Venture · Imagine · Build · Emerge
A free afterschool vibe coding program for grades 7–12. AI-fluent professionals come in. Students build real things by collaborating with AI. Every student ships one working project.
A one-page guide
for starting a pilot
this semester
V
Venture
Wks 1–3
Try the tools, learn to iterate, meet a professional who builds with AI every day. Comfort and curiosity, not mastery.
I
Imagine
Wks 4–6
A second field, a second perspective. Students imagine their own project and scope it to something they can actually finish.
B
Build
Wks 7–10
Four focused build sprints. Every student makes a real thing with AI as collaborator, not shortcut. Working beats beautiful.
E
Emerge
Wks 11–12
Students prep and ship their work at a public showcase. Families and community invited. The beginning of a portfolio.
How to start: seven steps
  1. Find an advisor. One adult willing to give about an hour a week for a semester. Teacher, counselor, or vetted community volunteer with AI experience.
  2. Invite any AI-fluent guides you can find. Local professionals in different fields. Engineer, nurse, designer, tradesperson, small-business owner. Encouraged but not required.
  3. Pick a small first cohort. Eight to fifteen students, grades 7–12 (ages 13+). Start small; let it earn growth.
  4. Schedule twelve weeks. One weekly session, ideally sixty to seventy-five minutes (forty-five minutes at the minimum). Reserve a room and protect the time.
  5. Set a build goal from week one. Every student ships one working project by week 12. Website, app, device, short film, or service.
  6. Host a showcase. Invite families, administrators, and local press. Public work makes the program real.
  7. Capture the lessons. A one-page review. Keep what worked. Pass it to the next advisor who runs it.
By week twelve, each student has
  • One shipped, working project they built themselves
  • At least three professional connections from their community
  • Hands-on experience using AI as a collaborator, not a shortcut
  • A three-minute public showcase presentation on their record
Sample guide invitation you can copy, adapt, and send Hi [Name], a small group of students at [School] is starting a program called VIBE Afterschool that pairs them with working professionals for one afternoon. Would you spend forty-five minutes sharing what you actually do and how you use AI in your work? No prep required. Your real experience is the curriculum. Reply and I will connect you with the advisor running it.
A pilot at a glance
Advisor
1 adult, about one hour per week. Teacher, counselor, or community volunteer with AI experience.
Guides
Optional but encouraged. Any AI-fluent professionals you can find, one visit, 45 minutes each. Remote visits OK.
Students
8–15, grades 7–12 (ages 13+)
Devices
Family-provided internet-connected device (phone, tablet, Chromebook, or laptop)
Cost
Free-tier AI in early weeks. ~$20/month subscription during the build phase, family-paid, with scholarships available.
Duration
12 weeks, one session per week
Outcome
Every student ships one project and meets professionals
The first twelve weeks
V
Wks 1–2
First build and learn to iterate. Students make something with AI on day one.
V
Wk 3
First guide visit, or AI-in-the-wild walkthrough if no guide is available.
I
Wk 4
Second field, second perspective. Guide visit, site visit, or a contrasting clip.
I
Wks 5–6
Ideate and scope. Every student leaves with an approved, achievable project.
B
Wks 7–8
Build sprints. First working version, then core features.
B
Wks 9–10
Guide or peer review at midpoint, then feature complete and polish begins.
E
Wk 11
Showcase prep. Students practice their three-minute presentation.
E
Wk 12
Showcase. Families, administrators, and press invited. Three minutes per student.
CC BY 4.0VIBE Afterschool is an open framework from Juno Maps. Free to use, adapt, and share.
An independent initiative. Not affiliated with any similarly named educational institution.
One-Page Pilot Guide · v1.0 · May 2026