14 STEM Summer Camps for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in science, tech, engineering, or math, a STEM summer camp can help you explore these fields through short, focused learning experiences. Many camps give you the chance to work with tools and concepts that are not typically covered in a standard high school curriculum. Depending on the camp, you may build engineering prototypes, program machine learning models, or study how diseases affect different systems of the human body. In the process, you will develop skills in coding, lab techniques, design thinking, and/or technical problem-solving.
How are camps different from other programs in high school?
STEM camps are typically shorter and more focused than semester-long classes or academic courses. Most camps run for about a week or two and concentrate on a single topic, allowing you to spend most of your time working on projects and applied activities. For example, certain camps in this blog may focus on designing gliders to test aerodynamics, building robotic systems, coding artificial intelligence models, or analyzing cybersecurity challenges. Others focus on laboratory learning, where you may examine organ specimens, study biological processes, or investigate research methods. Due to their condensed format, these camps typically combine short lectures with daily lab work, challenges, or collaborative tasks.
To help you with your search, here are 14 STEM summer camps for high school students.
If you’re looking for online STEM programs, check out our blog here.
1. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: CDC Headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: ~ 7.7%; 27 slots/session
Dates: June 22 – 26 | July 20 – 24
Application deadline: Typically, March; check websitefor updated dates
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old.
The CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp is a five-day academic day camp held at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, for high school students entering their junior or senior year. The camp will introduce you to the field of public health and epidemiology through lectures and hands-on activities led by CDC scientists and staff. You will examine how public health professionals investigate disease patterns by participating in simulations such as re-created outbreaks and mock press conferences. The curriculum may cover topics such as global health, environmental health, injury and violence prevention, emergency preparedness, and public health law. You will also take part in activities such as laboratory sessions, data analysis exercises, and discussions on disease surveillance and health data.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: On a rolling basis; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. If you are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science, you will benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will explore the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. During this program, you will get a chance to work 1-on-1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that you get access to the in-house publication team to help you secure publications in high school research journals. You can check out a few examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp)
Location: Monongahela National Forest, WV
Cost: Free, including housing, meals, and transportation
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Two delegates from each U.S. state and the District of Columbia, as well as up to two international delegates from each of the participating countries
Dates: July 11 – August 1
Application deadline: February 19 – March 15 (some states may have a later due date)
Eligibility: Recent U.S. high school graduates, as well as current high school juniors and seniors with demonstrable proof of superior academic proficiency, including recognition in STEAM; international students, ages 16 – 18, from select countries can also apply.
The NYSCamp is a residential summer program for high school students interested in exploring advanced topics in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. During the camp, you will attend interactive lectures led by scientists, engineers, and researchers who will introduce you to ideas from fields such as physics, biology, computer science, and mathematics. These sessions are designed to encourage you to ask questions and explore topics that come up during the presentations. A significant portion of the camp also takes place outdoors, where you will participate in activities such as hiking, climbing, backpacking, and overnight trips with other students. The camp also includes a visit to Washington, D.C., where you will tour scientific institutions and meet professionals working in STEM fields.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote ! You can participate from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, winter, fall, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: Students in high school who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Lumiere’s Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research opportunity for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities across a wide range of subject areas for high schoolers to explore. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you will have developed an independent research paper in your field of choice! You can choose research topics from subjects such as data science, computer science, psychology, physics, economics, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. Texas A&M Agrilife Extension’s Veterinary Science Overnight Summer Camps
Location: Universities across Texas, including Tarleton State University, West Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M University
Cost: $575 – $750, based on the camp (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: ~30% acceptance; 30 students/camp
Dates: May 27 – 29 (Tarleton State University) | June 23 – 25 (Texas A&M University) | July 21 – 23 (West Texas A&M University)
Application deadline: January – March 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12; applicants must be at least 15 years old to be eligible for the Texas A&M University camp.
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Veterinary Science Overnight Summer Camps are short residential camps designed for high schoolers interested in veterinary medicine or animal science. During the three-day camp, you will participate in hands-on activities that will introduce different aspects of veterinary work at a university campus. You will learn about areas such as laboratory work, research, and ambulatory veterinary care while gaining exposure to animals and activities that may not be part of your everyday experiences. Many camps also include activities involving large animals such as horses and cows, depending on the facilities and animals available at the location. Under the supervision of a veterinarian, you may get to practice a range of veterinary-related clinical skills and complete 20+ classroom hours during the camp. These hours can contribute toward the requirements for the Veterinary Assistant Industry-Based Certification offered through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
6. AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS)’s Summer AI Tech Camp: AI for Sustainable Ag @ UC Davis
Location: University of California, Davis, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – 18
Application deadline: Not specified; registration is on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: High school students and high school teachers.
