15 Camps for High School Students
If you are looking for a way to continue adding to your skills beyond the classroom, camps can be a great option to explore. Camps are immersive experiences that offer opportunities to build technical skills, access expert mentorship, connect with peers, and map your academic and career paths. You can choose a camp that allows you to explore a single activity, topic, field, or a broad discipline, like computer science, engineering, arts, medicine, marine science, mathematics, architecture, etc., before committing to a college degree.
How are camps different from other programs in high school?
Unlike regular programs that can last a month or longer, camps are intensive, short-term experiences lasting a few weeks and emphasizing projects and skill-building opportunities in specific subjects. Camps focus on creating immersive environments where you can collaborate with peers, while pre-college programs focus on academic development and major-specific preparation. Many camps are more affordable than full-time programs, making them accessible options to explore.
To help you find the right fit, here is a list of 15 camps for high school students.
If you are looking for medical summer camps, check out our blog here.
1. Kode With Klossy Summer Camp
Location: Virtual and in-person; sites can vary each year
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates vary by year
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens, ages 13 – 18
Kode With Klossy’s free Summer Camp offers teens a two-week introduction to coding/programming, web development, app development, and machine learning. You will dive into these disciplines through one of four tracks. In the camp’s web development track, you will learn how to work with HTML, JavaScript, and CSS and develop an online platform. The mobile app track covers coding in Swift (Apple’s programming language), allowing you to develop an iOS mobile application. The machine learning track covers AI and ML concepts, including algorithms, natural language processing, and datasets. Finally, the data science track allows you to assess data and draw insights with the help of SQL, Python, and data visualization tools.
2. Veritas AI: AI Scholars & AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Program cohorts run all year; the AI Scholars runs for 10 weeks, and the AI Fellowship program runs for about 12 to 15 weeks
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship typically accepts previous AI Scholar participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to 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. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Engineering Summer Camp @ University of Illinois
Location: University of Illinois, Chicago campus, IL
Cost: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students/age group
Dates: July 21 – 25
Application deadline: Typically early spring
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12
The University of Illinois at Chicago offers students the opportunity to learn about different engineering subfields and topics through the Engineering Summer Camp. Here, you will spend five days learning about the vast engineering discipline through challenges, college prep sessions, projects, and lab tours. Each day, you will engage in activities like designing robots, developing mock land use plans for a community, experimenting with simple applications, designing wireframes, and building games. You will gain exposure to software, biomedical, chemical, and mechanical engineering, as well as environmental sustainability planning, during the program.
4. Immerse Education’s Career Insights Pathway
Location: Various sites, including London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo
Cost: Varies according to program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Two weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students, ages 15 – 18
Immerse Education’s Career Insights Pathway introduces high school students to professional industries through experiential learning in major global cities. Over the course of the two-week program, you will participate in interactive workshops, company visits, and hands-on projects that simulate real-world workplace settings. Industry mentors and professionals provide feedback and career advice as you explore sectors like business, journalism, medicine, law, or engineering. Weekly one-on-one coaching sessions will help you refine your goals and build confidence in presenting your work. The program concludes with a final presentation where you will share your findings and experiences with peers and professionals. You can find more details about the application here!
5. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Online or in person at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Residential: $8,950 | Online: $3,750; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Residential: 40 students/year | Online: 64 students/year
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – July 3 | Session 2: July 6 – 24
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
SUMac is an intensive program designed for students passionate about exploring advanced mathematics. At SUMaC, you will explore mathematical topics like abstract algebra and number theory through lectures, group problem-solving sessions, and guided research. The program also exposes you to ongoing areas of mathematical inquiry, the evolution of key mathematical theories, and math applications across scientific fields. You will choose one out of two structured tracks: one focused on algebra and number theory, and the other on algebraic topology, both of which link classical mathematics to modern applications. The workload mirrors college-level expectations.
6. Rose-Hulman Summer Camps
Location: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions between June and August; exact dates vary by camp
Application deadline: Not specified; registration opens on December 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12
Rose-Hulman's Project SELECT offers multiple short science and engineering camps for students interested in exploring STEM fields through hands-on curricula. Each camp offers distinct opportunities to learn something new; for instance, Operation Catapult is a 12-day camp, where you will experience college life and dive into STEM projects during the summer. Another option is Creation Crates, which is a five-day opportunity to design and run engineering experiments at home inspired by actual mechanical engineering courses. All camps focus on practical applications of engineering design and science concepts, real-world skill-building, exposure to industry-standard tools, and access to expert instruction.
7. University of Arizona Summer Engineering Academy Camps
Location: University of Arizona College of Engineering, Tucson, AZ
Cost: $50 registration fee + Residential camp fee: $750 | Commuter camp fee: $350; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; approximately 300+ high school students annually
Dates: Multiple week-long sessions between June and July; four-day and full-week options available
Application deadline: June 1; rolling admissions starting from February 23
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
The University of Arizona's Summer Engineering Academy offers week-long residential and commuter camps covering diverse engineering disciplines through hands-on projects. Here, you will spend a few days in the summer in engineering labs, engaging in challenges focused on energy systems, electronics, aerospace applications, and semiconductor design. You will work under the guidance of university faculty and mentors. The camps also include visits to professional engineering firms and opportunities to interact with current undergraduate and graduate students.
