The National Security Agency is running GenCyber, a program that funds cybersecurity summer camps for elementary, middle and high school students and teachers.
NSA launched GenCyber in 2014 with eight prototype camps. Today, nonprofits, school systems and universities interested in hosting summer programs through GenCyber submit proposals to NSA. The agency expects to approve between 120 and 150 programs for 2017.
GenCyber camps, which are funded by NSA and the National Science Foundation, are open to student and teacher participants at no cost. Some programs target specific populations that are underrepresented in cybersecurity, such as female students.
The GenCyber program has three main goals: to increase interest in cybersecurity careers, to help students understand safe online behavior and to improve teaching methods for cybersecurity education.