Inspiring the Next GENeration of CYBER stars
GenCyber, a joint venture sponsored by the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation, provides summer cybersecurity camp experiences for students and teachers at the K-12 level. The goals of the program are to help all students understand correct and safe on-line behavior, increase diversity and interest in cybersecurity and careers in the cybersecurity workforce of the Nation, and improve teaching methods for delivering cybersecurity content in K-12 computer science curricula.
"Our vision for the GenCyber program is to be part of the solution to the nation's shortfall of skilled cybersecurity professionals," said Victor Piotrowski, a program director at NSF. "Ensuring that enough young people are inspired to direct their talents in this area is critical to the future of our country's national and economic security as we become ever more reliant on cyber-based technology in every aspect of our daily lives."
In the camps, students learn how to monitor networks and identify vulnerabilities that can lead to intrusions or cyberattacks. Perhaps as important, they learn that there is nothing "weird" or "nerdy" about being interested in cybersecurity.
Approximately 30 teachers and 265 students participated in a pilot version of the program in 2014 at eight prototype camps. The program has grown to 133 summer camps across the nations and the goal is to expand the program to 200 camps by 2020.