Daydream Hamilton: How I organized a game jam at the age of 13.

On September 28, I helped organize Daydream Hamilton. Daydream was an event hosted by Hack Club, a nonprofit organization, simultaneously across 200+ cities globally and was open to students 18 and under. The goal was simple but challenging. Create a game from scratch in just 24 hours that follows a theme. I worked with a small team of other Hack Club members to organize Daydream Hamilton. The theme for Daydream globally was “Sacrifices Must be Made”.

What I Helped With

My team and I did a lot to make sure the event ran smoothly. We reached out to sponsors so the event could be completely free, built a website for sign-ups, and promoted the event on social media. We also handled planning, setting up the venue, welcoming people when they arrived, and keeping everyone informed during the event.

During the game jam, we ran workshops, organized food and drinks, and planned the final showcase and awards. It was a lot of work, but it was really exciting to see everything come together.

The Outcome

Participants gained hands-on experience with coding, teamwork, and presenting their ideas. At the end of the game jam, teams showed off their games, and everyone voted for the project that best matched the theme. The winning team received a drawing tablet, and all participants got certificates and Hack Club stickers as a reminder of what they built, regardless of the main prize.

The organizers also benefited from the event. I received volunteer hours for my work for high school, but more importantly, I gained real experience in planning, leadership, and working as a team under pressure. Organizing Daydream Hamilton helped me build confidence, learn how to communicate clearly, and understand what it takes to run a large event successfully.

What I Learned

Organizing a game jam at 13 showed me how powerful initiative and community can be. Daydream helped other students learn and create, and it also helped me discover how much I enjoy building spaces where creativity and technology come together.