15 Camps for High School Students in Maryland
If you already know the subjects or career paths you want to explore, camps can be a great way to gain experience without committing to a long academic program. Unlike traditional pre-college programs hosted by universities, camps are usually shorter, more focused experiences that emphasize practical learning, interactive projects, and skill-building in a specific area. Depending on the camp, you might work on coding projects, conduct lab experiments, explore cybersecurity concepts, create art portfolios, build engineering prototypes, or participate in leadership and teamwork activities alongside other motivated high school students.
Why should you attend a camp in Maryland?
Maryland offers a strong mix of STEM, healthcare, engineering, leadership, and arts-focused camps, making it a valuable place for high school students to explore academic and career interests through project-based learning. You can participate in activities such as robotics challenges, biomedical research simulations, coding workshops, environmental science projects, entrepreneurship programs, and creative arts training, depending on the camp you choose. The state’s proximity to research institutions, government agencies, technology hubs, and major universities also gives many camps access to experienced instructors and specialized facilities. These camps can be especially useful for students living or studying in Maryland who want to explore opportunities close to home, but they can also appeal to out-of-state students looking for focused summer experiences in a well-connected academic region.
To help you get started, here are 15 camps for high school students in Maryland.
If you’re looking for programs in Maryland, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 15 camps span engineering, pharmacy, anatomy, robotics, AI, physics, environmental science, leadership, creative writing, musical theatre, and visual arts, so students with a wide range of academic and creative interests can find a relevant option in Maryland or online.
Several programs are low-cost or offer financial aid, including U.S. Naval Academy STEM ($450 with aid available), Maryland Leadership Workshops (scholarships available), Stevenson University Summer Writers' Workshop ($425 early registration), and Natural Resources Careers Camp (tuition often covered for in-state students by local Forestry Boards).
Many programs offer a residential option that includes on-campus living, including MICA Pre-College, JHU EEI, Goucher College Summer Enrichment, UMD WIE Change the World, and Maryland Leadership Workshops, giving students a preview of college life alongside academic content.
Programs vary significantly in length and focus, from five-day leadership workshops and camp-style experiences, such as Maryland Leadership Workshops and U.S. Naval Academy STEM, to three-week intensive robotics and engineering programs, such as UMD SPARC, so students can choose based on their availability and depth of interest.
Application deadlines for competitive programs fall early, including JHU EEI (January 30 early action), MICA Pre-College (January 5 early deadline), and UMD WIE Change the World (opens January), so students should begin preparing materials in the fall.
1. U.S. Naval Academy Summer STEM Program
Location: United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
Cost: $450 (financial aid available for program fee and travel)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: June 1–6 (Rising 9th Grade); June 8–13 (Rising 10th Grade); June 15–19 (Rising 11th Grade)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students entering 9th–11th grade with strong academic performance, evidence of accomplishments inside and outside the classroom, and a demonstrated interest in STEM; PSAT/SAT/ACT scores considered where applicable
If you’re interested in engineering, coding, robotics, or applied science, the Naval Academy’s Summer STEM program offers a hands-on introduction to STEM learning in a military-academic environment. Throughout the week, you’ll collaborate with students from across the country while participating in faculty-led modules, engineering challenges, and team activities on the Naval Academy campus. Academic sessions include projects such as reverse engineering small engines, testing structures in wind tunnels, materials analysis in laboratory settings, and introductory programming challenges. Beyond the classroom, the program incorporates intramurals, leadership activities with Midshipmen mentors, a majors and technology expo, and social events designed to build teamwork and community
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies as per program. Need-based financial aid available for AI Scholars
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), 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. 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. Notre Dame of Maryland University Pharmacy Summer Camp
Location: Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: $500 camp fee; optional $500 housing fee for residential stay
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 22 – June 26
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 interested in pharmacy, healthcare, or pharmaceutical sciences
Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Pharmacy Summer Camp introduces high school students to the science, clinical practice, and career pathways within pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. During the week, you work directly with faculty from the School of Pharmacy through hands-on activities such as compounding medications in laboratory settings, exploring precision medicine, and learning how pharmacists contribute to patient care and medical research. You also gain exposure to medication therapy management, pharmacy school preparation, and the range of careers available within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. The program combines laboratory experiences with career exploration, helping students better understand both the scientific and patient-centered sides of pharmacy.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students with a GPA of 3.3/4.0 or higher; no prior knowledge of the chosen research field required
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. Natural Resources Careers Camp (NRCC)
Location: Maryland Forestry Foundation, Accident, MD
Cost/Stipend: $500 tuition plus $150 activity fee; tuition often covered for in-state students by local Forestry Boards
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 19 – July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in, entering, or recently graduated from high school who can attend the full seven-day residential program and complete the application, recommendation letters, and interview process
Set in the mountains of western Maryland, the Natural Resources Careers Camp introduces students to environmental science and conservation careers through immersive fieldwork and hands-on learning experiences. You’ll explore subjects such as forestry, wildlife ecology, fisheries, watershed management, conservation practices, GIS/GPS technology, and broader natural resource management while working alongside professionals from state agencies, colleges, and industry organizations. The application process includes recommendation letters and interviews conducted through local Forestry Boards, reflecting the program’s emphasis on student motivation and engagement. Throughout the week, students live at the Hickory Environmental Education Center and participate in both classroom instruction and outdoor activities designed to expose them to real-world environmental careers and college pathways.
6. Johns Hopkins Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI)
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost: Approximately $3,960–$10,190, depending on format and location; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions from June 15 - July 31, depending on format
Application Deadline: January 30 (early action)
Eligibility: Ages 15-17 for residential program; commuter and online formats available for a wider age range
EEI compresses a semester-long Johns Hopkins first-year engineering course into an intensive summer experience. You’ll explore several engineering disciplines, including civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, computer, and materials engineering, through collaborative design challenges, labs, and technical projects. Activities range from building spaghetti bridges and programming electronics-based games to modeling chemical production processes, giving you exposure to both theoretical and applied engineering concepts. The program emphasizes teamwork, communication, and analytical problem-solving while also helping you better understand potential engineering majors and career paths
7. Johns Hopkins University Applied Anatomy and Physiology
Location: Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Program tuition varies; the application fee is $85, and financial assistance is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 22 – July 1; July 6 – July 16; July 20 – July 30
Application Deadline: Early Action: February 3; Regular Decision: March 10; Rolling Admissions: July 6
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 9th grade with a minimum 3.0 GPA; background in biology strongly recommended
You’ll spend two intensive weeks studying how the human body functions through a mix of lectures, dissections, lab work, medical case studies, and collaborative discussions. Rather than focusing only on memorization, this Johns Hopkins pre-college course emphasizes systems-based thinking by exploring how organ systems interact, maintain homeostasis, and influence human health. You will be introduced to both gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy (histology), giving you exposure to concepts commonly encountered in undergraduate pre-med and biology coursework. The course also places a strong emphasis on teamwork, reflecting how physicians and researchers collaborate in real medical and scientific settings.
8. Maryland Institute College of Art Pre-College Summer Intensive
Location: Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Commuter: $2,725 (2-week) or $5,450 (4-week); Residential: $3,850 (2-week) or $7,700 (4-week); scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 13 – July 24; July 27 – August 7; July 13 – August 7 (4-week option)
Application Deadline: January 5 (Early Deadline); May 15 (Final Deadline)
Eligibility: Students ages 15–17 who submit an application, a portfolio of four art/design pieces, and required materials; international students welcome
Whether you’re interested in animation, fashion, photography, graphic design, ceramics, game development, or illustration, MICA’s Pre-College Summer Intensive lets you experience what it’s like to study at a professional art and design college. You can take studio courses taught by MICA faculty while building technical skills, developing portfolio pieces, and earning college credit in an immersive creative environment. The program offers both residential and commuter options, with opportunities to customize your schedule through two-week or four-week sessions and a wide range of specialized studio classes. Outside the classroom, you engage in workshops, artist talks, collaborative studio time, and campus activities that introduce you to Baltimore’s creative community and college life.
