UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI offers free Summer Cyber and AI Experience Camps

The University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity and AI is collaborating with Regions Foundation to offer free Summer Cyber and AI Experience Camps for the summer of 2026. The camps are an opportunity for rising seventh through twelfth graders who are at least 13 years old to learn about cybersecurity and its careers through hands-on experience with real-world tools and problems.

Students with an interest in cybersecurity, AI and technology will spend a week making new friends and learning about the world of cybersecurity and AI by doing. The highly interactive camp features activities, games, puzzles and hands-on computer training powered by the Florida Cyber Range®. Students will also hear from cybersecurity professionals to learn more about different opportunities within the field.

"The best way to learn anything is to do it," said Guy Garrett, camp director and associate director of technology and training at the Center for Cybersecurity and AI. "Campers face real cyber problems and learn real cyber tools. We build confidence through competence and competence through practice."

There will be two camp sessions:

• Foundations Camp: Hosted June 1-5, Foundations Camp is designed for first-time campers or relative newcomers to cyber.
• The Guild Camp: Hosted June 8-12, The Guild Camp is designed for previous campers or students with cybersecurity, IT, programming, computer science, gaming and modeling design, or engineering coursework in middle and high school.

The camps will be offered free of charge to eligible and selected students thanks to the generous support of Regions Foundation. The Regions Foundation, a nonprofit initiative funded primarily by Regions Bank, is focused on giving more people more opportunities through economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness.

"This grant from the Regions Foundation allows us to continue bridging the gap between discovering potential career paths and education through hands-on practice and coaching," said John M. Gormley, Pensacola market executive for Regions Bank. "This is an investment that will benefit the workforce of tomorrow while learning the emerging technologies of today."

Camps will be held Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT at the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI, which is located at 220 W Garden Street in downtown Pensacola. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

To view the full Summer Cyber Experience Camps schedule, learn more and register, visit uwf.edu/summercyberexperience.