8. Canada/USA Mathcamp
Location: Universities in the U.S. or Canada; site varies each year
Cost: $0–$6,600 based on family income; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~120 students (65 new students + 55 returning alumni)
Dates: Five weeks in the summer; dates vary by year
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students, ages 13–18
MathCamp is a five-week residential program for middle and high school students interested in exploring undergraduate-level math topics, including combinatorics, topology, abstract algebra, and number theory. At camp, you will engage in math classes, evening social activities, problem-solving sessions and competitions, and math discussions with peers and faculty. You will work on projects independently and with peers, and present your work at the end of camp. Additionally, you will attend the Colloquia series, which offers talks covering a range of topics, including string theory, the math of origami, and cognitive science.
9. Arizona State University’s Summer Robotics Camp
Location: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Cost: $900
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: June 30 – July 11
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12
Arizona State University offers two-week camps to middle and high school students interested in robotics and computer programming. Within the high school track, which is called 9UP RobotCamp, you will dive into engineering design concepts and computing technologies while gaining practical exposure to component-based robot construction, robotics programming, Web programming, Alice game programming, and phone app programming. You will also build a robotic device and compete in a challenge to present your work. The program also offers exposure to service-based computing.
10. SAME STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps
Location: Multiple military base locations in the U.S.
Cost: Varies by camp; sponsorships to cover part of the costs are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~40–80 students/camp
Dates: Vary by camp; all camps are week-long summer experiences
Application deadline: March 11
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are at least 15
The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) offers various STEM camps to high school students across the country. Here, you will spend a week living at military bases and engaging in project-based learning experiences within science, engineering, and construction. Led by SAME professionals and volunteers from the military and engineering community, the program allows you to learn by doing through activities like building concrete structures, operating drones, piloting underwater vehicles, and conducting experiments. The camp is designed to help you develop leadership skills while discovering potential career pathways in STEM industries.
11. Texas A&M University’s Aggie STEM Overnight Camps
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: $1,699; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; registration on a first-come, first-served basis
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions throughout June–August; exact dates vary by camp
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Incoming 6th–12th grade students
Aggie STEM Overnight Camps are six-day residential programs at Texas A&M University designed to help students explore STEM fields through project-based learning. Camps typically feature new themes each summer, scheduling various classes led by STEM professionals and A&M faculty. You will learn how to come up with scientific solutions to real-world problems, develop an understanding of engineering design and technological tools, and explore mathematical modeling. You will spend six days and six nights on the Texas A&M University campus, connecting with faculty and peers.
12. Oregon State University STEM Academy High School Camps
Location: Oregon State University Campus, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $120–$170/camp; need-based scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Various camps in the summer, lasting a few days to a week; dates TBA
Application deadline: TBA; registration opens on March 2.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12
Oregon State’s STEM Academy offers various camps, allowing high schoolers to explore cybersecurity, toxicology, 3D modeling and animation, color innovation, or transportation systems. You will engage in hands-on laboratory work, field trips, and research projects on the OSU campus. All camps focus on real-world challenges and career exploration, with some options offering access to industry-led career expos and post-camp networking opportunities. You will also learn how to work with cutting-edge technology and learn from experienced instructors at camp.
13. Exploring Your Options (EYO) Camp @ University of Illinois
Location: Grainger College of Engineering @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL
Cost: Residential: $1,000 + $25 deposit | Commuter: $600 + $25 deposite; financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited enrollment per session
Dates: One-week program in June; multiple sessions available (dates TBA)
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Exploring Your Options is a week-long engineering exploration camp offered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Here, you will gain insights into 11 different engineering fields, including aerospace, bioengineering, civil, computer science, electrical, and mechanical engineering. You will participate in interactive classes, department-specific hands-on activities, lab tours, and discussions with engineering faculty and engineering students. You will also engage in typical camp activities like movie nights, games, and sports.
14. University of Colorado Denver’s Architecture in the City Camp
Location: CU Denver College of Architecture & Planning, Denver, CO
Cost: One-day workshop: $120 + $15 non-refundable admin and processing fee | Day camp: $750 + $100 non-refundable admin and processing fee | Overnight: $2,000 + $150 non-refundable admin and processing fee; one scholarship/camp available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Rolling admissions; applications reviewed in order of receipt
Dates: One-day workshop: January 10 | Day Camp: June 8 – 12 | Overnight Camp: June 20 – 27
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: High school students; day camps are meant for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and the overnight camp is open to rising high school juniors and seniors
CU Denver’s Architecture in the City is a series of one-day, day camps, and overnight camps designed for students interested in mastering model building and drawing techniques. The curriculum emphasizes creative problem-solving and practical design skills. You will gain insights into architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, and urban planning through design-build projects. You will interact with CU faculty and professionals while developing portfolio pieces suitable for college applications. If you choose the day or overnight camp, you will visit architecture firms and project sites.
15. Roger Williams University Marine Biology Camp
Location: Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
Cost: $1,995 (includes lodging, meals, use of laboratories, instruction, materials, equipment, and field trips); scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions in the summer
Application deadline: Open until full
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
This is a week-long opportunity to learn about the coastal ecosystems in southern New England through fieldwork, lab research, and outdoor experiences. At camp, you will gain experience in oceanographic sampling, identifying marine organisms, and studying shellfish, finfish, and seaweed ecology. You will also engage in activities such as barrier beach exploration, kayaking, and snorkeling. The camp offers lab sessions focused on aquaculture techniques, plankton observation, and nutrient analysis, helping you build skills in data collection and environmental analysis. You will connect with marine scientists during seminars covering issues like toxic plankton blooms, overfishing, and invasive species, gaining a deeper understanding of real marine challenges. The program includes a whale-watching trip off Cape Cod and group field projects.
Image source - Stanford Logo