Competitions & Camps
To test their skills, students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of coding, CTF (Capture the Flag), and other learning experiences. These competitions allow students to work in teams to solve complex problems, some of which are similar to those seen in entry-level interviews. To learn more about these opportunities, check out the information below!
Coding Competitions
Hewlett Packard Code Wars
This competition takes place in Fort Collins at the HP HQ
Link to information about the competition
Saturday, March 2, 2024
School of Mines Coding Competition
This competition takes place in Golden at the School of Mines campus.
Link to information about the competition
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Lockheed Martin Code Quest
The competition will take place in Littleton at the Lockheed Martin HQ
Link to information about the competition
Date TBA but generally towards the end of April
Cyber Patriot
CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air & Space Forces Association to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future.
Students work in teams to help secure a variety of systems: Ubuntu, Windows 10, and Windows server.
Throughout the season students learn how to defend against common security issues.
Camps
GenCyber Camp (NSA)
The GenCyber program provides cybersecurity experiences for students at the secondary level. The goals of the GenCyber program are to:
Ignite, sustain, and increase awareness of K12 cybersecurity content and cybersecurity postsecondary and career opportunities for participants through year-round engagement;
Increase student diversity in cybersecurity college and career readiness pathways at the K-12 level
Link to more information here
Northrup Grumman & Innovation Center Summer Camp
Interested in learning about cybersecurity? This week-long summer course introduces students to cybersecurity and concludes with a national cybersecurity competition for middle and high school students. The course is designed for students who have not previously participated in cybersecurity competitions and have not previously taken a cybersecurity course. Some experience in computer science is helpful but not required. The camp is based on the national CyberPatriot program. Topics will range from how and why to set passwords to setting security policies in both Windows and Unix. By the conclusion of the course, you will be familiar with cybersecurity, be able to apply the concepts to both Windows and Unix operating systems, and will have the opportunity to test your skills against other beginning teams from around the country in a CyberPatriot competition.
Date TBD but generally the third week of July
Link to 2023 summer information here
CTF Competitions
PicoCTF
This is an online cybersecurity competition hosted by Carnegie Mellon
picoCTF is an offensively-oriented high school computer security competition that seeks to generate interest in computer science among high schoolers: teaching them enough about computer security to pique their curiosity, motivating them to explore on their own, and enabling them to better defend their machines.
Link to information about the competition
Date TBA but generally in mid March
Cyberstart America
This is an online competition that lasts from October until April
Link to information about the competition
Tackle four unique categories, each focusing on both offensive and defensive cybersecurity disciplines.
Explore over 200 unique security challenges which you'll solve as a hypothetical.cybersecurity agent investigating criminal gangs.
Unlock a hidden interest, progress from novice to expert and demonstrate your skills to win scholarships.
National Cyber Cup
The National Cyber Cup by CYBER.ORG is a free, jeopardy-style, CTF competition for students with a focus on cybersecurity themes and challenges.
Link to information about the competition
Date TBA
FAQs
How do I prepare for coding competitions?
Practice, practice, practice! This is a great site for a variety of problems to try. This is the platform that School of Mines uses for their competition as well. Many of the competitions use a similar set up.
Who do I contact if I am interested in participating in CTF or coding competitions?
Contact Beth Cerrone at cerrone_elizabeth@svvsd.org
Who do I contact if I am interested in participating in Cyber Patriot?
Contact Mai Vu at vu_mai@svvsd.org.
How do I prepare for CTF competitions?
picoCTF has a site called picoGYM that is constructed from previous competition questions. You just sign up at picoCTF.org and you will have access to a wide variety of problems. cyberstartamerica.org is an ongoing competition that is open for six months. There are learning modules built within the site to help you learn. National Cyber Cup also has practice problems on the site itself.
Why should I participate in coding competitions?
Participating in high school coding competitions offers several benefits, including:
Skill Development: Coding competitions expose students to a variety of coding challenges that enhance their problem-solving, algorithmic thinking, and programming skills.
Critical Thinking: Competitions often require innovative approaches to solve complex problems, fostering critical thinking and creativity.
Teamwork: Many coding competitions are team-based, promoting collaboration, communication, and teamwork among participants.
Real-World Experience: Competitions simulate real-world scenarios, helping students understand how coding is applied in practical situations.
Resume Enhancement: Success in coding competitions can make a student's college application or resume stand out, demonstrating their dedication and expertise in coding.
Networking: Competitions provide opportunities to interact with like-minded peers, mentors, and professionals in the tech industry, expanding the student's network.
Time Management: Preparing for competitions teaches students how to manage their time effectively and balance their academic commitments.
Confidence Boost: Achieving success in coding competitions boosts students' self-confidence and belief in their coding abilities.
College and Career Opportunities: Excelling in competitions can lead to scholarship opportunities, internships, and even job offers from tech companies seeking skilled programmers.
Problem Solving Under Pressure: Competing in timed challenges teaches students how to think and code quickly under pressure, a valuable skill in various fields.
Why should I participate in CTF competitions?
Participating in Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions offers numerous benefits that contribute to your personal and professional growth in the field of cybersecurity:
Skill Enhancement:CTF challenges cover a wide range of cybersecurity topics, enhancing your technical skills in areas like cryptography, reverse engineering, web security, and more.
Hands-On Experience: CTFs provide practical, hands-on experience in solving real-world cybersecurity challenges, allowing you to apply theoretical knowledge in a realistic context.
Problem-Solving Abilities: CTFs present complex problems that require creative and analytical thinking, fostering your problem-solving and critical reasoning skills.
Learning Opportunities: Even if you don't solve every challenge, CTFs expose you to new techniques, tools, and vulnerabilities, contributing to continuous learning.Cybersecurity Awareness: CTFs raise your awareness of various cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors, making you a more security-conscious individual.
Teamwork: Many CTFs are team-based, encouraging collaboration and teamwork, which are essential skills in the cybersecurity field.
Hands-On Tools: CTFs introduce you to various cybersecurity tools and techniques, giving you valuable hands-on experience that can be applied in real-world scenarios.
Preparation for Red Teaming: CTFs provide a taste of what it's like to be on the offensive side of cybersecurity, which is valuable if you're interested in roles like penetration testing or ethical hacking.