CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES AI SUMMER CAMP 2026
One week. Real challenges. Skills that launch careers.
Spend a week at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo building AI solutions to real problems facing California Community Colleges campuses. No prior AI experience needed — just curiosity and drive. You’ll learn by doing, working on a mentored team alongside students from across the California Community Colleges system.
July 19 – 24, 2026 | Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
100 spots. All expenses covered. Just get yourself here.
WHAT YOU GET
Free everything — Lodging, meals, and the full camp experience at no cost. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from camp
Practical AI skills — Patterns you can apply in any field, any major
A portfolio project — Build and pitch a working prototype in one week
A statewide network — Connect with 100 students from across the California Community Colleges
THINGS YOU'LL LEARN
Understanding and using automated AI systems — Build systems that connect tools and data sources to complete tasks automatically
Talking to AI in the right way — Write effective prompts that get reliable, useful results from any AI tool
Citable chatbots grounded in great data — Create AI assistants that answer questions accurately using real institutional data, with sources
Calling AI models for real tasks — Summarize documents, parse data, generate content, apply decision frameworks
Responsible vibe coding — Use AI-assisted development to build working apps, dashboards, and tools
WHO SHOULD APPLY
Any currently enrolled student at a Community College in California
Any major, any background
Passionate about technology and solving real problems
PRE-REQUISITES
To make the most of camp week, accepted students will complete two short online courses before arriving:
| Upon Application | Amazon Bedrock Getting Started |
| After Getting Started is Completed | Complete the Bedrock Knowledge Quiz — must be successfully completed before the application deadline |
| Upon Acceptance | AWS AI Practitioner Learning Plan on AWS Skill Builder |
Both courses are free and self-paced.
KEY DATES
| Application Deadline | April 24, 2026 @ 5 p.m. PST |
| Acceptance Notification | May 1, 2026 |
| Camp Week | July 19 – 24, 2026 |
What does the week look like?
The camp runs Sunday through Friday (July 19 – 24, 2026). Here is a high-level overview based on last year’s camp as a reference:
| Sunday | Check-in, welcome event, meet your fellow campers |
| Monday | Opening keynote, intro to AI concepts, team and project introductions, environment setup |
| Tuesday | Technical workshops (e.g., retrieval-augmented generation, prompt engineering), project work begins |
| Wednesday | Choose-your-own-adventure skill tracks in the morning, guest speakers, team project sprints in the afternoon |
| Thursday | Full project development day with mentor support, presentation prep |
| Friday | Final team presentations, awards ceremony, closing, departure |
This is a reference based on the 2025 camp schedule. The 2026 agenda may vary — we’ll share the updated schedule before camp.
What are the rules for camp?
Have fun. Learn lots. Help each other. Build an AI solution to a real-world, impactful challenge.
We’ll share more detailed expectations closer to camp. They will be similar to the codes of conduct you’re already honoring at your home campus.
When should I arrive?
Check-in is on Sunday, July 12 in the afternoon. You’ll need to show a photo ID, complete a few simple forms, and you’ll receive a key card for your room and a campus map.
Your ID does not need to include any information about citizenship or other status, and you will not be asked questions about that.
What if I can’t arrive during normal check-in time?
We’ll ask about this in a ready-for-camp form sent out a few weeks before camp. Late arrival can be accommodated only as a special exception — please plan to arrive during normal check-in if at all possible.
What lodging is provided?
You’ll stay in on-campus apartments. Each apartment has a full kitchen, a living room common area, bathrooms, and private bedrooms (one per person). Housing is assigned by the university’s conference and events team.
Bed linens are provided. You should bring your own towel and toiletries.
What food is provided?
Food will be a mix of campus dining and meals catered to the spaces where we’ll be learning and building. Common dietary needs will be accommodated. We’ll ask about any special dietary requirements in a ready-for-camp form sent out a few weeks before camp and accommodate those when possible.
What if I require accessibility accommodations or mobility support?
We’ll ask about this on a ready-for-camp form sent out a few weeks before camp. Based on what you choose to share, we’ll work with you to identify options and resources.
How do I get to camp?
You are responsible for your own transportation to and from camp. Options include:
- By car: Parking details and permit information will be provided in advance of camp. Parking is the one camp-related expense we may not be able to cover.
- By air: The local airport (SBP) has regular service from SFO, LAX, and SAN, among others. It is about six miles from campus. Rideshare services are available, and there is a city bus with service to campus.
- By train: Amtrak provides regular service to San Luis Obispo. Connecting transit to campus is available.
We’ll share detailed arrival logistics before camp. If you would be interested in transportation assistance, please send an email to info@cccdigitalcenter.org.”
When does camp end? Can I extend my stay?
You’ll check out from housing on Friday morning. It is not possible to add extra nights on campus — you’re welcome to arrange your own lodging off-campus if you’d like to stay in the area.
Scheduled camp events end on Friday afternoon. You’re welcome to stay a bit after closing to mingle and relax.
What if I need to leave early?
If you need to leave an hour or so early on Friday (e.g., to catch a flight or train), we understand — we’ll schedule your team’s presentation earlier in the day. If you must leave before Friday, please let us know as early as possible so we can plan around it when assigning teams and projects. This should be an extremely rare situation.
What should I bring?
- Photo ID for check-in
- Towel and toiletries
- Laptop and charger
- Clothes for the week (weather in San Luis Obispo in July is typically warm during the day and cool in the evening)
- Any personal items you need for a week-long stay
Bed linens are provided in your room.
