Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this program 100% virtual?
A: Yes, this program is being conducted 100% virtually so that we may have the greatest reach possible with the state of Washington.
Q: Will we be using Zoom in this program?
A: Yes, we will be using Zoom as the main synchronous component of the camp. We will also have a repository for all of the content we cover in the program.
Q: What hours will the camp run during the day for the one-week intensive portion of the program?
A: The camp will run from 8 AM to 4 PM each day during the week. 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 experience for everyone. 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 program?
A: The program is being offered completely free to all participants. This has been made possible through a generous grant from the National Security Agency (NSA) through their GenCyber program.
Q: How long is the program for?
A: The camp portion of the program (i.e., the weeklong intensive) is for one week. There will be both pre-camp and post-camp engagements and activities.
Q: Who is hosting this camp?
A: The University of Washington Bothell is hosting this camp in a partnership with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Columbia Basin College.
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. Also, we will provide some focus on teaching cybersecurity so that you may bring what you learned back to the classroom to teach your students. We also hope you’ll make friends/colleagues along the way with other participants that are participating in the camp and expand your professional network, especially as it relates to cybersecurity.
Q: Who will be running the camp?
A: Marc Dupuis (University of Washington Bothell) is the Program Director and Ann Wright-Mockler (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) is the Lead Instructor. Joshua Bee (Columbia Basin College) is our K-12 pedagogical expert.
Q: Who is eligible to participate in this camp?
A: We are looking for Washington State educators that teach in the secondary system.
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 participants may enroll in the program?
A: We have space available for 26 teacher participants.
Q: If the program is full, what do I do?
A: Any teacher that wishes to participate in the program 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 the program, 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