Cherry Creek's CTF Competition
CCHS's first-ever cybersecurity Capture The Flag competition
About CreekCTF
CreekCTF is Cherry Creek High School's first-ever cybersecurity competition, where students compete to solve challenges and "capture flags" — secret strings hidden within each challenge. This competition is designed for all skill levels and can be enjoyed by anyone interested in cybersecurity, puzzles, or problem-solving.
Competition Format
CreekCTF is a capture the flag competition where participants solve challenges in various categories including cryptography, web exploitation, reverse engineering, and more. Participants can only compete in teams of 2-4 people.
Who Can Participate
CreekCTF is open to all high school students. No prior experience in cybersecurity is required, but a basic understanding of computer science concepts is helpful. If you're bringing your own laptop, please ensure it can run virtual machines using software like VMware, VirtualBox, or similar.
Code of Conduct
All participants are expected to adhere to our Code of Conduct throughout the competition. Please review our Code of Conduct document before participating.
Competition Format
- Compete in groups of 2-4 students
- Challenges range from beginner to advanced difficulty
- Multiple challenge categories to explore different skills
- Scoreboard to track progress and standings in real-time
- Points awarded based on challenge difficulty
Who Can Participate
- All Skill Levels: From beginners to advanced
- Any High School Student: No prior experience required
- Computer Requirements: Cherry Creek School District students can use library computers with VMware; others please bring your own laptop
- All Grades: Open to freshmen through seniors
- Perfect for: Computer Science students, Cybersecurity Club members, or anyone curious about cybersecurity
Challenge Categories
CreekCTF covers a variety of cybersecurity concepts through different challenge categories:
Cryptography
Decode secret messages, crack ciphers, and unlock encrypted data
Steganography
Find hidden messages and data concealed within images, audio, or other files
Forensics
Investigate digital evidence like network captures and system logs to uncover hidden information
General Skills
Basic computer skills, command line usage, and logical problem solving
Benefits of Participation
- Learn practical cybersecurity skills in a fun, gamified environment
- Develop problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
- Prepare for national competitions like CyberPatriot and picoCTF
- Gain hands-on experience with real-world security concepts
- Add valuable experience to college applications and résumés
Competition Details
Date & Time
Friday - April 25, 2025
Doors open at 4:00 PM, likely to end at 8:30 PM
Location
Tech Center - Cherry Creek High School
IC Library
Location
Duration
3 Hours
Plenty of time to work through challenges at your own pace
Registration
Open to all high school students
Form must be completed by April 22nd, 2025
Competition Schedule
- 4:00 PMDoors Open
- 4:30 PMWelcome, Event Kick off
- 5:00 PMCompetition Begins
- 6:00 PMDinner Arrives
- 8:00 PMCompetition Ends
- 8:15 PMAwards
Want to stay fueled during CreekCTF?
We're offering an optional dinner during the competition at Cherry Creek High School on April 25, 2025.
- Payment options:
- $10 if pre-paid on Revtrak (by April 21st)
- $15 cash at the door on competition day
- Dinner includes a main meal and drink
- Tickets must be reserved by April 20th
Please complete one form per participant who wants a dinner ticket.
How to Prepare
No prior experience is required to participate in CreekCTF, but if you want to get a head start, here are some resources to help you prepare:
Beginner Resources
- PicoCTF Learning Resources - Great starting point for beginners
- Youtube! - Great resource for learning everything
- TryHackMe - Interactive cybersecurity training
- Attend Cybersecurity Club meetings for hands-on practice
What to Bring
- Laptop with a browser, as well as software to run a virtual machine like VMware (if not CCSD student)
- Charger
- Notebook and pen for writing notes to help you solve the challenge
- Snacks and water
- Yourself :)
Join CreekCTF
Registration is now open! Form your team of 2-4 students and register by April 22nd, 2025.