Outsmart Artificial Intelligence.
Crack the bot, build the future.
Join Thunderbird Hacks 2027 at Explora for a full day of hands-on AI challenges, teamwork, and friendly competition. No coding experience needed!
What to Expect
Instead of a typical hackathon where you’re expected to build an app from scratch with little direction, this event is all about learning how AI works by trying it out. You’ll practice prompt engineering, explore AI safety, and get a peek behind the curtain of how chatbots are designed (and how they can be fooled). You’ll also do a little coding – no experience required – with plenty of help from mentors who build and test AI tools in their day jobs.
The Challenge
You’ll compete in three stages, earning points the whole way. The goal: learn how AI chatbots can be tricked – and how to protect them.
Stage 1: Crack the Bot
Your team is up against an AI chat bot hiding secret words. Using only prompts, try to convince the chat bot to reveal its secrets.
Stage 2: Build Your Defenses
Now it’s your turn to defend. You’ll create guardrails – rules and strategies – that help your chat bot keep its secret words safe, even when other teams try to trick it.
Stage 3: Capture the Secret
Time to put everything to the test. You’ll go head-to-head, trying to extract other teams’ secret words while keeping your own protected behind your guardrails.
Scoring: Points accumulate across all three stages, so every round matters.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, January 30, 2027
Location: Explora, 1701 Mountain Road NW
For: High School Students (all skill levels welcome)
- Free Registration
- Teams of 2 to 3 (Solo sign-ups welcome)
- No Coding Experience Needed (mentors help guide you)
- Meals and Snacks Provided
- Awesome Prizes
- Laptops Available (optional to bring your own- see below)
Exclusive Opportunities
Morning Address and Keynote speakers from AI leadership at Sandia.
Career Conversations: Talk with Sandia Internship Program staff about future opportunities
Laptops
You’re welcome to bring a laptop (with any controls turned off to access hackathon links and materials), but it’s not required. We’ll have extras available if you need one, just bring your charger if it’s yours.
Schedule
- 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM Registration – Explora Group Entrance
- 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM Opening Ceremony – Rotary Room
- 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM Hackathon Challenge Working Time – X Studio
- 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM Lunch (provided) and Keynote Speaker – Rotary Room
- 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM Career Conversations/Explora Time
- 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM Hackathon Challenge Working Time – X Studio
- 4:30 PM to 5:15 PM Career Conversations/Explora Time
- 5:15 PM to 6:00 PM Awards and Wrap Up – Rotary Room
Questions? Email xstudio@explora.us
Learn about Sandia’s Artificial Intelligence
