15 Camps for High School Students in California
If you are a high school student looking to explore a new interest in a focused, practical way, camps can be a useful option. They are typically short, focused, and structured around specific subjects, allowing you to build skills and gain exposure without the long-term commitment of year-long or pre-college programs. Many camps emphasize projects and collaboration, helping you learn beyond what is usually covered in school and also connect with like-minded peers.
Why should you attend a camp in California?
Attending a camp in California can be especially valuable given the state’s range of opportunities across science, engineering, arts, environmental studies, and technology. Students can find programs focused on areas such as biomedical research, filmmaking, mathematics, music, creative writing, outdoor leadership, and engineering design. These camps often include project-based learning, mentorship, and opportunities to present your work to a larger audience or collaborate with peers who share similar interests.
To help you get started, here are 15 camps for high school students in California.
If you are interested in summer research programs in California, check out our blog here.
1. Science Accelerating Growth and Engagement (SAGE) Camp at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC)
Location: SLAC and Stanford Campuses, Menlo Park and Palo Alto, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 40 students
Program Dates: June 21 – 27
Application Deadline: March 21 (tentative; based on previous years)
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 9–11 at a Northern California high school | Must be under the age of 18
SAGE Camp offers high school students a free, one-week residential experience hosted at the SLAC and Stanford University campuses. During the camp, you will take part in hands-on team projects, scientific activities, and facility tours that introduce you to research and engineering work at a Department of Energy national laboratory. The program includes career talks and job shadowing sessions with scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals, providing insight into a range of STEM career paths. You will collaborate closely with peers as you develop analytical, technical, and communication skills through guided projects and interactive sessions. Camp activities also include structured evening programming and opportunities to connect informally with professionals and fellow students. Participation in SAGE Camp serves as the entry point to the broader SAGE community, which offers access to post-camp events and continued STEM exploration opportunities.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Program Dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Open to 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. 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 have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students have the opportunity 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.
3. UCLA Brain Research Institute’s NeuroCamp Summer High School Program
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 15 – 20 students
Program Dates: June 16 – 18 (Week 1) | June 23, 24, 26, and 27 (Week 2) | Accepted students are expected to attend all seven days across both weeks (dates are tentative; based on previous years)
Application Deadline: April 27 (tentative; based on previous years)
Eligibility: High school students
The UCLA Brain Research Institute’s NeuroCamp offers you a free, short-term introduction to neuroscience through an instructional, lab-focused experience on UCLA’s campus. The program runs over seven days across two weeks, with afternoon sessions that combine foundational neuroscience lessons with practical exposure to laboratory techniques. You will learn core concepts in molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neuroanatomy, gaining familiarity with how neuroscience research is conducted. The small cohort size of 15–20 students allows for structured guidance and interaction with UCLA-affiliated instructors and researchers. Along the way, you will also gain insight into academic pathways and careers in science.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. 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’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, 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. Camp CHLA – Health Care Career Exploration at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Location: Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 15 – 19 (Session 1) | July 27 – 31 (Session 2) | August 4 or 7 (Camp CHLA Discovery Day)
Application Deadline: January 5 – 19
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, or juniors from Los Angeles County who have not previously attended Camp CHLA
Camp CHLA – Health Care Career Exploration is a five-day, in-person summer program designed to introduce high school students to careers in healthcare. The camp includes presentations from healthcare professionals who share their career paths and daily responsibilities. You will engage in practical learning activities focused on skills such as CPR, first aid, injury prevention, and health awareness. By exploring hospital environments under guidance, you'll learn how various clinical departments support patient care. The camp also offers opportunities to meet peers interested in healthcare and community service. Sessions are offered twice each summer and structured to provide a broad, introductory overview rather than specialized clinical training.
6. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Virtual or in person at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $8,950 (Residential) | $3,750 (Virtual) | Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 40 participants for the residential camp and 64 for the online camp
Program Dates: June 21 – July 17 (Session 1: Residential) | June 15 – July 3 (Session 1: Online) | July 6 – 24 (Session 2: Online)
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors under the age of 18 | Must have experience writing and reading mathematical proofs and a strong mastery of high school geometry and algebra
SUMaC is an intensive summer camp for rising high school juniors and seniors with a strong interest in advanced mathematics. You will participate in daily lectures, guided research, and collaborative problem-solving focused on areas such as abstract algebra, number theory, or algebraic topology. The program emphasizes mathematical reasoning and proof-writing, with a college-level workload that includes daily problem sets and structured discussion sessions. Depending on the format, you may attend guest lectures and take part in virtual or in-person social activities. You will work closely with instructors and undergraduate and graduate instructional assistants. Courses are non-credit and designed specifically for academic enrichment rather than grades or exams.
