The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT), in partnership with the Southwest Arkansas Education Cooperative (SWAEC), will host the UAHT Cybersecurity Exploration Camp June 1–5 on the UAHT Texarkana campus. The camp will run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will serve 30 students entering grades 7–11.

This innovative summer program introduces students to cybersecurity through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. UAHT and SWAEC strongly encourage female students to apply, as women remain underrepresented in the cybersecurity workforce and have significant employment opportunities.

The camp is designed to help students develop a security mindset while exploring foundational cybersecurity topics, including cryptography, digital forensics, Internet of Things (IoT) security, and adversarial thinking. Instruction is based on the TeachCyber.org curriculum and uses cloud-based laboratory resources from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) Cyber Arena. In addition to technical skills, students will learn about the ethical responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

Instruction will combine classroom learning, cloud labs, and team-based challenges. Students will rotate through daily modules that progressively build cybersecurity skills, including:

• Defense in Depth: Interactive puzzles and guided labs focused on cryptography, vulnerability assessment, and threat hunting
• Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability: Cipher exercises, IoT security labs, and password-cracking activities with an emphasis on ethics and responsibility
• Think Like an Adversary: Scavenger hunts, ransomware simulations, and phishing labs that develop adversarial thinking skills
• Keep It Simple: Communication-based activities culminating in a Jeopardy-style Cyber Arena team competition

Activities are scaffolded into novice, beginner, and competent levels based on pre-camp assessments, ensuring students with varying levels of experience are both supported and challenged. Female role models from industry and higher education will participate as guest speakers and mentors to encourage girls to continue along computer science pathways.

The UAHT Cybersecurity Exploration Camp serves as a bridge between Arkansas’s K–12 Computer Science Pathways, UAHT’s postsecondary cybersecurity programs, and regional workforce needs. Camp modules directly reinforce concepts taught in CS Level 1 and CS Level 2 courses, helping students build practical skills that transfer to their high school coursework.

Students will also be introduced to UAHT’s Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity degree and dual-credit opportunities through the Secondary Career Center and Collegiate Academies. Participants will meet with faculty, tour UAHT’s cybersecurity lab, and learn how camp activities connect to college-level coursework and industry-recognized certifications, including CompTIA Security+ and Network+.

In addition, the camp highlights regional demand for cybersecurity professionals. Guest speakers and career panels will feature professionals from banking, healthcare, utilities, and IT services—industries facing increasing cyber threats and actively seeking skilled workers. The program is designed to support students from rural and underserved communities by introducing them to high-skill, high-wage career opportunities in Arkansas.

Participating schools must be members of the SWAEC Perkins Consortia and include:

• Albert J. Murphy Junior High School
• Arkansas High School
• Arkansas Middle School
• Blevins High School
• Fouke High School
• Genoa Central High School
• Hope High School
• Lafayette County High School
• Nevada High School
• Paulette Smith Middle School
• Prescott High School
• Prescott Junior High School
• Spring Hill High School
• Yerger Middle School

Only 30 spots are available, so register today! Registration is available at https://forms.office.com/r/z7XECy0g3v.

For more information, visit https://www.uaht.edu/cybersecurity-camp.php or contact Brittni Hardie, Camp Director, at 870-216-2919 or brittni.hardie@uaht.edu.