There are multiple paths to a career in cybersecurity. If you ask ten people in the cybersecurity industry about their path, you will receive ten routes to the same place. Some would be circuitous, and some would be more direct. Some of those routes would take years to complete. For others, it would take months. The pathways to cybersecurity careers are as unique as the people that use those routes.
However, certain fundamentals have to be learned to build a solid foundation for everything that comes after it. The perfect pathway will have to consist of education, certifications, and practical work experience through apprenticeships, internships, and shadowing. If you only had two of these elements, you will still have a great chance to enter the cybersecurity industry. If you only had one of these elements, it is not enough for you to earn that position.
Cyber security is one of the hottest career fields today, with over 4 million open positions worldwide. As our lives and businesses become more connected through technology, the need for skilled cyber security professionals continues to grow exponentially. That’s why forward-thinking high school students interested in STEM careers should seriously consider the many excellent cyber security programs tailored specifically for them.
These programs allow high schoolers to gain valuable hands-on experience and skills through simulations, projects, competitions, and more Students can test drive a potential career path in cyber security before even reaching college. The programs also provide networking opportunities with industry professionals and a resume boost for college applications
In this article, we’ll explore some of the top cyber security summer programs, camps, clubs, and competitions available for high school students across the United States.
Hands-On Summer Programs
Intensive summer cyber security programs allow high school students to fully immerse themselves in the field. Participants live on a university campus for 1-2 weeks and learn through simulated cyber attacks, ethical hacking, cryptography, and digital forensics workshops. Industry experts serve as guest speakers. Students also go on exciting behind-the-scenes trips to places like the FBI and tech company offices.
The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) on Cybersecurity is one of the best-known summer programs. Open to students grades 9-12 the NSLC Cybersecurity program takes place on campuses such as Johns Hopkins University and UCLA.
Some key activities include:
- Capture the Flag competitions
- A cryptography workshop
- Digital forensics to investigate simulated crime scenes
- Securing Internet of Things devices and home networks
- Learning Linux, Python, networking, and other technical skills
- Field trips to places like the National Security Agency’s National Cryptologic Museum
Another top summer program is GenCyber Cybersecurity Camps. The GenCyber program is funded by the National Security Agency (NSA) and National Science Foundation (NSF). Over 100 universities host GenCyber camps each summer for high school students entering grades 9-12. Most camps are free for participants.
At GenCyber camps, students learn topics like software security, cryptography, digital forensics, and secure coding. Hands-on activities teach security concepts through gaming, building computer networks, and even unplugged exercises. Students also engage in career panels, cyber ethics discussions, and female empowerment sessions.
Some examples of GenCyber camp locations include Dakota State University, New York University, and the University of Southern California.
Cybersecurity Competitions
Competing in cybersecurity contests allows high school students to test their skills in a fun, gamified environment. There are competitions at the local, regional, national, and even global level that students can participate in.
The Air Force Association (AFA) CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Education Program is one of the largest cybersecurity competitions for high school students. The program features the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, an annual event where teams compete to protect hypothetical computer networks from cyber attacks.
Students get hands-on experience securing Windows and Linux operating systems, Cisco networking devices, and more. Over 5,500 teams from across the U.S. and Canada participate each year, with winners earning national recognition and scholarship money.
Another competition, the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation’s Cyber Foundations Academy (CFA), allows individuals or teams to compete in online cyber challenges focused on topics like cryptography, networking, programming, and digital forensics. There are separate divisions for middle school, high school, and college students.
Winners can receive full rides to partner universities or cash prizes up to $2,500. The CFA also provides free cybersecurity training content for students to prepare for competitions.
Cybersecurity Clubs
Joining or starting a cybersecurity club at school is another great way for high school students to explore the field. Club activities may include guest speaker events, field trips, Capture the Flag contests, awareness campaigns, and team participation in broader cyber competitions.
The CyberPatriot Cybersecurity Club Program helps schools create their own cyber clubs. CyberPatriot provides club registration, sample meeting activities, presentations, and coaching materials. Club members can form teams to compete in the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition.
Another club resource comes from the Air Force Association (AFA)‘s StellarXplorers Program. StellarXplorers helps schools across the U.S. establish cybersecurity and space industry education clubs.
