The Center for Cyber & Artificial Intelligence at CSUSB’s Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration, in collaboration with the Office of Pre-College Programs, is hosting the 10th annual youth cyber summer camp, “CyberGuardians: Navigating the AI-Enhanced Future.” The camp, which will be held on campus from July 7-12, will welcome 60 high school students from across the Inland Empire region.

This fully booked six-day/five-night camp, part of the nationally recognized GenCyber program, aims to increase cybersecurity awareness and training among high school students. GenCyber at CSUSB is sponsored by the GenCyber Grants Program of the National Security Agency and other federal partners. The camp features CSUSB cyber student-led courses that highlight NIST Cybersecurity Workforce Framework careers, designed to encourage student interest and competency in cyber content and career development. The week will include various hands-on activities and workshops focusing on cyber hygiene, safe internet use, ethical hacking and more.

Participants in the 2023 GenCyber summer camp at CSUSB’s Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration.
Participants in the 2023 GenCyber summer camp at CSUSB’s Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration

Cal-SOAP’s pre-college residential program at CSUSB will provide lodging for the campers, along with evening activities, such as games, movie nights, campus tours and team-building exercises. Additionally, campers will receive professional and career development assistance, including guidance on university applications, financial aid, resume building, and registration into CSUSB’s dual enrollment course, IST 1110: Introduction to Information Technology.

This year, in addition to the GenCyber summer camp, CSUSB, Fresno State University (FSU) and San Jose State University (SJSU) will each be hosting the new WITH Cyber Camp. Sponsored by the CSU Workforce Innovation Technology Hubs (WITH) project, these camps will accommodate an additional 30 campers at each university. The WITH Cyber Camps are a collaborative effort with FSU, SJSU, and the Cybersecurity Outreach Development and Education (C.O.D.E.) Initiative with the Fontana Unified School District.

WITH Cyber Camp activities will include practical exercises, such as imaging Raspberry Pis (single-board computers made by the Raspberry Pi Foundation) for networking and pen-testing, digital forensics, drone hacking and piloting, escape rooms, the NICE Challenge cyber range, and physical challenges like rock climbing and the high-altitude ropes course at CSUSB’s Leadership Challenge Center.

These events, already at full capacity, highlight CSUSB’s commitment to fostering the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and providing valuable career development opportunities to Inland Empire youth.

For more information on the cyber security program at CSUSB, visit the Cybersecurity Center website.