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Cybercamp: An Experience Report on the Transformations of an Intensive Cybersecurity Summer Camp for High School Students

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Title: Cybercamp: An Experience Report on the Transformations of an Intensive Cybersecurity Summer Camp for High School Students
Language: English
Authors: Jose R. Ortiz Ubarri (ORCID 0000-0002-4917-6029), Kariluz Dávila Diaz (ORCID 0000-0002-4887-428X), Rafael A. Arce Nazario (ORCID 0000-0001-8036-6536)
Source: Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice. 2025 2025(1).
Availability: Kennesaw State University. 1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144. Tel: 470-578-3568; e-mail: cybersec@kennesaw.edu; Web site: https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jcerp/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 9
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Contract Number: 1438838
2030188
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Summer Programs, Camps, High School Students, Computer Security, Computer Science Education, Experiential Learning, Learning Activities, Access to Education, Culturally Relevant Education, Open Source Technology
Geographic Terms: Puerto Rico
ISSN: 2472-2707
Abstract: The Cybercamp is a Cybersecurity summer camp for high school students that has been held for the last nine years at a Hispanic Serving Institution. Since its inception in 2016 the Cybercamp has undergone several transformations in response to budget reductions and the COVID pandemic, to finally become its current version: a rich, hands-on learning experience that we believe is easily replicable even in resource-challenged environments. In this paper, we document the transformations of the Cybercamp and discuss the developed curriculum and materials in hopes that others will reuse, adapt, and improve upon them. In the Cybercamp, we apply active learning practices that have been shown to be effective in STEM education. We perform hands-on, activities, providing Capture The Flag (CTF) style practice exercises with automatic grading. The Cybercamp is assisted by college students who serve as peer-assisted leaders. The educational materials were designed with culturally relevant case studies, using open source technologies, and following Universal Design Learning best practices to make them as accessible as possible, particularly to low-income students. We discuss how we prevented students from falling behind and successfully completed the Cybercamp.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506725
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Cybercamp: An Experience Report on the Transformations of an Intensive Cybersecurity Summer Camp for High School Students
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jose+R%2E+Ortiz+Ubarri%22">Jose R. Ortiz Ubarri</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4917-6029">0000-0002-4917-6029</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kariluz+Dávila+Diaz%22">Kariluz Dávila Diaz</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4887-428X">0000-0002-4887-428X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rafael+A%2E+Arce+Nazario%22">Rafael A. Arce Nazario</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8036-6536">0000-0001-8036-6536</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Cybersecurity+Education%2C+Research+and+Practice%22"><i>Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice</i></searchLink>. 2025 2025(1).
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  Data: Kennesaw State University. 1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144. Tel: 470-578-3568; e-mail: cybersec@kennesaw.edu; Web site: https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jcerp/
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  Data: 9
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)<br />National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Summer+Programs%22">Summer Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Camps%22">Camps</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Security%22">Computer Security</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Science+Education%22">Computer Science Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+Learning%22">Experiential Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+Activities%22">Learning Activities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Education%22">Access to Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Culturally+Relevant+Education%22">Culturally Relevant Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Open+Source+Technology%22">Open Source Technology</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Puerto+Rico%22">Puerto Rico</searchLink>
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  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2472-2707
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The Cybercamp is a Cybersecurity summer camp for high school students that has been held for the last nine years at a Hispanic Serving Institution. Since its inception in 2016 the Cybercamp has undergone several transformations in response to budget reductions and the COVID pandemic, to finally become its current version: a rich, hands-on learning experience that we believe is easily replicable even in resource-challenged environments. In this paper, we document the transformations of the Cybercamp and discuss the developed curriculum and materials in hopes that others will reuse, adapt, and improve upon them. In the Cybercamp, we apply active learning practices that have been shown to be effective in STEM education. We perform hands-on, activities, providing Capture The Flag (CTF) style practice exercises with automatic grading. The Cybercamp is assisted by college students who serve as peer-assisted leaders. The educational materials were designed with culturally relevant case studies, using open source technologies, and following Universal Design Learning best practices to make them as accessible as possible, particularly to low-income students. We discuss how we prevented students from falling behind and successfully completed the Cybercamp.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1506725
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 9
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      – SubjectFull: Summer Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Camps
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Computer Security
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      – SubjectFull: Computer Science Education
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      – SubjectFull: Experiential Learning
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      – SubjectFull: Learning Activities
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      – SubjectFull: Access to Education
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      – SubjectFull: Culturally Relevant Education
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      – SubjectFull: Open Source Technology
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      – SubjectFull: Puerto Rico
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Cybercamp: An Experience Report on the Transformations of an Intensive Cybersecurity Summer Camp for High School Students
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            NameFull: Rafael A. Arce Nazario
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              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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