The Grainger College of Engineering
Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Program

Roboscape Cybersecurity Camp

Camp is FULL for Summer 2026.
Application is OPEN for Summer 2026. Register Now.
Application is CLOSED for Summer 2026.
This is an INVITE-ONLY camp.
Application is TBA for Summer 2026. Check back soon.

Age Group: 10th - 11th tentative

Cost

  • Residential: $1,500
  • Commuter: $750
  • Virtual:
  • Day Camp:

Category: 3-D Sessions

Dates:

  • June 21 - June 26

Residence Hall: ISR

Scholarships: Yes, see details No

This is a Broadening Participation in STEM initiative. Camps focus on support and empowerment of traditionally excluded populations in STEM including (but not limited to) the areas of socio-economic status, gender, 1st generation college, race, ethnicity, rural schools, and ability. All are welcome to apply.

Campers working in lab
2022 campers building robots

In this camp, students will:

  • Use networked robots and a visual programming language to learn about cybersecurity.
  • Reinforce programming concepts, such as control structures, variables, data types & functions, and write programs to control a robot.
  • Defend against cyberattacks from other robots on our network.
  • Learn about authentication and encryption as you make your robot less vulnerable.
  • Participate in robotics challenges.
  • Participate in an Ethical Hacker Training activity designed to teach password security concepts.

Note: 

  • A laptop is recommended for this camp.
  • Basic coding experience is recommended for this camp.

This camp is a collaboration of the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering program, the Office for Math, Science, and Technology Education, the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute, the Cyber Resilient Energy Delivery Consortium, and the Information Trust Institute’s Illinois Cyber Security Scholars Program.

Testimonial

“I had a fun time learning about engineering such as electrical and computer engineering, since that was our main concentration. Cybersecurity and computer science was also another concentration as well since we had robots to code out of. I had a lot of fun around campus and met many new friends.” – 2024 Roboscape Camper

“I really enjoy this camp and the overall experience. I met a lot of amazing and really cool people who were able to teach some really interesting information. I feel my knowledge for cybersecurity has  expanded greatly  and I know have a great interest for cybersecurity.” – 2024 Roboscape Camper

Staff

Jana Sebestik is the Interim Director of the Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has coordinated education and outreach for several projects including the NSF-funded GIC Hazard Prediction: From the Solar Wind to Power Systems Impacts Project and the DOE/DHS funded Cyber Resilient Energy Delivery Consortium (CREDC). She helps engineers and research scientists connect their work to educators, consumers, and students. She is the author of curriculum modules in computer science, mathematics, and science.​

Michael McKelvey is the Coordinator of Engagement Technology and New Media at the Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has a particular interest in outreach and engagement work, especially when it involves helping researchers and educators communicate about math, science, and sustainability through web-based games, curriculum materials, and citizen-science initiatives. He has collaborated with researchers to develop a number of math and science educational activities, including BeeSpotter, a community-scientist site where members of the public can help track bee demographics across several states in the Midwest, DarkSky Investigations, an escape room inspired puzzle adventure to promote learning about electricity and cybersecurity, and Food Flows, a visualization system to map food flows between counties in the United States.

Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions