Albuquerque, NM, September 22, 2025 -- The Elevate Quantum Workforce Collaborative (EQWC) recently partnered with Sandia National Laboratories and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to dramatically expand the 2025 Quantum, Computing, Math, and Physics Camp (QCaMP) for Educators in the Mountain West. QCaMP is a nationwide initiative designed to strengthen the pipeline of quantum information science (QIS) talent across the United States and is designed to engage communities across the US who are interested in expanding participation in the field for their students.

This summer, QCaMP brought together 132 educators across 14 cohort locations in eight states, its biggest year on record. Notably, the partnership with EQWC allowed for a dramatic expansion in CO and NM, reaching 88 educators and showcasing the level of interest and engagement across the region. Through hands-on instruction and collaborative learning, participants explored the fundamentals of quantum information science, equipping teachers with the knowledge and resources to inspire the next generation of quantum learners. This year’s QCaMP cohorts were held in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, and New York.

“This incredible growth – from five sites in 2024 to 14 this year – shows both the appetite and need for quantum education programs nationwide, especially in the Mountain West,” said Jake Douglass, Sandia National Labs Quantum Business Development Lead and Elevate Quantum Quantum Workforce and Ecosystem Officer. “QCaMP is more than a training camp; it is a catalyst for breaking down barriers to quantum and building a domestic quantum workforce that will help take us into the quantum future.”

The program reflects a major achievement in QIS Ecosystem Stewardship by the Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA), which spearheads efforts to expand participation in QIS and address growing workforce needs. Implementation across QCaMP cohorts is projected to reach more than 3,300 students nationwide, which includes an estimated 2,200 students in the Mountain West, as teachers take QCaMP materials back to their classroom in 2025, significantly boosting the U.S. talent pipeline in this critical field.

The QCaMP expansion in Colorado was directly supported by Colorado Bill HB23-1198, creating teacher externship programs for science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines to provide kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers work-based learning opportunities.
“This growth mirrors the growth we’re seeing in the quantum industry here in Colorado,” said Joe Barela, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “These externships are designed to be a catalyst for building a diverse and inclusive workforce in high-growth, high-demand STEM fields, especially quantum.”

Partners in the 2025 QCaMP effort in the Mountain West included Boulder Valley School District/CU Boulder, Colorado Aerolab, CU Denver/Colorado Community College System, Colorado Mesa University, Emily Griffith Technical College/Denver Public Schools, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia Labs/UNM.

The QCaMP team plans to build on this year’s momentum by further expanding access to QIS training opportunities for educators, with the long-term goal of inspiring thousands of students and ensuring U.S. leadership in the global quantum economy.