15 Camps for High School Students in Georgia
If you are a high school student interested in exploring a subject beyond your regular coursework, summer is a good time to turn that interest into structured learning. Programs let you work in a university lab, take part in field research, or complete projects that ask you to think through problems the way a scientist, engineer, or researcher would. These experiences introduce you to the methods professionals use, whether that means running experiments, analyzing data, or building something from the ground up.
Why should you attend a camp in Georgia?
Georgia offers a range of summer camps hosted by universities across the state, covering fields such as cybersecurity, marine biology, and filmmaking. You will work with instructors and mentors, try out new techniques and tools, and get a clearer sense of what a subject looks like when studied in depth. Whether you live in Georgia or are traveling in for the summer, the state has programs suited to a variety of academic interests.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 camps for high school students in Georgia.
If you’re looking for programs in Georgia, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
This blog lists 15 camps for high school students in Georgia, spanning cybersecurity, marine biology, filmmaking, music, art, and debate.
Several programs are free, including STEP at Georgia Tech and the Cyber Warrior Academy, while others range from $475 (GSU Summer Music Institute) to $2,200 (Emory Policy Debate).
Two programs run fully virtual and remote, Veritas AI and the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, while the rest are in-person camps hosted at Georgia universities.
Application deadlines range from January 15 (TryEngineering Institute) to rolling registration (Camp Flix), so students should check individual timelines early.
1. Science, Technology, and Engineering Program (STEP)
Location: Georgia Tech Main Campus, Atlanta, and also in Albany and Augusta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Atlanta: July 6 - 17 | Augusta: June 8 - 17
Application Deadline: March 1 for Atlanta sessions
Eligibility: Georgia residents who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
At the STEP Program at Georgia Institute of Technology, students are given a real-world, open-ended challenge inspired by ongoing research at the university. You are placed in a team to explore possible solutions while being guided by a faculty mentor throughout the two weeks. The approach you follow depends on your group. The program concludes with a poster session where you present your work to parents, teachers, faculty, and industry professionals.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type | Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Rolling – 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 operated by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. Students looking to get started in AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. For students with advanced experience, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase offers an opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities on an independent research project. Students have access to the in-house publication team to help them prepare and submit publications to high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. TryEngineering Summer Institute at Georgia Tech
Location: Georgia Tech Main Campus, Atlanta
Cost: Free for Georgia residents | The broader program charges tuition at other locations
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students
Dates: June 7 - 15
Application Deadline: Applications open on January 15
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders | Georgia residents only
The TryEngineering Summer Institute is a nine-day residential program hosted on the Georgia Tech campus that introduces high school students to the field of engineering and what that actually means before college. You'll work through hands-on design challenges, field trips, and interact with Georgia Tech professors, students, and staff. The program includes sessions focused on the Georgia Tech admissions process, providing valuable guidance for students interested in applying to the university.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote (you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world)
Cost: Varies by program type | Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring | Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application Deadline: Varies by 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. Cyber Warrior Academy
Location: Dahlonega Campus, University of North Georgia
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students
Dates: June 7 - 12
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: U.S. high school students entering grades 10th to 12th | priority given to students who have studied a strategic language (Arabic, Farsi, Russian, Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean) | demonstrated high aptitude in mathematics or CS (GPA of 3.5+) | participated in JROTC or have experience in computer programming, robotics, or cyber competitions.
The Cyber Warrior Academy at the University of North Georgia is a six-day residential camp focused on hands-on cybersecurity and cyber operations training. You'll cover topics such as Python, cryptography, robotics, and car hacking. Alongside technical instruction, the program includes daily physical activities and team-building exercises. The camp concludes in a Capture the Flag (CTF) competition, where you’ll apply newly acquired skills in a real-world scenario.
6. UGA Cybersecurity Camp
Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens, Georgia
Cost: $530
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 31 - June 4
Application Deadline: Enrollment opens December 1
Eligibility: Aged 14 - 17 years
UGA's CyberArch program offers free cybersecurity risk assessments for local organizations, so the curriculum is based on how digital security actually works, not just theory. Over the course of the week, you'll cover topics such as digital hygiene, data protection, recognizing cyber threats, and industry frameworks, such as the CIS Controls. You'll also get hands-on experience using Python to address real-world cybersecurity challenges and conclude the program with a case study presentation where you present security recommendations for a fictional business.
7. Camp Flix
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Cost: $945 (day camp) | $1,645 (overnight)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 14 - 19 | Session 2: June 21 - 26 | Session 3: July 12 - 17
Application Deadline: Rolling registration
Eligibility: Aged 11 - 17 years
Camp Flix is a filmmaking camp hosted at Emory University that covers every stage of making a short film, from screenwriting and acting to cinematography, sound design, editing, and special effects. You’ll work alongside professionals from the film, television, and branded media industries. Students will also collaborate with college filmmakers from across the country. The week concludes with a red carpet premiere where your film is screened to parents and friends.
8. UGA Marine Education Center’s Aquarium Apprentices
Location: UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium, Georgia Coast
Cost: $480
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limit of 21 students per session
Dates: July 27 - 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Aged 14 - 15 years
Aquarium Apprentices offers an immersive introduction to marine life and animal care. Over the week, you'll work in the laboratory, field, and aquarium settings, collecting and identifying marine fish and invertebrates while studying their anatomy. It is a hands-on camp, meaning you’ll be part of the feeding schedules, tank maintenance, and water quality monitoring. The 3.5:1 student-to-staff ratio and a limit of 21 participants mean you'll receive personalized instruction from UGA marine education faculty and fellows.
