The Calhoun Community College Business & Computer Information Systems (CIS) Division will host its first annual Cybersecurity Summer Camps for high school students.

The camps will be held on Monday – Friday, July 19-23 and 26-30, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in Noble Russell Hall on Calhoun’s Decatur campus. The camps are open to rising 10^th through 12^th graders in Madison, Morgan, Lawrence, and Limestone counties.

According to Dr. James Payne, Calhoun Dean of Business & CIS, the goal of these week-long camps is to provide students with an introduction to cybersecurity as well as an overview of the many career opportunities in cybersecurity and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professions.

This year’s camp theme is ‘Beating the Bad Guys’ and will use the nationally-recognized Air Force Association’s (AFA) CyberPatriot summer camp curriculum. “Campers will receive daily instruction and participate in teamwork-based lab activities to better understand fundamental cybersecurity tools and practices,” commented Garrett Smith, Calhoun Computer Information Systems Instructor and Camp Director.

Campers will work in teams on a cybersecurity challenge project, where they will also compete for prizes. An awards ceremony will be held Friday at 1:00 p.m. at each camp.

“Many of our local teenagers are unaware of the potential they have to be successful in cybersecurity or other STEM fields,” commented Payne.  “Our goal is to show them the opportunities that exist in the cybersecurity profession and help them realize that, yes, they really can pursue those careers,” added Payne.

Funding for this year’s camp is provided by the Alabama Community College System and Alabama State Senator Arthur Orr, who will also present student awards at the ceremony on Friday, July 23.

To learn more about this camp, visit www.calhoun.edu/cybercamp.