05/10/2019—
In an effort to increase the interest in cybersecurity careers and diversity in the cybersecurity workforce of the nation, the Summer Youth Program (SYP) at Michigan Technological University is offering a pair of GenCyber camps this summer. The week-long camps are non-residential (commuter only) and designed to help build a cybersecurity pipeline. A camp for middle and high school students will help them understand correct and safe online behavior and how to be a good digital citizen. The camp for K-12 educators is designed to improve teaching methods for the delivery of cybersecurity content.
The first camp, designed for local middle and high school students will be held June 17 – 21. The second camp, designed for local K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) teachers will take place Aug. 12-16. Participants in both camps will not only receive knowledge of cybersecurity, but also serve as “cyber ambassadors” to preach cybersecurity to others after the camp.
Both camps are offered at no cost to all participants and will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Breakfast, served from 7 to 9 a.m. and lunch, noon to 1 p.m. will be provided to participants at no additional charge. Funding for the camps is provided jointly by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), through an award received by Michigan Tech.
The program is under the direction of Yu Cai, program chair of computer network and system administration program (CNSA). The lead instructor is Tim Van Wagner who is also with the CNSA program. Cai explains what participants can expect to learn during the five-day experience.
“These camps offer a chance to explore the world of cybersecurity with experts in the field through fun, real-world learning experiences.”
The application deadline for the student camp is May 31. There is a maximum of 30 seats. Late applications will be considered, but scholarships are awarded on a first-come first-served basis.
The application deadline for the teachers’ camp is June 15. More information, including registration material is available online.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.