P
Present
Something you know and want to teach, demo, or explain.
beCamp 2026 attendee guide
beCamp is Charlottesville's community-run tech unconference. Come Friday to pitch and vote; the room builds Saturday's schedule together. Here's what you need before you show up.
Friday
Oct 2 · 4:30–8:30pm
Saturday
Oct 3 · 9am–4pm
Main venue
UVA School of Data Science
Cost
Free, food included
01
Event Agenda
No pre-selected speakers — attendees build Saturday's five-track agenda on Friday night. Even if you can only make Saturday, come Friday to pitch and vote if you can.
Friday — Reception & Pitch Night
4:30–5:30pm
Reception at The Poplar
Appetizers, a cash bar, and time to reconnect with Charlottesville's tech community. At 5:30 we walk 3–4 minutes to the School of Data Science.
The reception is held inside the Parlor, The Poplar's reception space. The front-of-house staff will point you there when you arrive.
5:30–8:30pm
Pitch Night at the School of Data Science
Pizza, a quick format walkthrough, sponsor thank-yous, pitches, voting, and building the Saturday schedule.
Friday pizza sponsorHardshell AI
How Pitch Night works
Coming only Saturday? Come Friday if you can — your pitches and votes decide the day.
- 01
Think
Bring something you want to present, learn, share, demo, or discuss.
- 02
Pitch
Give the room a 30-second explanation of your idea. No slides required.
- 03
Vote
Everyone votes for the topics they most want to attend.
- 04
Build Saturday
Volunteers arrange the top topics into five parallel tracks.
How to pitch
A pitch is just an invitation to spend 45 minutes exploring something together — pick the kind that fits.
L
Learn
Something you want to understand, with help from the room.
S
Share
A question, experience, or problem worth a group conversation.
“I don't know much about this, but I'd really like to get people together who do.”
Stuck for an idea?
363 sessions from 2007 to 2025 are on record — Kubernetes and quantum computing, but also gardening, rock tumbling, and how to breakdance in 45 minutes. If you are wondering whether your idea counts, it does.
Browse the session archive →Pitch-night checklist
- Give your idea a short, clear title.
- Write it on the card provided and mark it Present, Learn, or Share.
- Deliver it to the room in about 30 seconds.
Saturday — Sessions
Five session blocks, five simultaneous tracks, lightning talks, lunch, and a closing retrospective.
Doors open, breakfast & coffee
Session block 1
Session block 2
Session block 3
Lightning talks
Lunch
Lightning talks
Session block 4
Session block 5
Retrospective
Cleanup
02
What to Know
Meals, gear, access, how the sessions work, and the people to find if you have a question.
Food & drinks
You won't need to leave for meals. Friday: appetizers and a cash bar at The Poplar; pizza and non-alcoholic drinks at Pitch Night. Saturday: breakfast, coffee and tea, lunch, and cold drinks.
Vegetarian and vegan options available — contact the organizers about any dietary need.
Friday food & drink sponsorsHardshell AICvAIEx
Saturday food & drink sponsorsCarson SweetSpiffWorksJFXControl Alt RecycleFraccel
What to bring
- Laptop or notebook
- Power cord and charger
- Reusable water bottle, if you use one
- An idea, question, or topic you're curious about
Dress is casual — come ready to move between sessions.
T-shirts sponsored byGA Intelligence
Accessibility
The School of Data Science includes hearing loops in the Hub and classrooms, gender-neutral restrooms, an ADA-accessible shower, and a wellness and affirmation space.
Have another need? Contact the organizers and we'll do what we reasonably can.
Photos & social
#beCamp
Photograph the ideas, conversations, and moments that make beCamp special, then share them on social media with #beCamp.
Organizers
Questions during the event? Find Patrick or Owen — or reach out ahead of time.
Patrick Harrison
beCamp organizer
Connect on LinkedIn →Owen Zanzal
beCamp organizer
Connect on LinkedIn →Cville Slack
You can chat with organizers and attendees on the #beCamp Slack channel.
#beCamp
Not on Cville Slack yet? Email ozanzal+slack@gmail.com for an invitation. Expect confirmation within 24 hours.
Sessions
Lightning talks
Ten minutes each, first come first served. If your Friday pitch didn't make the schedule, sign up in the morning and share what's on your mind.
The Law of Two Feet
Not learning or contributing where you are? Move to another session. That's the unconference working as intended — not rudeness.
Stay for the retrospective
beCamp has evolved through attendee feedback for 20 years. The 3:40 retrospective is where we decide what to keep, change, and try next.
Code of Conduct
beCamp follows the Charlottesville Community Code of Conduct. By joining this community, you belong here — and so does the next person.
What we expect
- Treat people with consideration and respect.
- Welcome others in and make room for other voices.
- Respect differences, boundaries, privacy, and digital security.
- Adjust if someone says your behavior is making the space less welcoming.
What isn't welcome
- Discrimination, harassment, intimidation, stalking, or threats.
- Unwelcome contact, or photography and recording without consent.
- Doxxing, digital-security attacks, or sustained disruption.
See something? Contact an organizer — even if you're unsure it rises to a violation. For an immediate emergency, call 911.
03
Venue & parking
Two venues, about a 3–4 minute (0.1 mi) walk apart. Park once and walk between them — no need to move your car on Friday.
Venues
The Poplar
2017 Ivy Road · Charlottesville, VA 22903
Reception venue sponsorThe Poplar Restaurant
Google Maps imagery is out of date and may show a construction site. The Virginia Guest House is now complete.
Friday receptionOpen in Maps →
UVA School of Data Science
1919 Ivy Road · Charlottesville, VA 22903
Main venue sponsorUVA School of Data Science
Pitch Night + SaturdayOpen in Maps →
Parking
Culbreth Garage is the best free option on Saturday; Emmet/Ivy is closer but paid.
Culbreth Parking Garage
130 Culbreth Road · open to the public on weekends unless posted
Emmet/Ivy Garage
123 Emmet Street N · ParkMobile Zone 5514 or Level 1 pay stations
Event signs sponsored byData Theoretic
Walking maps
Tap a route to enlarge.
The people who show up make beCamp.
Come with an idea. Come with a question. Come because you're curious.
Register now