7. USC Viterbi’s CS@SC Summer Camps
Location: Virtual or in-person at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $200 for Virtual sessions and $600 for In-person sessions
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 5–8 students per Virtual session and 6–8 students per In-person sessions (scholarships available)
Program Dates: In-person sessions: June 23 – 27 (Session 1) or July 7 – 11 (Session 2) | Virtual sessions: July 7 – 18 (Session 1) or July 21 – August 1 (Session 2) (tentative; dates are subject to change)
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Open to high school students; check here for course-specific prerequisites
USC Viterbi’s CS@SC Summer Camps give you the opportunity to explore computer science topics that are often not covered in standard high school courses. You can choose from a wide range of subject areas, including cybersecurity, game design, Java, Python, mobile app development, web development, drones, and Arduino-based robotics. Depending on the course, you may work on practical projects such as building apps using MIT App Inventor, creating games in Unity, programming robots and drones, or developing websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Some courses are offered at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels, allowing you to progress from foundational programming concepts to more advanced topics, including object-oriented programming and responsive web design. No prior programming experience is required for most introductory courses, making the camps accessible to students from varied technical backgrounds.
8. Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) U.S. Navy Camp
Location: Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, CA
Cost: $800 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 40 students
Program Dates: July 19 – 25
Application Deadline: March 11
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are on track to attend an accredited engineering college or university | Must be at least 15 years old | Required minimum GPA is 3.2 | Must be a U.S. citizen | Must be physically fit and have demonstrated leadership characteristics through participation in extracurricular activities, sports, and/or community activities
SAME U.S. Navy Camp is a one-week, overnight STEM Engineering & Construction camp held at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme, California. You will live on a military base and work in squads, participating in hands-on engineering and construction activities, such as building concrete beams and designing and testing cardboard boats. The camp emphasizes project-based learning under the mentorship of SAME professionals, uniformed service members, and local community engineers, offering direct exposure to applied engineering work. Throughout the week, you will develop practical skills related to engineering design, teamwork, and problem-solving in a structured, real-world setting.
9. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual or in-person in cities across the world, including San Francisco, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: 2 weeks in the summer (exact dates may vary by location)
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Young women and gender expansive teens aged 13–18 who feel comfortable learning in a female-identifying environment
Kode With Klossy Summer Camps offer free, two-week coding programs for high school students from genders traditionally underrepresented in STEM. You will spend the camp learning core programming concepts through hands-on projects in one of several tracks, including web development, mobile app development, machine learning, or data science. Depending on the track, you may build websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, create iOS apps with Swift, train a chatbot using Python, or analyze data using SQL and data visualization tools. Instruction is led by licensed educators and supported by instructional assistants, with structured daily coding practice. In addition to technical work, you will attend a series of lectures by women in tech.
10. SFFILM Education’s Youth Filmmaker Camp
Location: University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $1,250 for non-SFFILM members and $1,200 for SFFILM members (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 14 – 25 (Starter Lab) | July 18 – August 8 (Advanced Lab) (tentative; based on previous years)
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Students aged 14–18
SFFILM Education’s Youth Filmmaker Camp is an intensive summer program for high school students ages 14–18 focused on film production and storytelling. You can choose between the Starter Lab if you are a beginner or the Advanced Lab if you already have filmmaking experience, with both tracks covering the full filmmaking process from screenwriting to post-production. During the camp, you will work in groups to plan, shoot, and edit a short film while rotating through roles such as director, cinematographer, sound director, and editor. You may develop technical skills in areas such as screenplay formatting, camera operation, lighting and sound setup, and editing in Adobe Premiere Pro. The program includes workshops and guest sessions with Bay Area filmmakers supported by SFFILM, offering insight into professional filmmaking. The camp concludes with a screening of completed student films, giving you the opportunity to present your work to an audience.
