Sledgehammer Infosystems
Smashing through your information & communication problems since 2021
Space Jamboree has long been a premier STEM-focused Boy Scout event in the Midwest. For Space Jamboree 18, the leadership team made the bold decision to pivot to an all-online event, and they chose Sledgehammer Infosystems to build their new website and online registration system. The result: a modern, responsive platform that streamlined operations and eliminated the logistical headaches of paper-based registration and class scheduling.
Space Jamboree had been planning the transition to an online event for several years. We began discussions in fall 2023, with development kicking off in January 2024. The new forward-facing site launched in February to provide participants with event details, while the full registration system went live in May to prepare for the August event.
Their previous website was outdated, difficult to maintain, and lacked mobile responsiveness. Our rebuild introduced a clean, modern design that worked seamlessly on all devices while significantly improving usability.
A major component of this project was developing a registration system that could efficiently handle participant enrollment, payment collection, and class scheduling. The system was built with Ruby on Rails and integrated with Stripe for payments and PostMark for transactional emails.
Participants could easily browse available workshops, register for sessions, and receive confirmation emails with their schedule. The system also automated data exports for setting up Zoom meetings and awarding merit badges, significantly reducing administrative overhead.
The shift to online registration dramatically streamlined Space Jamboree's operations, eliminating paperwork, reducing manual processing, and minimizing participant confusion. Organizers reported fewer last-minute issues and an overall smoother experience.
While budget constraints initially limited some functionality, the platform was designed to evolve, and we continue to build out new features each year as the event grows.