FAQ Student Program Archive
Q: Is this camp 100% virtual?
A: Yes, this camp is being conducted 100% virtually due to the ongoing uncertainty related to the pandemic. We hope to have an in-person version in a future summer.
Q: Will we be using Zoom for this virtual camp?
A: Yes, we will be using Zoom as the main synchronous component of the camp and Canvas as the learning management system.
Q: What hours will the camp run during the day?
A: The camp will run from 9 AM to 4:30 PM each day during the week in which you’re in camp. There will be several breaks throughout the day as well.
Q: Is it required to have a webcam or to have it on all the time?
A: It is not required, but if it is possible we hope that you’ll have it on as it helps provide a more engaging camp environment. However, we fully acknowledge that there are many reasons why an individual may not have their camera on and respect those reasons.
Q: Is there any cost associated with participating in this camp?
A: The camp is being offered completely free to camp participants. This has been made possible through a generous grant from the National Security Agency (NSA) and National Science Foundation (NSF) through their GenCyber program.
Q: How long is the camp for?
A: The camp is a week-long camp. Follow-up engagements and activities will be made available to participants after the main camp has concluded.
Q: Who is hosting this camp?
A: The University of Washington Bothell is hosting this camp in a partnership with Columbia Basin College and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).
Q: What do I get out of participating in this camp?
A: Our goal is to provide you with a fun experience learning about cybersecurity and privacy, including how to hack other computers and networks ethically, protect yourself from various threats, recover deleted data, etc. We also hope you’ll make friends along the way with other students that are participating in the camp.
Q: Who will be running the camp?
A: Marc Dupuis (University of Washington Bothell) is the Program Director and Josh Bee (Columbia Basin College) is the Lead Instructor. We will have eight (8) student assistants from the University of Washington Bothell that will be heavily involved with camp participants, including during various activities. We will also have experts from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) helping out throughout the camp experience.
Q: What if I don’t have access to a computer and/or Internet access?
A: During the registration process, we will ask you about these things. In the event you don’t have access to a computer and/or the Internet, then we will work with you to help ensure you have access through the duration of the camp.
The main thing you’ll need a computer for is to connect to the camp via Zoom. Most any computer, tablet, or smartphone is capable of using Zoom. For the Raspberry Pi, you’ll want to hook it up to a monitor, such as a regular computer monitor or even a TV via HDMI.
Q: Is this camp open to both boys and girls?
A: Yes, this camp is open to both boys and girls. Our goal is to have a roughly equal mix between those that identify as a boy and those that identify as a girl.
Q: Who is eligible to participate in this camp?
A: We are looking for Washington State students that will be entering 7th-12th grade in the fall of 2022. Additionally, our initial efforts will be to recruit students in the Seattle-metro and Tri-Cities areas, especially students that are under-represented in the computing field.
Q: Do I need to have a lot of technical knowledge to participate in this camp?
A: Absolutely not. We are looking for people of all technical abilities, including those without a prior background in cybersecurity or computer science.
Q: What types of goodies will be provided?
A: Camp participants will be provided with a camp t-shirt, a Raspberry Pi computing device, and instructional materials to help them with the various activities we’ll be doing during camp.
Q: How will I participate in labs if my computer isn’t very powerful?
A: Most of the labs will be performed on the Raspberry Pi you are being provided with for the camp. Additional labs may be hosted virtually on a cloud-based platform, such as AWS or Azure.
You’ll also need a computer to connect to the camp via Zoom.
Q: How many students can enroll in the camp?
A: We will have two one-week camps. For each week of camp, we are planning on enrolling 60 students with a roughly equal split between those that identify as girls and those that identify as boys. Thus, the total number of camp participants we expect is 120.
Q: If the camp is full, what do I do?
A: Any student that wishes to participate in the camp after we have reached enrollment capacity will be placed on a waitlist. It is difficult to predict if any additional openings will become available and if so, how many.
Q: If I have a disability, am I still able to register and participate?
A: Absolutely. Everyone deserves an opportunity to participate in a camp experience, learn about cybersecurity, and have fun. Please let us know how we can best support you to ensure you have a good experience.
Q: Who do I contact for more information?
A: You may contact Marc Dupuis at cybercamps@uw.edu