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CyberSAFE Camp

Decoding

CyberSAFE Camp (Summer 2025)

For the third consecutive summer, the Information Technology faculty team from ACC conducted a successful CyberSAFE camp. This summer’s camp for middle school participants, organized by Dr. David Horgan, offered a wide range of topics and activities. 

ACC Computer-Aided Drafting instructor Ashley Lewis taught the campers about 3D modeling as well as the page design capabilities in the Canva application. Dr. B. Scott Ward offered his expertise in hardware/software design while Dr. David Horgan demonstrated basic network design. Department Head Debra McCusker worked behind the scenes developing an Escape Room concept that blossomed into a three-hallway puzzle-breaking/scavenger challenge.

Throughout the week, campers completed activities such as tearing down and rebuilding computers, learning to use a cipher wheel to decode a shift cipher, building a simple network in a simulator, using TinkerCAD to create a 3D model, and designing cyber awareness posters in Canva. The camp also featured a presentation and discussion on Internet safety with an Alamance County Detective and a fun and exciting “Escape Hall” Challenge that required using skills learned earlier in the week to solve puzzles and decode clues.

A camper end-of-event survey confirmed that the camp was a success and enjoyed by everyone.

A computer monitor displaying a Cisco Networking Academy presentation slide titled 'Become a Cyber Defender: Introduction to Cybersecurity Curriculum.' The slide features a green and white design with a padlock graphic. The background shows a classroom setting with tables, chairs, and cybersecurity-related materials


CyberSAFE Camp (Summer 2024)

In today's digital age, attackers are using social engineering tactics to gain access to sensitive information or systems. What is social engineering? It is the approach of manipulating people into divulging sensitive information or into performing actions that may compromise their security. Many individuals and organizations fall prey to social engineering attacks and these often result in significant financial and reputational damage.

At CyberSAFE Camp, campers learned the many tricks used by cyber scammers to confuse, coerce, and lure people into taking actions that are not in their best interest, whether it is clicking a link, downloading a file, or giving out personal information during a phone conversation.

Some strategy games were played to simulate the thought process behind solving cybersecurity incidents.  Campers learned the basics of networking technology and performed some research and study of wireless communication. They  were able to see how WiFi can prove to be a weak link in the digital landscape. Campers were given the opportunity to earn a Cisco certificate as a digital defender.

Between studying the psychology behind a scam, seeing how gameplay can simulate real-world activities, understanding a bit of tech, and working on projects, everyone had a fun week.

 

 

CyberSAFE Camp (Summer 2023)

cyber security summer camp team

An ACC Foundation faculty grant made it possible for local high school students this summer to immerse themselves in a four-day interactive experience at Cybersafe Camp, coordinated by ACC’s Information Technology and Business Administration programs. Cybersafe Camp taught students about the many tricks used by cyber scammers to confuse, coerce, and lure people into taking actions that are not in their best interest, whether it is clicking a link, downloading a file, or giving out personal information during a phone conversation. Campers learned about various ways to publicize an awareness message and how different designs and mediums work when targeting audiences of varying generations and maturity levels.  Cybersafe Slam was the capstone event, a competition to create the most appealing, informative, and effective cybersecurity awareness campaign focused on keeping their own school from succumbing to an attack.