9. Goucher College Summer Enrichment Program
Location: Goucher College, Baltimore, MD
Cost: $1,500
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 14 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th grade students interested in early exposure to college academics, residential life, and college preparation opportunities
Focused on helping students build confidence and prepare for the transition to college, Goucher College’s Summer Enrichment Program combines academics, residential life, and personal development in a supportive campus environment. During the two-week experience, you’ll strengthen SAT readiness, develop study and college-success skills, explore college-level coursework, and gain exposure to campus life in the Baltimore/Towson area. The program is residential during the week, allowing students to experience supervised dorm living and greater independence while still returning home on weekends. Goucher emphasizes holistic student development, making the experience particularly welcoming for first-generation, underrepresented, or academically motivated students who may benefit from additional college access and preparation support.
10. Maryland Leadership Workshops Senior High Workshop (SHW)
Location: Washington College, Chestertown, MD
Cost/Stipend: Scholarships available based on demonstrated financial need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 19 – July 24
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12
If you’re interested in leadership, communication, advocacy, or teamwork, Maryland Leadership Workshops’ Senior High Workshop offers a weeklong residential experience centered on personal growth and collaborative leadership development. Hosted at Washington College, the program combines workshops, discussions, and group activities that help students strengthen skills in public speaking, ethical decision-making, conflict management, project planning, and creative problem-solving. You will live on campus with peers from across the state, creating an immersive environment focused on leadership practice, self-reflection, and community building. Sessions also explore topics such as diversity, identity, motivation, and power dynamics, encouraging you to think critically about leadership in real-world contexts.
11. Young Artists of America SPAI Senior Academy
Location: Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Olney, MD (day program); University of Maryland, College Park, MD (overnight conservatory option)
Cost: $2,795 tuition; $2,745 early-bird rate; tuition assistance available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 4 – July 16
Application Deadline: June 15
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders and rising college freshmen interested in musical theatre training
Designed for serious young performers, Young Artists of America’s Senior Academy combines intensive musical theatre training with the experience of mounting a full-scale stage production in just two weeks. You will spend their mornings in small-group classes focused on acting, dance, voice, and music theory before transitioning into afternoon and evening rehearsals for the culminating musical production. Training covers areas such as improvisation, character development, vocal interpretation, ballet, jazz, tap, and contemporary movement, giving participants broad exposure to the demands of musical theatre performance. The program takes place in a professional-caliber performing arts center and concludes with live performances staged for family, friends, and the public. Senior Academy is especially well-suited for disciplined students who want conservatory-style performing arts training, collaborative rehearsal experience, and the challenge of preparing a polished production on an accelerated schedule.
12. University of Maryland Advanced Physics Summer Program
Location: College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: There is no information available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 20 – July 31
Application Deadline: Applications open during the first week of January (tentatively)
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th-grade students interested in physics and related sciences
The University of Maryland’s Advanced Physics Summer Program introduces students to both foundational and emerging areas of physics through a highly interactive, hands-on experience. Over two weeks, participants explore topics that extend beyond the standard high school curriculum, including coding, robotics, electronics, soldering, modern physics concepts, and current scientific research applications. You will work on collaborative projects, participate in physics demonstrations and experiments, tour research labs, and interact with professors, graduate students, and current undergraduates to better understand academic and career pathways in STEM. The program also incorporates discussions about science careers and exposure to cutting-edge research areas, helping you connect classroom physics to innovation.
13. Stevenson University Summer Writers' Workshop
Location: Stevenson University, Owings Mills, MD
Cost: $425 early registration; $500 after May 15; scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders for the High School Workshop; additional programs available for middle school students and recent high school graduates
Students in Stevenson University’s Summer Writers’ Workshop spend a week immersed in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction while working closely with the university's creative writing faculty in small-group workshops. The program blends foundational writing instruction with specialized afternoon sessions that may focus on areas like flash fiction, character development, screenwriting, fantasy writing, or digital storytelling. You also gain exposure to publishing and editorial work by contributing to a student-produced online literary magazine, and students have the opportunity to present their writing at the end of the workshop publicly. Guest writers and artists visit throughout the week, helping you better understand creative careers and the broader literary world. This workshop is appealing to young writers who want individualized feedback, a collaborative creative environment, and early experience with both the artistic and publishing sides of writing.
