Try something new in April: the #30DayExplorer challenge
Written by Lauren McGlamery, engagement manager
I stumbled on a TED talk from 2011 the other day. It talks about trying something new for 30 days. I must admit, I got excited about exploring something new in April, so why not invite the Build Carolina Community to do it with me?
Sooooo…
Are you looking to explore a new topic, build new skills, and create something meaningful? If so, I invite you to join me this April! This is a chance for us to commit to exploration for the sake of exploring. This will be 30 days of learning something new, making small bits of progress every day, and celebrating the journey together.
Who knows? Maybe what we discover will surprise us! I’m certainly excited to find out.
What is the #30DayExplorer challenge?
We collect explores at Build Carolina. People who are curious about code and interested in technology tend to fit in that category. People who seek knowledge in unknown spaces. The idea is to keep this simple and fun. Pick something you want to learn or build and commit to it for 30 days. Whether you’re diving into coding, exploring AI tools, improving your problem-solving skills, or sharpening your technical writing, this challenge is all about growth through consistency.
We’re keeping it open-ended so you can choose a focus that excites you. No rigid rules, no limits—just a daily commitment to show up and learn.
How It Works
Choose your focus – Pick a topic, skill, or project you want to work on for 30 days. It could be coding, design, automation, or anything that helps you level up.
Some non-technical options include learning a new language, writing or reading more consistently, or picking up a hobby like crocheting. Any and all of this is welcome! The key is picking one thing to focus on for the next 30 days.
Start small – When I started thinking through what I wanted to focus on for this challenge, I narrowed it down to things that could be done in 10-15 minute chunks. It is less about mastery for me in this challenge and more about getting into the practice of spending time on a new thing each day. You don’t need hours of free time. Even 10-15 minutes a day can lead to significant progress.
Stay connected – I decided to share this challenge with everyone in the Build Carolina Community because challenges like this are more fun when others do it with you! We’ll share daily motivation and check-ins on Slack and social media. Use these as reminders to stay on track and share your wins! You can share your experience with us in Slack and social media using #30DayExplorer.
Track your progress – This isn’t about a perfect streak to just check a box. This is about giving yourself a little bit of time each day to get lost in a new topic or skill. It helps to see your accomplishments by documenting your journey with quick notes, screenshots, or even a short video or voice note. That way, you can reflect on what you’ve built, what you enjoyed about the experience, and what obstacles or barriers got in the way.
Celebrate & keep building – By the end of the 30 days, you’ll have gained new skills, built momentum, learned something new about yourself, and maybe even launched something exciting!
Where to Participate
We’re running this challenge exclusively through Slack and social media. Join the conversation, get inspired by others, and share your updates on the #explorers Slack channel or LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Threads. Be sure to tag us (@buildcarolina) in your posts so we can cheer you on and share with our followers.
Daily Motivation & Support
We’ll post encouraging messages in Slack and on Bluesky/Threads to help you stay motivated along the way. You’ll also see stories from others who are participating—whether they’re building an app, learning a new programming language, experimenting with automation tools, or something non-technical!
Why join?
Spring is around the corner, which is a great time for nurturing new skills and practices. This challenge is meant to give you a boost in your exploration of new things in a way that is manageable and fun!
Stay on track: Keep up the momentum with check-ins and community vibes.
Make it a habit: Build a routine of learning and problem-solving.
Meet cool people: Connect with other curious minds and potential collaborators.
Level up: Develop skills that could lead to exciting new opportunities.
How to get started
Join our Slack community if you’re not already in it.
Share your challenge goal in the #explorers channel or on social media.
Check in regularly—even a small update or reaction counts!
Encourage others and celebrate progress together.
Ready to start? Let’s build something amazing—one day at a time.