LFHS Students Build a Smarter Way to Find Babysitters

By David Sweet and Alexa Moreno

What started as a simple classroom idea is quickly becoming a meaningful solution for families across Lake Forest.

Scout Your Sitter, a startup created by Lake Forest High School juniors Claire Maguire, Jenna Nagel, Andrew McIntyre, and Emma Engelberg, is rethinking how families connect with trusted babysitters, making the process faster, easier, and more reliable for everyone involved.

Andrew McIntyre, Claire Maguire, Emma Engelberg and Jenna Nagel used artificial intelligence to create Scout Your Sitter.

The idea didn’t come from a business plan; it came from real life.

“One of us had to cancel a babysitting job at the last minute and felt terrible,” Maguire said. “It made us realize how common this problem is -- not just for sitters, but for families too.”

That moment led to a bigger realization. Many parents struggle to find reliable childcare on short notice, while teens often want flexible work but don’t know where to start. Families often rely on group chats or word-of-mouth recommendations, and teens juggle busy schedules filled with school and extracurriculars. The result is stress, uncertainty, and missed opportunities on both sides.

Scout Your Sitter connects local families with trusted teen babysitters, offering a solution that works for both. What is the definition of a trusted babysitter?

“In our business, a trusted babysitter is someone we personally know or have vetted who shows responsibility, reliability, and maturity,” Maguire said. “Since we’re just starting, this can include things like minimal violation of school rules, having a record of showing up on time, and being someone we or people we trust can vouch for. As we grow, trusted will also mean completing successful jobs through our platform and getting positive feedback from families.”

While the team worked toward launching a full app (which was slated to debut April 15) that lets families instantly connect with available babysitters in real time, they began building their network on Instagram at @scoutyoursitter. Families reach out, and the students match them with sitters in their system.

Technology, especially artificial intelligence, has played a major role in developing an app.

“As high school students with no coding experience, building an app felt intimidating at first,” Maguire explained. “But AI made it possible.”

The team used AI tools to help design their app interface, brainstorm branding ideas, and develop marketing strategies. AI helped them create a slogan and identify local groups and organizations to contact. It also supported the technical side of development, allowing them to troubleshoot issues and design their platform more efficiently. What could have taken months to learn became manageable and even enjoyable. At the same time, Maguire credited the guidance of experienced humans – including her father, Ryan.

“He supported us during the app-building process by helping set up the tools we needed to be successful and answering our questions along the way,” she said. “Our team mentor, Tanner Van-Dussen, has also been a huge help by teaching us how things work in the professional world and providing valuable feedback and advice on our business. Our teacher, Mr. Phil LaScala, has provided guidance, support, and advice that have helped us develop our ideas and stay on track.”

Families who have used the service through Instagram describe the process as quick and convenient, especially when they need last-minute help. Teens appreciate having easy access to flexible job opportunities that fit into their busy lives. Early users have also emphasized the importance of trust, since sitters come from a local and connected network.

Said Maguire, “The most exciting part of this experience so far has been seeing the enthusiasm from the community and the strong interest from both families and sitters, which has been really motivating. It’s exciting to think about how our app could make a real difference for families and sitters in our community.”

As more teens explore babysitting opportunities, the Recreation Department offers a Safe Sitter workshop for 11–13-year-olds that provides comprehensive training in safety, medical care, and business skills. Offered this spring on Friday, April 24, from 4 p.m.–7 p.m. and Saturday, April 25, from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., the program includes discussions, practice sessions, and role-play to help participants build confidence and succeed as babysitters. Learn more and register