Philly kids are already using AI. We teach them to catch it being wrong.

Bot Catchers is our free 8-week program for ages 9 to 11. Kids use a kid-safe AI helper named Nova, check everything it says, and keep score of every mistake they catch. A new nonprofit, building in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas.

Try Nova See Bot Catchers
Philadelphia, PA Where we're starting
8 Weeks in Bot Catchers
$0 What families pay
4 Safety checks on every question
About

Who we are

NextGen Tech Youth Foundation is new. We build free tech programs for at-risk youth in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, and adults who want a little guidance getting into IT. The first one is Bot Catchers, an 8-week program for ages 9 to 11 where kids learn to use AI by catching it being wrong. The second is TechStart Academy, six Saturdays of Scratch and a first game for ages 8 to 11.

Both are still being built. Bot Catchers gets its home test this fall with the founder's own kids, then a first group cohort with a community partner. Nothing has run yet. We'll post updates here as things come together.

More about us

Mission

Give kids in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas free access to learn technology.

Vision

A city where a kid's zip code doesn't decide whether they get to learn tech.

Values

Free to every family, small classes, real skills kids can use.

Impact

Nothing to report yet. The Bot Catchers home test starts this fall, and we'll share what happens.

Status

Where things stand

Add your name to the interest list so we know how many families to plan for. It doesn't commit you to anything.

Fall 2026 Home test of Bot Catchers starts
Growing Families on the interest list
5 Programs in the works
Join the interest list
Programs

The programs

Bot Catchers is first. Four more are still being built. All of them are free.

Home test this fall

Bot Catchers

An 8-week program where Philadelphia kids ages 9 to 11 learn to use AI by trying to catch it being wrong. Every session runs the same five steps: Think, Ask Nova, Verify, Build, Explain. Kids keep a Catch Log, build the Philly Kids' Fact Book, and finish as a Certified Bot Catcher, Level 1. Free to families.

See the program

TechStart Academy

Ages 8 to 11. Six Saturdays, Scratch, a first game. Target Fall 2026.

In development

Code & Career

Coding classes for ages 16 to 24. Still being built.

In development

CyberShield

Cybersecurity basics for ages 16 to 24. Still being built.

In development

IT Launchpad

IT support skills for ages 16 to 24. Still being built.

In development
From the founder

Why we're doing this

"Plenty of kids in this city are good at this stuff. They just never get a computer in front of them with somebody to show them how it works. That's the part we can fix."

Travis Thomas, Founder
Get involved

How you can help

Three ways to help the first cohort happen.

Donate

Gifts pay for laptops, printed Fact Books, snacks, and certificates for the first cohort.

Donate

Volunteer or mentor

Work in tech? Help run a session. We hand you the plan, you bring what you know.

Volunteer

Partner with us

Companies and community groups can help with space, referrals, or sponsorship.

Partner with us