Oregon Tech recently hosted two free cybersecurity camps for middle and high school students, giving participants the opportunity to learn about online safety, cybersecurity tools, and technology career pathways.
The camps were held at the Klamath Falls campus in June through Oregon Tech's Educational Partnerships and Outreach (EPO) program and welcomed 30 students for free instruction, hands-on learning experiences, and lunch each day. Both camps were designed and led by Praveen Guraja, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, and Manish Nalluri, Visiting Instructor in Applied Computing and Geomatics.
In Cyber Explorers: Defend, Discover, Design, middle school students were introduced to cybersecurity concepts through activities focused on digital citizenship, online safety, passwords, phishing detection, cryptography, and basic cybersecurity investigations. High school students in Cyber Ops: Hack, Defend, Secure, explored more advanced topics, including ethical hacking, digital forensics, network analysis, cryptography, and cyber defense tools.
Students participated in group projects, hands-on labs, cyber detective activities, Capture the Flag competitions, and challenge-based games that required teamwork and problem-solving. Among the most popular activities were Capture the Flag challenges, phishing detective exercises, cryptography labs, Kahoot review games, and an escape-room-style lock box challenge.
"The students were engaged and quickly connected what they learned to real-world situations," said Guraja. "They were not just listening to cybersecurity concepts. They were practicing them, solving puzzles, working in teams, presenting their findings, and building confidence."
Students learned practical skills for recognizing phishing attempts, creating stronger passphrases, understanding how computer networks operate, analyzing digital information, and identifying cyber threats. Participants also earned an industry-recognized cybersecurity credential.
"It is important for students to learn cybersecurity at this age because they are already active online and constantly interacting with digital systems, games, apps, school platforms, and social media," said Guraja. "Helping them understand cyber threats early gives them the confidence and awareness to protect themselves, their families, and their communities."
Mary-Jane Owen, Associate Director of EPO, said the camps provided students with opportunities to explore future education and career options. "Camps like these provide exposure to high-demand fields such as cybersecurity while helping students picture themselves in college a few years from now," Owen said. "For many students, learning about cybersecurity and earning an industry credential can provide the confidence they need to pursue this career field."
Owen also thanked the faculty members who developed and taught the camps. "Seeing the level of enthusiasm and professionalism our cybersecurity faculty poured into designing this curriculum reinforces the value they bring to Oregon Tech and highlights how fortunate our students are to learn from such engaged and student-centered educators," she said.
Fortinet was the primary sponsor of the camps, providing the support that made the program possible. NW Cyber Camp served as the lead organizer, while the camps were further supported by Oregon Tech's EPO team, with Oregon Tech faculty and staff participating in the final presentations and awards ceremony.
Organizers plan to continue offering cybersecurity outreach opportunities and hope to expand access for students throughout the Klamath Basin.
For more information about Oregon Tech’s Cybersecurity program, visit https://www.oit.edu/academics/degrees/cybersecurity.
