Published March 17 2025
Do you want your child to pick up new computing, cryptography, and programming skills this summer? Learn from college cybersecurity professors and experts? Build their ability to stay safe online? Meet children with similar technological interests?
CyberMontana and its partners offer opportunities for all these things and more at its series of free or low-cost cybersecurity summer camps for middle school students at locations across the state.
Now in its fourth year, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Camp program partners with colleges and other organizations to offer summer camps hosted in Montana. Although the curriculum and structure of camps varies depending on the location, camps typically last one week and feature local experts teaching campers basic computing, reasoning, and cybersecurity skills. Camps are highly interactive, with a wide range of hands-on activities and opportunities for campers to work together to solve problems.
In 2024, the STEM Camp program included seven camps and over 120 participants in locations across the state, including Billings, Bozeman, Glendive, Miles City and Missoula. The 2025 program will feature 12 new and returning camps in a variety of locations.
Also in its fourth year is the GenCyber Summer Institute hosted in Missoula. The camp is supported by National Security Administration (NSA) grant funding and its curriculum aligns with the NSA GenCyber program, which provides nationwide opportunities for youth to learn about cybersecurity. CyberMontana advances its goal to expand the cybersecurity workforce pipeline through the summer institute, engaging youth and exposing them to concepts and careers in the cybersecurity field.
STEM Summer Camp Schedule and Details
STEM Camps happen at a range of times across the summer and feature varied content depending on the location. For more information and registration links for all STEM summer camps, visit the CyberMontana website, including dates and available details. Camps are scheduled in Billings, Bozeman, Browning, Dillon, Glendive, Great Falls, Miles City, Missoula, Kalispell, and Stevensville.
The camps are taught by cybersecurity faculty from local colleges and universities. Support is provided by student mentors in local IT programs. The curriculum for the program includes content on basic electronics, networking, encryption, elementary programming, and digital forensics. The camp features a mix of lecture content, hands-on activities, and challenges. The specific curriculum is varied each year, with changes to topics and activities covered.
GenCyber Summer Institute
The GenCyber Summer Institute provides another opportunity for youth ages 11 to 14 to learn about computer technology and cybersecurity at Missoula College this summer. The free, weeklong camp is scheduled for July 21 to July 25, 2025. The GenCyber Camp teaches students basic cybersecurity concepts and coding in Python. It features a mix of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on activities for participants as they refine their skills. This camp provides both snacks and lunches for participants.
No prior experience is required for the camp, although there will be several events before the camp to help participants learn basic skills and be prepared to learn all they can at the camp. These include events at local middle schools in April and May, an introduction to Python programming on June 14 and an online event featuring puzzles and challenges presented by camp instructors on July 5. Participants may register for any of the pre-camp events and are encouraged to attend all of them, although they are not strictly required to participate in the camp. Register here to join the GenCyber camp.