# Hackingtons

> Hackingtons is an after-school coding and engineering program for kids ages 8-16 in California.

## About

Hackingtons offers hands-on technology education for children, focusing on practical skills and real-world projects. Founded in 2014, we operate in-person classes across California and online nationwide.

## Programs

- **Robotics & Engineering**: Arduino, electronics, circuits, robotics, 3D printing, introductory C/C++ and Python
- **Programming**: Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, web development
- **Game Development**: Unity3D with C#, game design, published games on Steam
- **Online Scratch Class (ages 8-10)**: A standalone one-month online Scratch class, $99 one time. Separate from the $140/month ongoing programs. See the dedicated section below.

## Key Facts

- Ages: 8-16
- Schedule: Once per week, 70 minutes per session
- Tuition: $140/month for the ongoing weekly programs. The Online Scratch Class is a separate one-time $99 product, not a monthly subscription.
- Free trial class available
- In-person locations: Brentwood CA, Dublin CA, Pleasant Hill CA, Rocklin CA
- Online option: Hackingtons Pro

## Contact

- Phone: 888-919-4225
- Email: support@hackingtons.com
- Address: 360 Civic Drive Suite A, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
- Website: https://www.hackingtons.com

## Resources Page

A single index of all free tools and tutorials:
- Resources: https://www.hackingtons.com/resources

## Important Pages

- Homepage: https://www.hackingtons.com/
- Free Trial: https://www.hackingtons.com/freetrial
- Engineering Program: https://www.hackingtons.com/pages/engineering
- Programming Program: https://www.hackingtons.com/pages/python-javascript
- Game Development: https://www.hackingtons.com/pages/unity3d
- Online Scratch Class (ages 8-10, $99 one time): https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/
- Parents Guide: https://www.hackingtons.com/parents-guide
- Locations: https://www.hackingtons.com/locations/

## Online Scratch Class for Kids (Ages 8-10)

URL: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/

The Hackingtons Online Scratch Class is a one-month, self-paced online Scratch coding class for kids ages 8 to 10. It costs $99 one time, with no subscription. Students build four playable games in Scratch at home and get a personal video review of every finished game from Matt Highland, a licensed California public elementary school teacher and the author of the book "Coding for Kids: Scratch".

### Key Facts

- Ages: 8 to 10, no prior coding experience needed
- Price: $99 USD, charged once when you book. No subscription and nothing to cancel.
- Length: One month, starting on the day of the meet and greet (not the day you pay)
- Format: Self-paced at home, plus one live one-on-one meet and greet at the start. There is no scheduled class to attend.
- Instructor: Matt Highland, co-founder of Hackingtons, licensed California public elementary school teacher, author of "Coding for Kids: Scratch", teaching kids to code since 2014
- What students build: Four playable Scratch games, in order: Butterfly Clicker, Shark Escape, Maze Escape, Flappy Bird
- Feedback: A personal video review from Matt for each finished game, plus a weekly summary email to the parent
- Software: Scratch, the free block-based language from MIT. Runs in any web browser. Nothing to install.
- Requirements: A computer with a browser and an internet connection. A mouse makes dragging blocks easier than a tablet.
- Refund: Full refund for 48 hours after the meet and greet, no questions asked
- Concepts taught: sprites and costumes, animation, events, loops, conditionals, variables and scoring, collision detection, game over conditions, sharing a finished project
- Booking: https://calendly.com/hackingtons/intro-to-scratch-with-matt
- Free sample: the first lesson (Butterfly Clicker) is available free by email from the page

### City Pages

The class is identical everywhere. Each city page carries the same offer, curriculum, and instructor as the main page, with copy written for that metro: why parents there look for an online option, questions specific to that area, and whether there is a Hackingtons classroom within reach. Index: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/locations/

