Naina Patnayakuni, Computer Information Systems department chair at Calhoun, which is hosting the camps at the Decatur campus, said the impetus for the camps is the fact there are not enough students trained in cybersecurity across the spectrum of jobs.
"The most important thing is that we have a cybersecurity pipeline issue," she said. "We need more and more people who are trained in cybersecurity. Not just for cybersecurity jobs but for computer science jobs and for all other kinds of jobs. We don't have enough people qualified for these cybersecurity jobs."
She said another goal of the camp is to teach attendees how to safely use the Internet.
"The other issue that we face is that a lot of younger people are not safe online. There is a lot of cyber bullying," Patnayakuni said. "There is a lot of sharing personal information. So, we want to train them so that they understand the importance of cybersecurity in their personal lives."
The camps started Monday and end Friday. The standard camp teaches beginners the basics of cybersecurity. The advanced camp focuses on higher-level cybersecurity topics. CyberPatriot is a national youth cyber education program.
Jimmie Wiggins, 15, and Alex Kontoulakos, 16, said they were enjoying the standard camp.
"I'm not only learning a lot, but it's also a blast," Wiggins said Tuesday. "We're having a lot of fun."
Wiggins said he came to the camp to be better prepared for the future.
"I came because the future of just the world in general is going to revolve around computers and phones and technology — it already is," Wiggins said. "I'm talking about futuristic potential warfare on technology and it's just safe to say right now, we are not prepared for what is to come.
"If we aren't prepared, in the worst-case scenario we lose everything. We lose our freedom, our right to walk, talk, speak, everything. We're taken control over. I want to protect our freedom and I want to protect my family from these cyber threats."
Kontoulakos said he believes the cybersecurity skills he is gleaning from the camp could be used in any job or to help others.
"No matter who you are, no matter what job you go into, you are going to need some type of cyber training or computer training," he said. "Like imagine a lawyer. Most lawyers are just old dudes. They are going to rely on other people. You don't need to rely on other people; you can do it yourself. You can not only be what you are but also help out" those who don't have the skills.
"No matter where you are you just cannot not be involved with computers; it's impossible," he said.
Wiggins added that people "need to be prepared for change" and that "prepared" is the definition of cybersecurity.
The basic camp is so popular it filled up and has a waiting list for students who want to take it next year, said Sherry Adams, business and computer information systems instructor at Calhoun. The advanced camp still has openings.
OTHER CAMPS
Amber Fortenberry, director of talent development and recruitment for the chamber, said the chamber is involved in two other free camps being hosted by Calhoun.
The precision machining camp for juniors and seniors is a four-day camp that began Monday and ends Thursday at Calhoun Advanced Technology Center on the Decatur campus.
"They get hand-on exposure to CNC machining and part design and modeling," Fortenberry said. "They have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of CNC programming skills and that includes configuring the tools. They set the machines and they learn to operate the CNC equipment safely throughout the week."
They take all the parts they configure throughout the week and see who can assemble them the fastest and then they win a prize, she said.
The health care camp is a two-day event that ends Wednesday for students in grades 9-12 at Calhoun's Decatur and Huntsville campuses.
"We will explore careers in all nine heath science division programs and get hands-on experience," Fortenberry said. "They get to do everything the nursing students get to do at Calhoun. We just felt like with the nursing shortage in the workforce this is a way to try to make sure all of our high school students have a little extra exposure in the health care field."
©2024 The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
