Cybersecurity Girls Week

SPISE is a week-long summer program, July 27-31, hosted at the University of Calgary, designed to introduce participants to topics and potential careers in digital privacy and cybersecurity. We welcome female and LGBTQIA2S+ students entering grades 11 and 12 who are comfortable in spaces focused on the experiences of women. No prior background in cybersecurity or coding is required. We strongly encourage women and gender minorities with Indigenous backgrounds to apply for this summer camp.

As part of the camp, students will interact with each other in a unique immersive environment, exploring topics in cybersecurity and digital privacy through hands-on activities and team challenges. They will also have opportunities to interact with experienced faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students from our cybersecurity programs as well as guest speakers from industry and academia.

Lunch and snacks will be provided on all five days of the camp. We will do our best to accommodate any dietary requirements.

For any inquiries about the program, please contact us at spise.camp@ucalgary.ca

Cybersecurity and privacy protection are leading concerns in today's digital world. Women and gender minorities are underrepresented in cybersecurity and privacy-related careers, contributing to the shortage of trained professionals in these sectors. Research has shown that some of the biggest obstacles to women entering these fields are lack of awareness of potential careers and scarcity of peer support, female role models, and mentors. Our camp seeks to address these obstacles by providing students with opportunities to explore the wide range of disciplines within cybersecurity and privacy, as well as chances to interact with undergraduate student and faculty mentors from our program in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Application Form

Interested students should fill out the online application form below by May 8, 2026. There is no fee to apply for the program.

SPISE Application Form

Reference Requirement

As part of the application process, students will be asked to provide contact information for a math or computer science teacher who is willing to act as a reference for the student. Teachers will be contacted via email in May and asked to complete a form confirming the student’s strengths and eligibility for the camp.

Registration

Students will be contacted about the status of their application before the end of May, and successful applicants will be invited to register at that time. To register in the program, students will be asked to complete the required forms and pay the camp registration fee. Students must complete the registration process by June 15 to reserve their spot in the camp or it will be offered to a student on the waitlist.

Fees

There is a $120 registration fee for those selected to attend the camp. This fee covers provided lunches, snacks, and materials for workshops. Financial support to cover the cost of the registration fee may be arranged for students in need. For information about financial support options, please contact us at the email below.