CyberTexas Foundation CyberPatriot Advanced Camp 2026

Five Days. Countless Lessons. One Mission: Building the Next Generation of Cyber Defenders.

"The greatest victories aren't measured by trophies or medals. They're measured by the confidence you build, the friendships you make, and the lives you inspire."

Another incredible week has come to an end. For five unforgettable days, the classrooms at St. Mary's University became more than just classrooms—they became Cyber Val-HALL-ah, where students challenged themselves, solved problems, learned new technologies, and discovered what it truly means to think like a cybersecurity professional.

Our goal has never been simply to teach students commands or prepare them for CyberPatriot.

Our mission is much bigger than that.

We want students to become curious.

To become investigators.

To become problem solvers.

To become leaders.

And after watching this year's campers throughout the week...Mission accomplished.

⚔️ Day 1 – The Adventure Begins

Every great adventure starts with a challenge.

From the moment the students arrived, they discovered that this wasn't going to be an ordinary summer camp. We kicked off the week by introducing cybersecurity fundamentals while setting the stage for everything that would follow. Students met new teammates, learned how CyberPatriot competitions work, and began preparing for a week that would challenge them far beyond simply sitting behind a computer.

Throughout the day they explored networking concepts, operating systems, cybersecurity fundamentals, and the importance of teamwork. We also launched our week-long Capture the Flag (CTF), giving students opportunities to apply what they learned through hands-on challenges.

Of course, no Cyber Viking adventure would be complete without a little mischief. The campers quickly realized that our Advanced Camp wasn't just about lectures—there would be surprises waiting around every corner, and every lesson would prepare them for something bigger later in the week.

🌐 Day 2 – Building the Network

Day 2 focused on one of the foundations of cybersecurity: networking.

Students sharpened their subnetting skills before diving into Cisco networking concepts using Packet Tracer. They configured routers and switches, connected serial interfaces, learned IP addressing, explored console connections, and practiced the Cisco IOS commands they'll use throughout CyberPatriot and beyond.

Then, just when everyone thought the day was winding down...The classroom came alive.

Our infamous Ransomware Dragon and Desktop Goose launched their surprise attack, forcing students to stop thinking like technicians and start thinking like defenders. Instead of simply following a checklist, they investigated the system, identified the malicious components, and worked together to remove the simulated threats.

Watching students transition from learning cybersecurity to practicing cybersecurity reminded everyone why hands-on experiences are some of the most valuable lessons we can provide.

🔍 Day 3 – Becoming Threat Hunters

By Day 3, the students had moved beyond configuring computers. Now it was time to investigate them.

We began by exploring the infrastructure that keeps the Internet connected, from undersea fiber-optic cables to communications satellites, while discussing how attackers exploit that same infrastructure to conduct cyber operations around the world.

Students then entered Threat Hunting Mode. Using Windows administrative tools and Microsoft Sysinternals Process Explorer, they learned how cybersecurity professionals investigate suspicious processes, analyze running applications, identify persistence mechanisms, and gather evidence before making changes.

One of the most important lessons of the day was simple:

• Don't fix the symptom. Find the cause.

• That investigative mindset became one of the defining themes of the entire camp.

  
  

The day concluded with presentations from Paul Guerra, Chief Information Security Officer at Rackspace Technology, and support from our CrowdStrike volunteers, who helped guide students through a remote access attack lab and shared valuable industry experience.

🌕 Day 4 – Looking Beyond the Keyboard

Day 4 reminded everyone that cybersecurity doesn't exist in isolation.

The morning began with a surprise visit to the WEX Foundation AI Space Coding Summer Camp, where students were building Arduino-powered engineering projects inspired by the International Space Station and future lunar missions. Seeing another group of young STEM learners so excited about engineering, coding, artificial intelligence, and space exploration was inspiring.

Back at CyberPatriot camp, students continued developing their threat hunting skills using TCPView, learning how cybersecurity professionals analyze TCP and UDP communications to identify suspicious network activity.

We were also fortunate to welcome two outstanding guest speakers. Kat from the WEX Foundation challenged students to think about mathematics, engineering, artificial intelligence, and future Moon exploration, demonstrating how STEM disciplines work together to solve complex problems.

Later in the day, David Webb connected everything our campers had learned throughout the week to real-world cybersecurity by discussing Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), threat hunting, critical infrastructure, and careers defending our nation's networks.

Students also had the opportunity to learn Linux from experienced CyberPatriot competitors who demonstrated the commands, shortcuts, and strategies they rely on during competitions.

Sometimes the best teachers are the students sitting beside you.

🛡️ Day 5 – Operation VIKINGS

Every year our Advanced Camp concludes with a competition.

This year...We changed everything.

