Sandia National Laboratories Hosts 2023 QCaMP, a Camp for High School Students and Teachers to Learn About Quantum Computing

Sandia National Laboratories is hosting the 2023 QCaMP, a program for high school students and teachers in New Mexico. The camp aims to teach participants about quantum computing, mathematics, and physics, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of scientists in the rapidly growing field of quantum science. Scientists from Sandia National Laboratories, along with instructors from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, will teach participants the fundamentals of quantum computing through hands-on activities.

QCaMP was created by Sandia employees Megan Ivory and Jake Douglass in 2022 as a virtual-only camp. It has since grown into an in-person four-week camp for students and a three-day camp for teachers. Over 84 students and 36 teachers have already participated in the program, with plans to reach even more participants in the future. By offering a concepts-first approach, QCaMP aims to reduce barriers to entry into the world of quantum science.

The program provides paid stipends to participants, allowing them to focus on learning about science without having to choose between a summer job and education. QCaMP is made possible by partnerships with organizations across New Mexico, including Los Alamos National Laboratory, the University of New Mexico, and the Computer Science Alliance. This year’s student camp will be held in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and California’s Bay Area from July 1 – 26 while teacher’s camp took place earlier in June.