CyberCamp coming to Sandpoint

SANDPOINT — University of Idaho-Coeur d'Alene is hosting the Air Force Association's CyberCamp this month at Sandpoint High School, and there is still time for local youth to sign up as the registration deadline has been extended to June 11.

The summer camp program, slated for June 19-23, is for youth in grades seven through 12 who want to learn about cybersecurity and technology career options.

A camp will also be held the same week at the UI Research Park on Lochsa Way in Post Falls.

The camps are part of the CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association in 2009 to attract students to c?ybersecurity and other STEM disciplines.

"The CyberCamp dovetails perfectly with the US CyberPatriot Club at Sandpoint High," said SHS instructor and CTE coordinator Alex Gray in an email to the Daily Bee. "Students learn about virtual machines, importance of information security, implementing preventive measures, computer networking and much more."

In addition to the annual National Youth Cyber Defense Competition and the new AFA CyberCamp program, CyberPatriot has launched an elementary school cyber education initiative designed to introduce young students to online safety. To learn more about CyberPatriot programs, visit uscyberpatriot.org.

The CyberCamp's hands-on programs are designed for students who have an interest in computer science or science, technology, engineering and mathematics career fields. Participants in the camps will receive software and a kit designed to teach them cyber safety, cyber ethics, and critical network security skills and tools.

Through the camps, students will learn how to protect their personal devices and information from outside threats, as well as how to secure entire computer networks. Each AFA CyberCamp will culminate in a team-based competition that puts the campers in the role of IT administrators tasked with finding and addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in simulated network environments.

"The camp is a great introduction to high-demand, high-skilled and exciting careers in information security," Gray said. "Many of the previous summer camp participants have joined the CyberPatriot Club at SHS. The CyberPatiot Club at SHS was founded because one of our students attended a similar cybersecurity camp a few years ago in Coeur d'Alene."

Those interested in taking part in the camps can register at eventbrite.com/e/afa-cybercamp-tickets-32872224709?aff=es2. This year, the AFA camp introduced a "pay what you can" policy. The suggested cost is $50 per student, but no student will be turned away for inability to pay.

The day camps will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Snacks are included, but will not accommodate dietary restrictions. If the camper has an allergy preventing them from eating snacks provided, be sure to send them with their own. Snack options will consist of string cheese, fruit, or granola bar.

Registration is limited to first-time campers only.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.