9. UGA Grady College’s Advertising and Public Relations Camp
Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens, Georgia
Cost: $530 (day) or $1,255 (overnight) | need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 14 - 18
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Aged 14 - 17 years
UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication challenges students to develop a complete advertising and PR campaign from concept to execution. Along the way, you'll learn key industry skills, including message development, audience analysis, media planning, and persuasive storytelling. These experiences provide valuable preparation for careers in advertising, communications, marketing, and public relations. The instruction comes directly from the same faculty who teach Grady's undergraduate and graduate students, so the level of feedback is closer to a university course than a typical high school workshop.
10. Georgia State University Summer Music Institute
Location: Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia
Cost: $475
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 - 19
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle and high school students with at least two years of musical study | choose one track: percussion ensemble, jazz, music industry, or string orchestra
The GSU Summer Music Institute is a one-week day camp for students with a foundation in music who want to further develop their skills. You'll choose from four specialized tracks: percussion, jazz, music industry/audio, or string orchestra. Throughout the week, you take part in rehearsals, masterclasses, sectionals, and special topic sessions led by Georgia State faculty and professional performers. The music industry track is particularly valuable for students who are more interested in the business and production side of the field. The week concludes with a final concert performance for family and friends.
11. UGA Summer Music Camp
Location: University of Georgia campus, Athens, Georgia
Cost: $500 (day camper) or $600 (dorm camper)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 7 - 11
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: 6th - 12th grade | High school-specific concentrations include chorus (9th - 12th), jazz band (9th - 12th), and guitar (9th - 12th) | Orchestra and band open from 6th grade
The UGA Summer Music Camp is a five-day intensive camp where you rehearse and perform in large ensembles, attend instrument-specific masterclasses, and participate in academic classes focused on musicianship. No audition is required for admission, but all campers submit placement videos before camp to ensure ensembles can be organized by skill level. Available concentrations include orchestra, band, chorus, piano, jazz band, and guitar, and the week concludes with a series of final concerts open to families and friends.
12. CSI: UGA
Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens, Georgia
Cost: $530
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 7 - 11
Application Deadline: Check the website for the latest updates
Eligibility: Aged 13 - 17 years
CSI: UGA is a forensic science day camp where you’ll work inside a professional laboratory setting at the University of Georgia to solve an unsolved case from start to finish. You are applying forensic techniques such as fingerprint analysis, DNA extraction, analysis of simulated blood spatter, and forensic chemistry to identify unknown substances. The entire week builds to a final showcase where your team presents the evidence and identifies the suspect, making it one of the more project-driven camps on this list.
13. Emory National Debate Institute’s Policy Debate
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Cost: $1,850 (commuter) or $2,200 (residential)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 31 - June 13
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students with no prior policy debate experience or 1 - 2 years of experience at the middle or high school level
The Emory National Debate Institute is designed for students new to policy debate as well as those seeking to sharpen their skills before the competitive season. Over two weeks, you'll work on the fundamentals, including flowing, structuring, and delivering a debate speech, tournament preparation, and understanding the arguments unique to the policy format. The camp concludes in a competitive tournament, where you'll apply everything you've practiced in live debate rounds. Instructors include Emory's own debate coaches, as well as coaches from competitive programs across the country.
14. UGA Summer Art Camp
Location: Lamar Dodd School of Art, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Cost: $530
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 70 students
Dates: June 14–18
Application Deadline: Not listed
Eligibility: Aged 14 - 17 years | all skill levels and arts backgrounds are welcome
The UGA Summer Art Camp is a week-long program where you’ll rotate through four studio areas: drawing and painting, photography, printmaking and book arts, and fiber and 3D art. You're not restricted to one medium; the rotating format lets you experiment across different practices, from embroidery and sculpture to linocuts, digital photography, and mixed media. The week concludes with a group exhibition open to family and friends, which gives you a real deadline to work toward and something to actually show for it. Along the way, you'll work in fully equipped studio spaces and visit the Georgia Museum of Art and the UGA Art Library.
15. SCAD Summer Seminars
Location: Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia
Cost: $1,450 (commuter) | $1,750 (on-campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple dates
Application Deadline: Two weeks before each session's start date
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors (students who have completed 9th, 10th, or 11th grades)
SCAD Summer Seminars are week-long art and design workshops conducted at one of the country's leading art and design universities, offered on both the Atlanta and Savannah campuses. Each session is taught by SCAD faculty, alumni, or select graduate students, in class sizes capped at 20 participants. Workshops may include demonstrations, lectures, studio projects, and local field trips. Participants get full access to SCAD's facilities and libraries for the duration of the session. Beyond the classroom, organized social and cultural activities offer valuable insight into what student life at SCAD actually looks like.
Frequently asked questions
1. Which programs in this list are free to attend?
STEP at Georgia Tech, the TryEngineering Summer Institute (for Georgia residents), and the Cyber Warrior Academy are all free.
2. Which programs on this list are fully virtual?
Veritas AI and the Lumiere Research Scholar Program are both remote, allowing participation from anywhere.
3. Which programs are limited to Georgia residents?
STEP requires Georgia residency, and the TryEngineering Summer Institute is free only for Georgia residents, with tuition charged at other locations.
4. Which programs focus on technology or cybersecurity?
Students interested in tech can consider Veritas AI for AI and machine learning, the Cyber Warrior Academy and UGA Cybersecurity Camp for cyber operations, and CSI: UGA for forensic science.