11. TryEngineering Summer Institute
Location: Several universities across the country, including UCLA and UC Berkeley
Cost: $4,395 – $4,495, depending on the course and university (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: UCLA Dates: June 23 – July 1 or July 5 – 13 | UC Berkeley Dates: July 6 – 14 or July 18 – 26
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions. Enrollment closes 30 days before each session begins
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 14–18
TryEngineering Summer Institute is a hands-on engineering camp for high school students, held at universities across the U.S., including UCLA and UC Berkeley. You will attend classes in university classrooms, live in supervised campus housing, and take part in daily engineering challenges that emphasize design, problem-solving, and teamwork. Depending on the campus and track, you may work on applied projects across subject areas like aerospace, mechanical and electrical engineering, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, and renewable energy. The program also includes off-campus field trips and site visits to engineering-focused organizations, research facilities, and industry landmarks, connecting coursework to real-world applications.
12. Cazadero Summer Music Camp
Location: Cazadero Music Camp, Cazadero, CA
Cost: $2,385 (discounts and scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 100 – 180 campers
Program Dates: July 7 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Cazadero Summer Music Camp is a residential summer program that focuses on developing musical skills through intensive ensemble-based instruction. You will take part in Orchesta, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, or specialized programs such as piano, guitar, or World Beat, depending on your interests and experience. Each day includes multiple rehearsals, sectionals, and individual mentoring sessions led by professional musicians, music educators, and rotating guest conductors. You may build skills in instrumental or vocal technique, ensemble performance, sight-reading, and musical collaboration as you prepare new repertoire each week. Outside of rehearsals, you will balance focused music study with traditional overnight camp activities in a redwood forest setting.
13. Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research: Molecular Medicine Workshops
Location: Various universities, including UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, as well as Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research facilities in Alameda and Berkeley, CA
Cost: Varies by workshop and location (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: limited number of spots available; exact cohort size varies by workshop
Program Dates: Workshops take place in the summer and winter; exact dates vary by workshop and location
Application Deadline: No application deadline; acceptance is on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Middle and high school students aged 11–18 (varies depending on the workshop) | High school biology is recommended, not required
Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research’s Molecular Medicine Workshops allow you to explore molecular and cellular biology, with a focus on how diseases develop and how modern treatments are designed. You will learn through a combination of PhD-led lectures, hands-on lab work, and guided research projects, with both online and in-person options available. Depending on the workshops, you may study topics including cancer biology, neuroscience, immunology, aging, bioinformatics, medicinal chemistry, and biomedical research techniques such as PCR, tissue culture, and data analysis. Each workshop concludes with an independent research project on a gene or molecular process, allowing you to apply what you have learned to real biomedical questions.
14. University of the Pacific Writing Camp
Location: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Cost: $3,800 ($500 discounts available for qualifying students)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1 – 11
Application Deadline: November 1 – May 10
Eligibility: High school students
Writing Camp is a two-week summer program that focuses on how stories shape ideas, perspectives, and everyday experiences. You will engage in close reading, brainstorming, drafting, and revision as you explore fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and multimedia storytelling. The curriculum emphasizes both critical and creative skills, including audience awareness, style, editing, and aesthetic decision-making. You will collaborate in teams to design a final multimedia storytelling project using digital tools such as Canva, combining written work with visual and design elements. The camp is hands-on and project-based, with opportunities to share your work with family and peers.
15. Hidden Villa’s Overnight: Bay to Sea Backpacking Camp
Location: Campers will start hiking from the San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Cost: $2,200 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 15 – July 26
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications open on December 15 for returning camps and on January 10 for everyone else
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors
Hidden Villa’s Overnight: Bay to Sea Backpacking Camp gives you the opportunity to explore the Santa Cruz Mountains on a guided two-week hike from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Pacific Ocean. You will hike an average of 5 miles per day while learning essential backpacking skills, including map reading, camping with minimal environmental impact, and outdoor safety. The program is open to students with or without prior backpacking experience and emphasizes hands-on learning in a natural setting. You will work closely with peers and staff, sharing responsibilities and building teamwork through daily camp routines and group decision-making. The experience is grounded in Hidden Villa’s long-standing focus on environmental stewardship, community living, and social awareness.