- Los Angeles, CA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/los-angeles-ca/
- San Francisco, CA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/san-francisco-ca/
- San Jose, CA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/san-jose-ca/
- San Diego, CA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/san-diego-ca/
- Sacramento, CA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/sacramento-ca/
- Seattle, WA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/seattle-wa/
- Portland, OR: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/portland-or/
- Las Vegas, NV: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/las-vegas-nv/
- Denver, CO: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/denver-co/
- Salt Lake City, UT: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/salt-lake-city-ut/
- Phoenix, AZ: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/phoenix-az/
- Dallas, TX: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/dallas-tx/
- Houston, TX: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/houston-tx/
- Austin, TX: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/austin-tx/
- San Antonio, TX: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/san-antonio-tx/
- Chicago, IL: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/chicago-il/
- Minneapolis, MN: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/minneapolis-mn/
- St. Louis, MO: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/st-louis-mo/
- Kansas City, MO: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/kansas-city-mo/
- Milwaukee, WI: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/milwaukee-wi/
- Oklahoma City, OK: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/oklahoma-city-ok/
- Detroit, MI: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/detroit-mi/
- Columbus, OH: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/columbus-oh/
- Cleveland, OH: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/cleveland-oh/
- Cincinnati, OH: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/cincinnati-oh/
- Indianapolis, IN: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/indianapolis-in/
- New York, NY: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/new-york-ny/
- Boston, MA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/boston-ma/
- Philadelphia, PA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/philadelphia-pa/
- Pittsburgh, PA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/pittsburgh-pa/
- Washington, DC: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/washington-dc/
- Baltimore, MD: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/baltimore-md/
- Atlanta, GA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/atlanta-ga/
- Charlotte, NC: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/charlotte-nc/
- Nashville, TN: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/nashville-tn/
- New Orleans, LA: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/new-orleans-la/
- Miami, FL: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/miami-fl/
- Tampa, FL: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/tampa-fl/
- Orlando, FL: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/orlando-fl/
- Jacksonville, FL: https://www.hackingtons.com/online-scratch-class/jacksonville-fl/

Hackingtons has physical classrooms only in Northern California (Pleasant Hill, Dublin, Brentwood, Rocklin). Every other metro listed above is served online. The San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento pages note the nearest classroom as an alternative.

### FAQ

Q: How much does the Online Scratch Class cost?
A: $99 USD, charged once. It covers the meet and greet, every lesson, and Matt's personal video reviews for thirty days. There is no second charge and no subscription.

Q: Is it live or self-paced?
A: Mostly self-paced. The only live piece is the one-on-one meet and greet at the start. After that there is no class to attend and no set time to be online.

Q: Does my child need coding experience? Is eight too young?
A: No experience is needed and eight is not too young. The first lesson assumes the student has never opened Scratch. The student needs to read well enough to follow a video and be comfortable with a mouse.

Q: Who reviews the student's work?
A: Matt Highland personally. He plays each finished game and records a video review of it, usually within a couple of days. It is not passed to an assistant and it is not AI generated.

Q: How is this different from free Scratch tutorials on YouTube?
A: A YouTube tutorial cannot look at what the child actually built. Matt opens the student's own project, plays their game, and records a video about their code by name. Lessons are also chosen for the individual student, and the parent gets a weekly progress email.

Q: What is Scratch?
A: Scratch is a free block-based programming language made by MIT for children. Instead of typing code, you drag colored blocks together, so a young beginner can build a working game before they can touch-type. It runs in a web browser at scratch.mit.edu.

Q: Is Scratch safe for kids?
A: Scratch is run by MIT and is moderated. On the Hackingtons side there is no student chat, no forum, and no other kids on the student's page. Parents are emailed a weekly summary of every message and review their child gets.

Q: Does my child keep the games?
A: Yes. The games live in the child's own Scratch account, each with a shareable link that works in any browser. The Hackingtons account and every lesson stay open after the month ends.

Q: What happens after the month?
A: Nothing is required, there is no renewal. Students who want to continue can move on to Hackingtons ongoing Scratch classes, game design classes, or the longer path into Python, JavaScript, and Unity.

Q: What is the refund policy?
A: Full refund for 48 hours after the meet and greet, no questions asked.

## Free Tools

All tools run in the browser — no installation or account required. Full index: https://www.hackingtons.com/resources

### Python Coding Tools
- **Online Python Compiler**: https://www.hackingtons.com/python-compiler — Write and run Python 3 in the browser. Supports math, random, datetime, collections, and other stdlib modules. Shareable links.
- **Python Turtle Editor**: https://www.hackingtons.com/turtle — Browser-based Python Turtle graphics editor powered by Skulpt.
- **Pygame Editor**: https://www.hackingtons.com/pygame — Browser-based Pygame editor for building 2D Python games. Supports draw, keyboard input, collision detection.