Club participants take part in the annual StellarXplorers competition, where teams complete orbit determination analyses, build spacecraft, and tackle cybersecurity scenarios. The program provides training materials, industry mentorship, and other resources to help clubs thrive.
Specialized High Schools
For high schoolers who want to completely immerse themselves in cybersecurity, attending a specialized career-focused high school is an option. Two top schools are the National Cryptologic School (NCS) in Maryland and the Academy of Computer Science and Technology (ACST) in New York City.
The NCS provides gifted STEM students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to conduct simulated intelligence operations and cyber defense exercises. The school is located next to the NSA headquarters and students interact with agency professionals.
The curriculum covers network security, computer programming, data science, cryptography, and more. Students also tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges through a capstone project their senior year.
Meanwhile, the ACST in NYC allows students to focus exclusively on computer science and cybersecurity during high school. The school offers courses in Java, network security, Python, forensics, calculus, and other relevant subjects.
Students collaborate on cyber projects, interact with field experts, and can earn valuable certifications. They also complete internships at tech companies and compete in cyber competitions.
Virtual Resources
Several free online resources allow high school students to start exploring cybersecurity before even signing up for a program.
The Cyber.org Cybersecurity Careers Training Pathway offers a self-paced interactive course introducing cybersecurity topics and career paths. Users can earn digital badges upon completing modules on networking, software security, cryptography, and more.
Cyber Aces provides a variety of free cybersecurity competitions, training challenges, and webinars for students. Users can access online modules to learn concepts before competing in events testing hacking defense, cryptography, forensics, and other skills.
HackerOne‘s Hacker101 features beginner-friendly Capture the Flag contests and video lessons on vulnerabilities, bugs, and exploits. The hands-on virtual hacking labs teach pentesting skills safely and legally.
The opportunities are endless for ambitious high school students to gain cybersecurity knowledge and experience through specialized programs, clubs, competitions, and online resources. By taking initiative early, students can position themselves at the front of the pack when applying for college cybersecurity programs and internships. The hands-on skills, critical thinking abilities, and passion for technology gained from these activities will serve them well on the path to an exciting cybersecurity career.
It Starts in High School
In high school, take math, technology, and computer science courses. A career in cybersecurity requires less math than a career in computer science. However, it is good to take as much advanced math as possible while you are in high school. Some schools do not always have the resources for STEM courses such as cybersecurity but take as many STEM courses as possible.
It is essential to participate in extracurricular activities such as CyberPatriot, which hosts the largest middle and high school cyber competitions globally. CyberPatriot is the best place to start a cybersecurity career, and it would be hard to find a cybersecurity professional under thirty years old that did not begin with CyberPatriot. Participating in CyberPatriot is a must.
Also, Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) such as Distributed Education Clubs of America (DECA) and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) are good places to hone the cyber skills you are learning in your classroom. These organizations offer awards and recognition programs based on professional business categories that include events related to cybersecurity, such as Network Design, Cybersecurity, Coding, and Programming. Join these clubs, and you will have the upper hand over those that did not have this experience. These clubs give a high school student a firm foundation to build on.
10 Best Undergraduate Cybersecurity Programs in USA
What is a cybersecurity program for high school students?
A cybersecurity program for high school students is a course that students can take if they are interested in cybersecurity. There are many types of programs, including summer camps, online courses, internships and training camps. Students may pursue these courses on their own or receive references from their counselors or teachers.
Do high school students enjoy cybersecurity?
Many high school students can attend programs that are online, over the summer or in person during the school year to determine if they enjoy cybersecurity. If you’re a high school student and you’re passionate about technology, learning more about cybersecurity programs can be beneficial.
Should high school students join a cybersecurity summer program?
If you’re an ambitious high school student who wants to establish a career in the cybersecurity domain, joining a summer program can be a great way to kickstart your journey. These programs do not just equip you with the foundational skills and knowledge you need to advance in your career.
Where can a high school student get a cybersecurity certification?
CyberPatriot, The National Cyber League, Hacker Highschool, Cybrary, and Codecademy are just a few online resources available. Students are eligible to pursue certifications earlier than some would expect. CompTIA, Cisco, and Microsoft all offer certification exams to students that are still in high school.
