! This lets us make sure we have outlets available for everyone.

What If I Can't Eat ___?

All dietary restrictions will be met. As of now, we do not have a detailed menu as yet, as we are still collecting sponsors. We will send out a form to collect dietary restrictions soon (Join the discord!).

Who Can Participate?

Any current students in high school or middle school. If you are over that age, shoot us an email & we'll see what we can do.

What If I Don't Know How To Code?

No worries! We welcome all skill levels, and there will be plenty of resources available to help you learn.

What Do I Make?

Anything! Websites, games, apps, hardware, and more. Judges will rate projects based on creativity!

Who is supervising this?

Our team of experienced mentors and volunteers will be available throughout the event to provide guidance and support.