Central High School to host Virginia CyberCamp 2016

Published 8:38 am Thursday, April 14, 2016

Lunenburg County Public School officials are spreading the word far and wide as they try to reach anyone and everyone who may be interested in the upcoming CyberCamp.

The division is trying to reach all parents who will have a child in high school next year and might be interested in the program.

The Central High School Virginia CyberCamp 2016 Program will be held June 14-16, 20-23 and 27-29. The contacts are the high school guidance department or Natalie Coronas, assistant principal, at (434) 696-2137.

“As you have already heard, Central High School has been very fortunate to receive a grant for $62,500 from the Virginia Department of Education to offer a Virginia CyberCamp 2016 program for rising 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students who are interested in cybersecurity careers,” Coronas said.

“The purpose of the camp is to increase awareness of careers in cybersecurity and inform students about the vast opportunities in the workplace. The CyberCamp will serve as a model for building the pipeline for kindergarten through 12th-grade education to meet Virginia’s cybersecurity workforce demands.”

Participants will learn basic programming and coding, research and discuss current cybersecurity events, observe current trends in wired and wireless networks and debate topics relevant to the use of robotics and automation.

They will also explore concepts of electricity, circuits and networks; interaction of robots — making it do what you want; remote control hacking; current and emerging job opportunities in the world of cybersecurity.

Participants will increase their cyber literacy through hands-on experiences in STEM activities consisting of curriculum, LEGO and VEX EDR robotics, training and research using computers and career-planning tools, a press release from the school system stated

There will be guest speakers from cybersecurity-related businesses, and two field trips consisting of tours and information sessions with staff in the security department of First Citizens Bank in Raleigh, NC, and with Mr. Bill Sammler at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service office in Wakefield.

Transportation and meals — breakfast, lunch, and two nutritional snacks — will be provided to participating students.

Students, parents, and school and community leaders will be invited to an awards ceremony, and students who complete it will be recognized and give a certificate.

Students interested in participating must complete an application, obtain a teacher recommendation, participate in a possible interview with the camp committee, and have excellent attendance and discipline records at school.

Spots are limited and will fill fast so pick up information as soon as possible,  Coronas said.