Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Provider
- Kids for Kids Toronto Coding Club
- Deadline
- 8/22/2026
In short
GenZ Can Hack 2026 is an in-person hackathon in Toronto for high school students aged 13-19 to design and build robots for garbage management, with a top prize of $1,000 in cash.
GenZ Can Hack 2026
By Kids for Kids Toronto Coding Club
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 8/22/202620 days left
August 22, 2026
Submission Deadline
In-person, Toronto
Location
$1,000+
Total Prizes
Ages 13-19
Eligible Participants
Robots for Garbage Management
Challenge Theme
3-5 members
Team Size
Overview
Welcome to GenZ Can Hack 2026, an in-person hackathon designed for high school students aged 13 to 19 years old. This event aims to engage young minds in a thrilling experience where they can showcase their coding prowess and innovative problem-solving skills. The theme for GenZ Can Hack 2026 is "Garbage Management." Participants are tasked with designing and building robots using Arduino or Raspberry Pi, along with various sensors, to support innovative solutions for garbage management. This challenge aligns with Kids for Kids Toronto Coding Club's commitment to environmental sustainability and fostering awareness in younger generations. The hackathon is scheduled for August, after the academic exam season, to ensure maximum participation from Grade 12 students and others. It provides a collaborative environment for Canadian youth, born between 2007 and 2013, to unleash their creativity and teamwork. The final assembly and presentations will take place on August 22nd in front of a panel of professional judges.
What to build
Participants will build a robot using Arduino or Raspberry Pi along with sensors to support garbage management. The final assembly and presentation will take place on August 22nd.
Prizes
Champion
The championship team will receive a $1,000 cash prize, along with individual trophies and certificates for each team member. The official champion trophy will be presented during the awards ceremony.
$1,000
1st runner up
The first runner up team will receive individual trophies and certificates for each team member.
2nd Runner Up
The 2nd runner up team will receive individual trophies and certificates for each team member.
3rd Runner Up
The 3rd runner up team will receive individual trophies and certificates for each team member.
4th Runner Up
The 4th runner up team will receive individual trophies and certificates for each team member.
Key dates
- Submission DeadlineAug 22, 2026 @ 2:00pm EDT
- Final Assembly and PresentationAug 22, 2026
Eligibility
Only high school students aged 13 to 19 years, born between 2007 and 2013, are eligible to participate. Participants must form teams of 3 to 5 members. Only specific countries/territories are included; please refer to the full rules for details.
How to enter
- Form a team of 3 to 5 members.
- Register for the hackathon via the provided link.
- Develop a robot using Arduino or Raspberry Pi with sensors to address garbage management.
- Attend the final assembly and presentation on August 22, 2026.
Submission requirements
- A robot built using Arduino or Raspberry Pi.
- Sensors integrated to support garbage management functionality.
- Final assembly and presentation in front of professional judges on August 22nd.
Judging criteria
- Innovation (25 points): Novelty of the solution and creativity in addressing Garbage Management challenges.
- Technical Complexity (20 points): Complexity of implementation, including advanced technical concepts or integration of multiple technologies.
- User Experience (15 points): Ease of use and intuitive design, especially for Generation Z users.
- Teamwork and Collaboration (10 points)
Sponsors & partners
SC4K