The AIFS Summer AI Tech Camp: AI for Sustainable Ag at UC Davis is a four-day camp where high school students will explore how artificial intelligence connects to agriculture and environmental science. You will work in teams alongside students and teachers to learn Python fundamentals using tools such as the Raspberry Pi AI Camera. The camp will introduce you to concepts like neural networks, edge computing, and image classification through hands-on activities designed for participants with no prior coding experience. You will collaborate on a group project to develop an AI model and pitch your idea at the end of the camp as part of a friendly challenge. You will also tour the UC Davis drone lab to see how emerging technologies are applied in agricultural research. Throughout the week, UC Davis faculty and researchers will lead activities and support you while you test and refine your project.
7. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual or in-person in cities across the U.S., as well as in London, England
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – 12 | July 6 – 17 | July 20 – 31 | August 3 – 14
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Young women and gender expansive teens, ages 13 – 18, who feel comfortable learning in a female-identifying environment; no prior coding experience required.
Kode With Klossy Summer Camps are free, two-week coding programs designed for young women and gender-expansive students who want to explore careers in technology. During the camp, you will learn programming through project-based lessons taught by licensed educators and supported by instructional assistants. You will be placed in one of several focused tracks, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, data science, or web development, depending on availability and prior experience.In these tracks, you will learn how to code through activities like training a chatbot using Python, analyzing datasets with SQL and data visualization tools, or building dynamic websites using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. The camp also includes a speaker series where women working in technology share their professional experiences and discuss career pathways in the field.
8. USC Viterbi’s CS@SC Coding Camps
Location: Virtual or University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $200 for virtual classes | $600 for in-person classes; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 5 – 8 students/virtual sessions | 6 – 8 students/in-person session
Dates: Various one- to two-week sessions in the summer; dates vary by track
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Elementary, middle, and high school students; check individual camp pages here for course-specific prerequisites.
USC Viterbi’s CS@SC Coding Camps are short-term computer science classes for middle and high school students who want to learn programming and build tech skills. You can enroll in courses covering topics such as Python, Java, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, game design, robotics, drone programming, and mobile app development. In these courses, you may learn programming concepts like variables, loops, and functions while building projects such as building simple games in Unity, developing mobile apps using MIT App Inventor, or programming drones using Blockly or Python. Some courses may also introduce you to AI concepts through tools like Zumi Robots or allow you to practice coding in Minecraft Education. The camps will be offered both virtually and in person, and most beginner-level courses do not require prior programming experience, making them accessible to students new to coding.
9. UT Austin Cockrell School of Engineering’s My Introduction to Engineering (MITE)
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost: $200; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 12.5% acceptance; 50 students/session
Dates: June 21 – 25 (Session 1) | July 12 – 16 (Session 2)
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who reside in the U.S. at the time of application and meet one of the academic requirements.
The MITE program at UT Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering is a five-day residential camp for current high school juniors interested in exploring engineering as a potential field of study. During the camp, you will work in teams on an engineering project while taking part in hands-on activities and interactive sessions that will introduce you to different engineering disciplines. You will also interact with engineering students, faculty, staff, and alumni who share insights about studying engineering and pursuing related careers. The schedule will include facility tours and discussions designed to show how engineering concepts are applied in real-world contexts. You will stay in a campus residence hall, getting a chance to experience daily life at UT Austin. The camp also provides sessions with guidance on college admissions, financial aid, and strategies to improve your applications.
10. MD Camp at Ohio State
Location: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH
Cost: $325; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective, with a limited number of spots
Dates: June 8 – 26
Application deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a math and science GPA of 3.3 or higher; applicants must be residents of Ohio.
MD Camp at The Ohio State University is a three-week summer day camp for students interested in exploring careers in medicine and biomedical research. During the camp, you will attend lectures from Ohio State College of Medicine faculty covering topics such as anatomy, physiological changes that lead to a heart attack, medical ethics, and health disparities. You will also participate in clinical workshops to practice basic medical procedures such as suturing, phlebotomy, intubation, and using a stethoscope.The curriculum will also include problem-based learning sessions in which you’ll work in groups to analyze and discuss clinical case scenarios. You will shadow physicians to observe hospital rounds and learn about different medical specialties.Additional activities will include an introduction to reading research papers, discussions with medical students and healthcare professionals, and work on a community service project.
11. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Grainger Engineering Summer Camps
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost: $1,500 + $25 deposit for residential camps | $750 + $25 deposit for commuter camps (tuition may differ for some camps; check individual camp pages here to verify costs); scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: ~25–40%; the exact acceptance rate varies by camp
Dates: June – August (exact dates vary by camp)
Application deadline: Priority deadline is March 31
Eligibility: Rising 7th – 12th graders; eligible grade levels can vary based on the camp (check individual camp pages here)
The Grainger Engineering Summer Camps at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are week-long camps for middle and high school students interested in exploring different areas of engineering. Hosted by the Grainger College of Engineering, these camps will introduce you to engineering concepts through classroom sessions, demonstrations, lab tours, and hands-on projects. You can choose between Survey of Engineering Sessions, where you will explore more than 10 engineering majors, or specialized camps that focus on fields such as aerospace engineering, bioengineering, electronics, or chemical engineering. Throughout the week, you will work in teams with other students to complete engineering challenges and projects while interacting with university students, faculty, and researchers. You will also visit research labs on campus to learn about ongoing work in different engineering departments. Evening social activities are part of the residential camp experience. Each camp concludes with a closing ceremony, where you and other campers will share highlights from the week.
12. SeaTech Robotics Summer Camp @ Florida Atlantic University
Location: Florida Atlantic University SeaTech Campus, Dania Beach, FL
Cost: $25 (non-refundable)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Up to 40 participants
Dates: June 1 and 2
Application deadline: May 17
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12
This two-day summer camp at Florida Atlantic University's SeaTech campus offers high schoolers an introduction to drone robotics and autonomous flight. You will study the basic principles of how quadrotors move, including yaw, roll, pitch, and thrust, and how those concepts connect to flight control. The camp includes hands-on sessions focused on programming and flying small drones in a controlled setting, so you get to see how control algorithms translate into real flight behavior. You will also learn about drone perception and Visual-Inertial Odometry, which explain how drones estimate their position and navigate autonomously.
13. Rice ELITE Tech Camp
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $3,899 (Residential Camps) | $1,799 (Commuter Camps)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Residential Camp dates: June 21 – 27; July 5 – 11; July 12 – 19; July 19 – 25 | Commuter Camp dates: June 22 – 26; July 6 – 10; July 13 – 17; July 20 – 24
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Rice ELITE Tech Camp is a summer engineering camp at Rice University where high school students get to explore technology-focused subjects through structured coursework and hands-on design activities. The camp offers both residential and commuter options, and tracks such as robotics, artificial intelligence, bioengineering, Python or C++ programming, and 3D modeling and printing. Courses are designed by Rice engineering faculty, Ph.D. students, and engineering professionals, while most day-to-day instruction is led by current Rice engineering students. Throughout the camp, you will work on multi-day engineering projects that apply concepts such as machine learning, Internet of Things, robotic design, and biomechanics. Daily engineering leadership workshops and student panels will introduce you to topics like communication, project management, and pathways to studying engineering in college.
14. University of Georgia’s Mini-Medical School Summer Academy 2C
Location: UGA Health Sciences Campus, Athens, GA
Cost: $530; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Limited number of spots
Dates: July 6 – 10
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students, ages 14 – 17
The University of Georgia’s Mini-Medical School Summer Academy 2C is a weeklong camp for high school students interested in exploring the foundations of medical science and clinical practice. You will study major body systems, such as the nervous, cardiovascular, and digestive systems, and examine how diseases affect these systems through short lectures and guided discussions. The camp combines classroom learning with hands-on activities and dissections of organ specimens to help you connect biological concepts with real medical conditions. Sessions are led by medical students from the Augusta University/UGA Medical Partnership, who will work with faculty to deliver the curriculum and guide activities. You will also get to ask questions about pre-med preparation, medical school pathways, and strategies for succeeding in college science courses. The camp uses university lab resources and teaching facilities to introduce you to the application of scientific knowledge to medical education and practice.
Tyler Moulton is Head of Academics and Veritas AI Partnerships with 6 years of experience in education consulting, teaching, and astronomy research at Harvard and the University of Cambridge, where they developed a passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Tyler is passionate about connecting high-achieving students to advanced AI techniques and helping them build independent, real-world projects in the field of AI!