Instead of another traditional CyberPatriot image, students entered the very first Cyber Viking Escape Room: Operation VIKINGS.

Eight cyber-themed challenges tested everything they had learned throughout the week:

⚔️ Digital Archaeology

🛡️ Ancient Viking Cipher

🪓 Forgotten Log

🛶 Fake Website Investigation

🐉 Trace the Packet

👁️ OSINT Mission

📜 Harald's AI Verification Challenge

👑 Final Trial of Val-HALL-ah

The objective wasn't simply to know the answers.

It was to research, verify, communicate, and solve problems together.

While waiting for their turn, teams prepared by researching challenge topics and spending time with our #CyTX team before continuing the adventure with our interactive campus Cyber Scavenger Hunt.

The excitement throughout the day proved that cybersecurity education can be challenging, competitive, creative, and incredibly fun.

Congratulations once again to Team 5, who completed all eight challenges in an incredible 29 minutes to become the very first Operation VIKINGS Champions!

🤝 It Takes a Village to Build Cyber Defenders

One of the greatest strengths of this camp isn't the curriculum.

It's the people. Throughout the week, our campers learned from industry professionals, educators, mentors, volunteers, and former competitors who generously shared their knowledge, experience, and passion for cybersecurity.

A heartfelt thank you goes to:

⚔️ Mia Orozco and our outstanding #CyTX interns, whose energy, enthusiasm, and dedication helped make the week run smoothly.

⚔️ Our incredible CrowdStrike volunteers, who mentored students, assisted with labs, and helped bring Operation VIKINGS to life.

⚔️ Kat and everyone at the WEX Foundation for inspiring our campers through STEM, artificial intelligence, engineering, and space exploration.

⚔️ Paul Guerra and David Webb for sharing their cybersecurity journeys and demonstrating what a career in cyber defense truly looks like.

⚔️ Jasiah and Derek, whose creativity continues to transform our Cyber Scavenger Hunt into an experience campers look forward to every year.

Most importantly...

Thank you to every parent who trusted us with your students and to every camper who showed up each day ready to learn, ask questions, and challenge yourselves.

You are the reason we do this.

⚔️ More Than CyberPatriot

People often ask me why I continue teaching CyberPatriot camps every summer, and my answer is always the same: because this camp is about so much more than cybersecurity. Yes, our students spend the week learning Windows, Linux, networking, threat hunting, and the technical skills needed to compete in CyberPatriot, but those are only part of the journey. What we're really building is confidence. We teach students that they don't have to know every answer—they simply need the curiosity to ask the right questions, the determination to research and verify information, and the confidence to keep working until they find a solution.

Throughout the week, campers learn to collaborate, communicate, and solve problems as a team. They discover that cybersecurity is rarely an individual effort; success comes from sharing ideas, trusting your teammates, and thinking critically before taking action. Whether they're investigating a suspicious process, configuring a network, or solving an Escape Room challenge, the same skills continue to emerge: attention to detail, perseverance, adaptability, and integrity.

Technology will continue to evolve. Operating systems will change, new cybersecurity tools will emerge, and artificial intelligence will continue to reshape our industry. But the qualities that define great cyber professionals—curiosity, integrity, teamwork, critical thinking, and a commitment to lifelong learning—will never go out of style. Those are the lessons I hope every camper carries with them long after they leave our classroom, because those lessons will serve them well not only in CyberPatriot, but in college, their careers, and throughout their lives.

⚔️ Looking Toward the Future

As we close another successful CyberTexas Foundation CyberPatriot Advanced Camp, I can't help but feel optimistic about the future. Throughout the week, I watched students grow more confident, more curious, and more willing to tackle challenges they might have avoided just a few days earlier. They learned that success in cybersecurity isn't about memorizing every command or knowing every answer—it's about asking the right questions, verifying the facts, adapting to new situations, and never giving up when the solution isn't immediately obvious.

Some of these campers will join CyberPatriot teams for the very first time. Others will return as seasoned competitors, mentors, or future camp counselors. Many will pursue careers in cybersecurity, networking, engineering, computer science, or artificial intelligence. Wherever their journey leads, I hope they remember that the skills they developed this week—critical thinking, curiosity, collaboration, perseverance, and integrity—are the same qualities that will help them succeed in any profession.

Watching these young men and women challenge themselves, encourage one another, celebrate victories, and learn from setbacks reminds me why I continue to teach every summer. Building the next generation of cyber defenders isn't just about preparing students for a competition; it's about preparing them to solve tomorrow's problems, protect tomorrow's technology, and lead with confidence and character.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's CyberTexas Foundation CyberPatriot Advanced Camp such an incredible success. I already can't wait to see what adventures await us next summer.

Until then...

⚔️ CYBER LIKE A VIKING! ⚔️