15 Camps for High School Students in New Jersey
Summer camps are an excellent option if you want to explore your interests without committing to a long, intensive program. Camps place you in an environment where you concentrate on a particular subject, such as engineering, coding, environmental science, theater, artificial intelligence, and many more. The curriculum emphasizes activity-based learning, ensuring you gain experience that helps you determine whether the subject genuinely interests you.
Additionally, camps are shorter and are much more focused than most other pre-college programs, making them even more worth considering. They are typically just a few days or up to a couple of weeks, so they are easy to fit into your summer schedule. During that short period, camps ensure you have access to industry tools and mentorship, including lectures, projects, workshops, and more.
Why should you attend a camp in New Jersey?
New Jersey is home to universities, research centers, and organizations that offer a wide range of camps across subjects like engineering, environmental science, coding, and the arts. Depending on the camp, you might explore topics through projects, workshops, or guided activities while developing skills and learning from instructors and peers. These opportunities can be worth considering, whether you are a local student looking for options nearby or an out-of-state student interested in exploring a new academic environment.
To help with your search, 15 camps for high school students in New Jersey.
If you’re looking for college programs in New Jersey, check out our blog here.
1. Camp Premiere: Actors Studio
Location: Kean University, Union, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Early bird pricing is $300 and $350 for campers who pay after March 15 (limited need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: July 20 – 31
Application Deadline: Open on February 1; early bird registration is March 15, and the final registration date is June 26
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th graders
Kean University organizes summer theatrical camps for middle and high school students, with the Actors Studio camp specifically targeting rising 9th through 12th graders. In this two-week camp, you will learn to become a better actor by practicing improvisation, acting techniques, scene studies, and physical and vocal exercises. You will be acting out specific scenes from contemporary plays that were specifically picked for you to experiment with your acting range. The Actors Studio also gives you the benefit of working on scenes with industry professionals, who can suggest ways to improve your performance.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Rolling. 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 looking to get started in 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 and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Stevens Institute of Technology Engineering Bootcamp
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $3,350 (limited amount of need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Session I: July 5 – 11 | Session II: July 12 – 18
Application Deadline: Priority application deadline is March 16, and the final application deadline is June 1
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders from anywhere in the world
This pre-college program at the Stevens Institute of Technology is suitable for high school students who want to explore different areas of engineering before choosing a college major. For this purpose, the bootcamp will introduce you to various engineering disciplines, including civil, mechanical, chemical, biomedical, engineering management, and industrial & systems engineering. You also work with each other to complete a research project, with the institute’s faculty there to guide you.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world.
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
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. Stockton CSI Summer Camp
Location: Stockton University, Galloway Township, NJ
Cost/Stipend: The early registration fee is $995 (until April 30th), and the regular fee is $1,095
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: Camp 1: June 28 – July 2; Camp 2: July 12 – 16; and Camp 3: July 19 – 23
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th graders and newly graduated seniors from anywhere in the world
The Stockton CSI Summer Camp will involve you in solving a murder case through which you gain practice and an in-depth understanding of criminal investigation and trial. As a result, you will have the chance to work alongside investigators and other industry professionals. The camp will engage you in every step of the legal process, starting from investigating the murder scene to the murder trial. By the end of the program, you will have become familiar with gathering evidence, questioning witnesses, and presenting your case in your favor before the judge.
6. The Watershed Institute Green Architecture: Designing a Sustainable Future
Location: The Watershed Institute, Hopewell Township, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $525 (limited number of need-based full scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 20
Dates: July 6 – 10
Application Deadline: Full payment is due by March 18
Eligibility: Open to high school students
In this summer program, talented architects will teach you to develop a design plan for a sustainable, environmentally friendly building. For this purpose, you will cover some important concepts in green architecture, renewable energy, and eco-friendly materials. Using all these foundational concepts, you will analyze buildings and find ways to make them more sustainable. You will then design an improved green building using Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) and physical modeling tools. You also get to show this project to local architects and community leaders.
7. Water and Climate: Princeton High-Meadows Environmental Institute
Location: High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $575 (limited number of need-based full scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 20
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: Full payment is due by March 18
Eligibility: Open to high school students
This Princeton-based camp’s main focus is climate change and the role that water plays in it. You will spend the five days in the camp conducting environmental research along with scientists and engineers from Princeton University’s High Meadows Environmental Institute. The research will examine how climate change has negatively impacted different types of water bodies. You will then learn to use climate and water science to address the issue, aiming for a more sustainable future. The camp will also engage you in science experiments, lab tours, and other activities.
