Who is eligible to attend?
The camp is open to high school students entering 9th-graduating 12th grade from the Greater Pittsburgh area.
When and where is the camp held?
The 2025 camp will run Monday through Friday, June 23–27, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus in Oakland. Students are assigned to a campus computing lab for the week and information will be sent to participants 2 weeks before the camp begins.
How much does the camp cost?
Thanks to our generous sponsors, EQT Foundation and Grable Foundation, the camp is free for all participants.
What will I learn?
The CyberCamp is divided into two tracks to better serve students at different stages in their cybersecurity learning journey. The camp is taught by a mix of Pitt IT professionals, industry experts, and trained student mentors from the University of Pittsburgh. Staff are background-checked and trained to work with high school students.
Standard Camp
The Standard track is designed for students who are new to cybersecurity or have limited technical experience. In the Standard camp, students will:
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Learn basic cybersecurity terminology and concepts
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Explore digital citizenship, cyber hygiene, and online safety
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Gain hands-on experience with securing Windows and Linux systems
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Practice identifying and fixing common security vulnerabilities
This track focuses on building confidence, curiosity, and foundational skills in a supportive, no-pressure environment.
Advanced Camp
The Advanced track is intended for students with prior cybersecurity experience, especially those who have already completed the Standard Camp in a previous year. In the Advanced camp, students will:
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Tackle more complex security scenarios and challenges
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Work with additional operating systems and tools not covered in the Standard track
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Dive deeper into system hardening, user permissions, and secure configurations
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Learn team-based strategies for CyberPatriot-style competitions
Advanced students should feel comfortable navigating computer systems, using command-line interfaces, and applying basic troubleshooting techniques.
For additional curriculum information, please visit the US CyberPatriot website.
Do students need to bring anything?
All equipment and materials are provided. We will provide light snacks and a water bottle, and students can feel free to bring more food if needed.