14. UMD WIE Change the World Engineering Program
Location: A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: $1,500 (financial assistance available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: July 12 – 17
Application Deadline: Applications open in January (tentatively)
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th grade students interested in engineering; open to all students
Hosted by the Women in Engineering Program at the University of Maryland’s Clark School of Engineering, this residential summer program introduces high school students to the breadth of engineering through hands-on projects, department workshops, and collaborative design challenges. Over the course of the week, you explore disciplines such as aerospace, bioengineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, and fire protection engineering while learning how these fields intersect in real-world problem-solving. You also work closely with current UMD engineering students, faculty, and staff through lab tours, presentations, mentoring, and team-based activities designed to simulate the collaborative nature of engineering. Evenings include residential and social programming that helps you experience campus life and build connections with peers who share similar interests. Because the program combines technical exposure with mentorship and community-building, it is valuable for students who are beginning to seriously consider engineering as a college major or long-term career path.
15. University of Maryland Student Preparation to Advance Robotics in College (SPARC) Certificate Program
Location: College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: $5,000 per 3-week session; limited scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session 1: July 6 – July 24; Session 2: July 27 – August 14
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Current 10th–12th grade students who submit a high school transcript and resume; prior robotics experience not required
Focused on emerging areas of robotics and automation, the University of Maryland’s SPARC program allows high school students to study advanced engineering topics through intensive, project-based summer coursework. Participants choose from specialized tracks such as autonomous ground vehicles, drones and uncrewed aerial vehicles, additive manufacturing, or soft bio-inspired and medical robotics, while also gaining exposure to machine learning and AI applications in robotics. Throughout the three-week commuter program, students work on hands-on projects, learn from university faculty and researchers, and develop technical problem-solving skills in a college engineering environment. Although prior robotics experience is not required, the program is designed for academically motivated students who are comfortable with challenging STEM material and interested in taking initiative during collaborative work.
Frequently asked questions
1. What camps are available for high school students in Maryland?
Options include engineering and robotics camps, such as JHU EEI, UMD SPARC, and UMD WIE Change the World, science and healthcare camps, such as JHU Applied Anatomy, Notre Dame Pharmacy Camp, and U.S. Naval Academy STEM, physics and environmental programs, such as UMD Advanced Physics and Natural Resources Careers Camp, creative arts camps, such as MICA Pre-College and Young Artists of America Senior Academy, writing programs, such as Stevenson University Summer Writers' Workshop, leadership programs, such as Maryland Leadership Workshops, and virtual research programs, such as Veritas AI and Lumiere.
2. Are there low-cost or financial aid options for camps in Maryland?
Yes, U.S. Naval Academy STEM charges $450 with financial aid available, Stevenson University Summer Writers' Workshop starts at $425 with scholarships, and Maryland Leadership Workshops offers need-based scholarships. Natural Resources Careers Camp tuition is often covered for in-state students by local Forestry Boards, and MICA Pre-College and JHU EEI also offer financial aid for eligible students.
3. Which Maryland camps are best for students interested in engineering?
Students interested in engineering might consider JHU Explore Engineering Innovation for exposure to multiple engineering disciplines through hands-on labs, UMD SPARC for specialized robotics tracks including autonomous vehicles and additive manufacturing, and UMD WIE Change the World for a broad introduction to engineering departments with mentorship from current UMD students and faculty.
4. Are there camps in Maryland for students interested in creative arts or writing?
Yes, MICA Pre-College offers studio courses across animation, photography, fashion, game design, and illustration in a professional art college environment. Young Artists of America Senior Academy focuses on musical theatre performance with a full stage production, and Stevenson University Summer Writers' Workshop covers fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction with small-group feedback and publishing experience.
5. When should I apply to camps for high school students in Maryland?
MICA Pre-College has an early deadline of January 5, JHU EEI closes January 30 for early action, and Stevenson University Summer Writers' Workshop closes March 1. U.S. Naval Academy STEM closes March 31, and Maryland Leadership Workshops closes May 15. Programs, such as Notre Dame Pharmacy Camp, Goucher College Summer Enrichment, and Natural Resources Careers Camp, accept rolling admissions, so students should apply early to secure a spot.