8. Princeton Day School Coding is Fun: Digital Graphics & Web Apps
Location: Princeton Day School, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Princeton Day School camps are typically priced at somewhere between $200 and $600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: One week in the summer
Application Deadline: Open and rolling; Princeton Day School camps typically start filling by early March
Eligibility: 5th to 12th graders
For those students who would like to build an app, this camp teaches you to do it by immersing you in a coding project. The goal is to help you create an app that addresses a particular problem in your life. Along with the app, you will also learn to make interactive webpages and games with the help of JavaScript. Given that this is a beginner-friendly program, you will be guided through every step of the programming process one after another. Students who are already familiar with coding can still enroll and consider working on more advanced projects or improving their pre-existing projects.
9. Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM²D
Location: Johnson & Johnson WHQ, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Not publicly available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50+ students
Dates: 3 days in August
Application Deadline: Not publicly available
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders from New Jersey
The Winning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing, and Design camp is held across various locations in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region to encourage more students to pursue careers in those fields. During these three days, you will be scheduled with a mix of activities, including workshops, speaker sessions, a Johnson & Johnson Museum tour, and more. You will also learn to turn an idea into a product that can be sold in the market. The camp also assigns you a team project to present as a group on the final day.
10. TCNJ Music Technology Camp
Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
Cost/Stipend: The commuter camp is $800, and the residential camp is $1,200 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 18 students
Dates: July 5 – 10
Application Deadline: June 1 or when the camp has reached capacity
Eligibility: Rising 9th graders through graduating 12th graders
In this one-week camp, you will dive into music composition and audio production. You will spend your time writing, editing, and producing a music track using software such as Logic Pro and Ableton on a Mac. For this purpose, the camp will teach you how to produce tunes and beats. As a result of producing your original track, you will also gain the experience of working in a professional recording studio.
11. TCNJ Camp Innovate and Investigate
Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: The priority application deadline is March 31, following which applications are accepted on a rolling basis until spots are filled
Eligibility: Rising 10th through 12th graders who have completed one year of high school math and science
As a participant in this camp, you will complete hands-on assignments that enhance your understanding of concepts across math, physics, computer science, biology, and chemistry. Along with familiarizing yourself with various STEM concepts, you will also have the opportunity to research while collaborating with the university’s professors and students. Your schedule will also consist of interactive lab sessions, team projects, hands-on workshops, networking events, and more.
12. Rowan's Introduction for Students to Engineering (RISE)
Location: Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering, Glassboro, NJ
Cost: $200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30
Dates: August 4, 5, and 6
Application Deadline: Open from March to June 10
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders
This is a three-day camp that introduces you to engineering through hands-on projects. You will have the opportunity to work with polymers, Arduinos, concrete, bottle rockets, and 3D printing. You will even have professors from the university to mentor you, helping you figure out the best option for you among the several engineering disciplines. More importantly, the program will give you the chance to test your engineering ideas using technology at the university’s labs.
13. DJ Sackmann Summer Prep Camp Series
Location: #HoopStudy Headquarters, Montclair, NJ
Cost/Stipend: The camp cost is not publicly available; limited financial assistance is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Point Guard Mastery Session 1: June 22-25, and Session 2: July 20- 23; She’s Next Academy: August 10 – 13
Application Deadline: Open from January
Eligibility: Students aged 11 to 18
These camps are dedicated to school students interested in improving their basketball skills. While boys can sign up for the Point Guard Mastery Session 1 or Session 2, girls can opt for the She’s Next Academy. All three sessions focus on enhancing your on-court techniques and your off-court knowledge of the game. You receive training from DJ Sackmann and other basketball coaches who engage you in summer workouts that make you a better player. Point Guard Mastery Session 2 will also provide participants with tips on becoming a better team captain.
14. The Watershed Institute Field Research: Science in Action
Location: The Watershed Institute, Hopewell Township, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $525 (limited number of need-based full scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 20
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: Full payment is due by March 18
Eligibility: Open to high school students
If you want to try your hand at environmental research, this camp is for you. While in this camp, you will get to do several hands-on activities that focus on teaching you what it is like to study the nature around you. The camp will connect you with researchers and scientists, especially those whose main focus is water quality, native trees, endangered species, and migratory birds. By the end of the camp, you will become familiar with the different ways these professionals protect the ecosystem with their knowledge in biology, ecology, and environmental science.
15. Drew University Advantage Arts Summer Intensive
Location: Drew University, Madison, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free for Newark high school students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: July 12 – 31
Application Deadline: Accepted on a rolling basis until full
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders
Advantage Arts Summer Intensive equips you with theatrical skills, with options in acting, dance, design, technology, and stage management. To learn them, you will be involved in a play that professional playwrights particularly wrote with your class in mind. As part of the residential camp, some students would be allowed to enroll in Drew University’s course Thea 386: Theatre in the Community, for which they would be required to complete assignments and receive grading and credit.
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