Five-day Program Teaches Cybersecurity To Kids In Grades 6-12
In June, Cabrillo College will host its 4th annual Cybersecurity Summer Camp, offering youth the chance to learn new skills and dive into technology ━ all online and all for free.
The five-day, tech-focused camp offers students the rare chance to work with a range of educational and tech experts including credentialed high school teachers at Pajaro Valley Unified School District and Santa Cruz County of Education, as well as industry leaders and security experts.
Camps are designed for 6th-12th graders who have basic computer experience and an interest in cybersecurity and technology.
Students can sign up for Introductory or Advanced camps. Introductory sessions will guide students through a variety of cybersecurity topics, including managing one’s digital footprint, Linux, Python, networking and Wireshark.
No experience in cybersecurity is required for the Intro Camp, but it’s recommended as a prerequisite before the Advanced camp. Campers in the Advanced sessions will explore cryptography, digital forensics, web app exploitation and malware analysis.
At the end of the sessions, all campers will have the opportunity to compete in the Bay Area Cyber Competition in July.
“In response to COVID-19, our community college students pivoted quickly to move 100 percent of this year’s curriculum online,” said Irvin Lemus, Cabrillo College cybersecurity professor and Bay Area CyberCamp coordinator. “This shift has actually expanded our capacity to open up spots to several hundred students across 23 schools!”
Campers will need a Chromebook or a laptop with a web browser and stable internet access, but the partnership with PVUSD and SCCOE will ensure that every interested camper can participate.
“Our son attended the intro and advanced course last year, and gained a tremendous amount of skills that he brought to his coding class, even starting a STEM club on his school site,” said David Salles, parent of a former CyberCamp participant. “The instructors were very knowledgeable and effective at working with teenagers, keeping them engaged, motivated, and ready to solve tech-based security challenges. If you can get your child enrolled, do it. They’ll be a step ahead!”
Registration for Cybersecurity Camp is filling fast. For more information and register for camp, visit www.baycyber.net or contact Elizabeth Shaw ━ eshaw@santa cruzcoe.org or Sarah Ferguson — [email protected].
This year’s CyberCamps are made possible through partnerships with Cabrillo College, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, DigitalNEST and the Bay Area Community College Consortium/Cybersecurity Competitions.