8 Aerospace Engineering Summer Camps for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in aerospace engineering, attending a summer camp can be a great way to gain experience. Unlike longer summer programs, aerospace camps usually last a week or two and focus on practical projects. You’ll learn by doing things like building rockets, designing gliders, or testing flight mechanics.
Aerospace camps also help you understand how planes fly, how rockets launch, and what goes into building spacecraft. They often include workshops, lab tours, and challenges that show you what a career in aerospace engineering might look like. These experiences develop your skills in problem-solving, teamwork, and technical design, all of which are valuable regardless of the career you choose later. Aerospace camps provide an opportunity to connect with experts and gain a clearer understanding of what college and careers in engineering entail.
With that, here is a list of 8 top aerospace engineering summer camps for high school students!
1. Aerospace Engineering Camp at the University of Pennsylvania
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $4,095 (Financial aid is offered)
Application Deadline: July 23
Dates: Session 1: June 29 - July 7 | Session 2: July 11 - July 19
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12 in the fall, or students whose ages are 13-17 during the period for which they attend the program
At the University of Pennsylvania’s Aerospace Engineering Camp, you’ll explore how aircraft fly and what goes into designing them. You’ll begin by learning the core physics behind flight, then move on to materials, structures, and mechanics. Working in teams, you’ll design and build a glider that can carry a shoebox payload as far as possible. Along the way, you’ll take part in hands-on workshops, visit aerospace labs, and meet engineers working in aviation and space.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or have some experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI offers AI programs for high school students who want to explore artificial intelligence through real projects and mentorship. If you're just starting out, you can join the AI Scholars program. It runs for 10 sessions and covers the basics of AI, machine learning, and data science through guided, hands-on projects.
If you already have some experience, the AI Fellowship lets you work one-on-one with a mentor to complete an independent research project. You’ll also get help from Veritas’s publication team if you want to publish your work in a high school research journal. You can explore past student work here.
3. Aerospace Engineering Camp at The Grainger College of Engineering
Location: Grainger College of Engineering, Urbana, IL
Cost: Residential: $1,000 plus a $25 deposit | Commuter: $600 plus a $25 deposit
Application Deadline: Priority deadlines are generally towards the end of March
Dates: July 6 - July 12
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
At the Aerospace EAGER Camp by The Grainger College of Engineering, you’ll explore how air and space vehicles are designed and tested. You’ll run experiments in aerodynamics, propulsion, flight mechanics, and structural design.
You’ll also build and launch your own boost glider and payload rocket. Campers take a flight in a small aircraft and visit the Institute of Aviation. Engineers from NASA, Boeing, and the James Webb Space Telescope will join sessions to talk about their work.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Starting from $2,990 (financial aid available)
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring cohort from March to June
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The deadline for Summer Cohort II is June 23
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4). No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program was founded by researchers from Harvard and Oxford to bring real academic research opportunities to high school students. It runs year-round and matches you with PhD mentors from top universities.
As a participant, you choose a subject area like economics, data science, biology, political science, or machine learning. You then spend 12 weeks working on a one-on-one research project guided by your mentor. You’ll go through stages like narrowing your research question, doing a literature review, gathering or analyzing data, and writing a final paper. Apply here.
5. Summer Springboard - Aerospace Engineering at UCLA
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Residential: $5,998, Commuter: $3,298
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Dates: Session 1: June 22 - July 4; Session 2: July 6 - July 18; Session 3: July 20 - August 1
Eligibility: High school students with a recommended background in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and physics, ensuring participants have a foundational understanding.
At Summer Springboard’s Aerospace Engineering program, you explore how aircraft and spacecraft work through hands-on projects. You’ll study flight mechanics, propulsion, and systems engineering while designing and testing gliders or rockets in teams. The program is held at UCLA, close to major aerospace hubs like Boeing and SpaceX. You’ll visit industry sites, learn from guest speakers, and get a closer look at how aerospace companies operate. If you want early exposure to aerospace concepts and real engineering tasks, this program gives you a solid starting point.
6. Rocketry and Aerospace Engineering Camp
Location: UTSA Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Day Camp: $550; Overnight Camp: $750 (Financial assistance is available)
Application Deadline: Applications are open till seats fill up.
Dates: July 14 - July 18
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
At the Rocketry and Aerospace Engineering Camp at UTSA, you get to build and launch your rocket. With help from the Aeronautics and Rocketry Club, you’ll learn how different design choices impact flight and stability. You’ll also take part in workshops, classroom sessions, and lab tours led by aerospace faculty. These sessions introduce you to research areas and career paths in aerospace engineering. The camp gives you a close look at what studying aerospace at UTSA is like.
7. Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Summer Workshop
Location: UTSA Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Day Camp: $550; Overnight Camp: $750 (Financial assistance is available)
Application Deadline: Applications are open till seats fill up.
Dates: June 16 - June 20
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
The Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Summer Workshop at UTSA gives you hands-on experience with real engineering tools and topics. You’ll explore areas like piezoelectric energy harvesting, corrosion control, and additive manufacturing with guidance from UTSA faculty and graduate students. You’ll work in labs, build projects, and learn how devices and energy systems are designed. The program also includes sessions on electronics fabrication and digital design. It’s a hands-on opportunity to explore real-world engineering problems and emerging technologies.
8. Advanced Space Academy at U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Location: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL
Cost: $1,999
Application Deadline: Varies by session; typically rolling, with early registration recommended.
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the summer.
Eligibility: Students ages 15-18, corresponding to grades 10-12, ensuring participants are in high school and ready for advanced STEM challenges.
At the Advanced Space Academy, you get hands-on with space science and engineering. The program includes astronaut training, mission simulations, and team challenges that reflect real space exploration. You’ll take part in engineering projects, learn how to work in teams, and explore what it takes to study or work in aerospace. The camp takes place at a major space education center with top facilities. Instructors include space professionals who walk you through real scenarios in flight, robotics, and mission design. If you’re serious about space, this is a strong place to start.
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