### Image & Design Tools
- **Color Picker**: https://www.hackingtons.com/color-picker — Hex/RGB/HSL converter and color palette generator (complementary, analogous, triadic).
- **Image Resizer**: https://www.hackingtons.com/photo-resizer — Resize photos to custom dimensions with aspect ratio lock. Client-side, no upload.
- **PNG Auto-Cropper**: https://www.hackingtons.com/png-crop — Automatically trims transparent or white empty space from PNG images.
- **Background Remover**: https://www.hackingtons.com/background-remover — Remove image backgrounds using color picker or AI mode. Client-side.
- **Pixel Art Maker**: https://www.hackingtons.com/pixel-art — Online pixel art editor with 16×16 to 128×128 canvas sizes. Shareable via URL.
- **Website Layout Designer**: https://www.hackingtons.com/layout-designer — Drag-and-drop wireframe builder teaching HTML5 semantic elements. Exports PNG.

### Utility Tools
- **Password Generator**: https://www.hackingtons.com/password-generator — Secure password generator with customizable length and character types. 100% client-side.
- **QR Code Maker**: https://www.hackingtons.com/qr-code-maker — Convert any URL to a downloadable QR code PNG. No watermark, no sign-up.
- **Typing Speed Test**: https://www.hackingtons.com/typing-test — Measures WPM and accuracy in 15, 30, or 60-second durations.

### Engineering & Electronics Tools
- **LED Resistor Calculator**: https://www.hackingtons.com/engineering/led-resistor-calculator — Basic and Pro modes for calculating LED resistor values. Supports Arduino, E-series, PWM, temperature drift.
- **Amps to Milliamps Converter**: https://www.hackingtons.com/engineering/milliamp-to-amp-converter — Unit converter for A ↔ mA.
- **Electrical Symbols Reference**: https://www.hackingtons.com/engineering/symbols — Kid-friendly SVG reference for circuit diagram symbols.
- **Vector3 Visualizer**: https://www.hackingtons.com/vector3 — Interactive 3D visualizer for Unity's Vector3 using Three.js.

## Tutorials & Guides

- **Getting Started with Pygame**: https://www.hackingtons.com/pygame-start — Beginner tutorial: windows, shapes, keyboard input, moving a character. ~45 minutes.
- **Build Your First Pygame Game**: https://www.hackingtons.com/pygame-game — Intermediate: complete asteroid dodge game with collision detection and score.
- **Build Flappy Bird in Unity**: https://www.hackingtons.com/flappybird — Unity/C# tutorial for building a Flappy Bird clone from scratch.
- **Python Turtle Commands Reference**: https://www.hackingtons.com/turtle-commands — Quick reference for Turtle commands by category.
- **Daily Turtle Challenge**: https://www.hackingtons.com/turtle-challenge — Daily Python Turtle coding challenges for beginners ages 8+.
- **CSS Frameworks Guide**: https://www.hackingtons.com/css-frameworks — Beginner's guide to Bootstrap, Tailwind, and Bulma with code examples.

## Curated Resource Lists

- **Free Game Art**: https://www.hackingtons.com/free-game-art — Sprites, pixel art, tilesets, 3D models, textures, and UI kits.
- **Free Game Audio**: https://www.hackingtons.com/free-game-audio — Free MP3/WAV sound effects, music loops, and background tracks.
- **Free Game Fonts**: https://www.hackingtons.com/free-game-fonts — Free, legally-licensed fonts for game HUDs, titles, and dialogue.
- **Free Game Dev Tools**: https://www.hackingtons.com/free-game-dev-tools — Free software for making video games: engines, art tools, audio tools, version control.
- **Free Coding Resources for Kids**: https://www.hackingtons.com/free-coding-resources-kids — Best free coding sites, apps, and tools for kids learning to program.
- **Web Design Placeholders**: https://www.hackingtons.com/placeholder-resources — Placeholder images, lorem ipsum generators, and color palettes.

## Student Achievements

Our Game Development Team built and published "Corporate Chaos" on Steam under mentor guidance. Students regularly compete in coding competitions including the annual Hackingtons500 hackathon.

## FAQ

Q: What ages do you teach?
A: Ages 8-16.

Q: Do beginners need prior experience?
A: No. Beginners start with guided projects and progress through our structured curriculum.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: $140 per month with a free trial class available.

Q: What do kids learn in robotics and engineering class?
A: A hands-on mix of electronics, sensors, robotics, and coding. Students build projects with Arduino while learning C/C++ and Python basics.

Q: Do you offer online classes?
A: Yes, Hackingtons Pro offers live online classes with the same curriculum as in-person.

Q: Where are your locations?
A: Brentwood CA, Dublin CA, Pleasant Hill CA, Rocklin CA, and online nationwide.