GenCyber Camps
NSA- and NSF-funded free, one-week cybersecurity camps hosted at universities across the country covering internet safety, cryptography, ethics, network scanning, and core security principles. No prior experience required.
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AFA CyberCamps
Summer cybersecurity camps run by the Air & Space Forces Association at sites nationwide. Standard and Advanced camps introduce networking, operating-system security, and hands-on defense skills, often used as an on-ramp to CyberPatriot.
ångstromCTF
A capture-the-flag competition organized entirely by students at Montgomery Blair High School focusing on system/network administration, programming, and reverse engineering. Beginner-to-intermediate friendly and online.
CyberStart America
A free national online program delivered by the SANS Institute with 200+ gamified challenges covering cryptography, web exploitation, Python, forensics, and code-breaking, serving as the qualifying platform for the National Cyber Scholarship.
Girls Who Code - Clubs & Pathways
Free, project-based programs including a cybersecurity track alongside web development, game design, and data science. Clubs meet after school/weekends; the self-paced Pathways program is virtual for high schoolers.
Hivestorm
A cyber-defense competition where teams of 2-4 secure virtual machines, remove malware and threats, and harden systems to score points, emphasizing practical security and system-administration skills.
HSCTF (High School Capture the Flag)
An international online hacking competition designed for high schoolers where teams of up to 5 crack codes, reverse engineer, design algorithms, and solve web/crypto challenges. Student-organized and beginner-accessible.