12 Robotics Programs for High School Students in Washington State
If you are a high school student interested in robotics, specialized programs can help you explore how robotics systems are designed and studied. These programs introduce you to areas such as programming, electronics, mechanical design, automation, and artificial intelligence while helping you understand how robotic systems operate. You may also learn from instructors, researchers, or mentors as you develop foundational skills in engineering and robotics.
Why choose a robotics program in Washington State?
Washington State offers a strong environment for robotics education through its universities, research centers, and technology-driven institutions. Many programs in the state provide opportunities to study robotics alongside related fields such as computer science, engineering, and artificial intelligence. Both local and out-of-state students can find programs that provide academic exposure to robotics through structured courses, workshops, or research experiences.
To simplify your search, we’ve narrowed our list to the 12 robotics programs for high school students in Washington State.
If you’re looking for free programs in Washington State, check out our blog here.
1. University of Washington’s Changemakers in Computing (CiC)
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free;$1,200
Application Deadline: March 4 – April 1
Dates: July 6 – 30
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors at Washington state high schools
Changemakers in Computing is a summer program for high school students focused on technology, society, and justice. You’ll participate in coding and project-based learning designed for students with little to no prior experience. The program organizes you into mentee groups led by undergraduate mentors from the University of Washington, and each week focuses on a different intersection of computing and social issues. You’ll also get to work on culturally relevant projects while learning about various areas of computing. Daily check-ins with mentors support learning and collaboration.
2.Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Program Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students
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. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Multiple DoN labs across the country, including Washington state
Stipend: New participant: $4,000; Returning participant: $4,500
Application Deadline: August 1 – November 1
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Currenthigh school students (16+) who have completed at least grade 9
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a competitive summer research internship hosted within the Department of the Navy laboratories that provides you with hands-on STEM experience and exposure to advanced naval research. During the program, you’ll participate in hands-on naval science and engineering research for around eight weeks while building practical skills and professional connections. You will receive direct mentorship from scientists and engineers working in Navy research facilities and gain insight into real-world research careers. Internships are offered across the country, giving you access to diverse research environments and networking opportunities.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Robotics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students in good academic standing
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. UW Seattle: Engineering Academy
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Opens in March
Dates: July 20 – July 24
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors in the greater Seattle area
Engineering Academy is a free summer program that offers a five-day introduction to engineering to students from the greater Seattle area. The program features hands-on design challenges centered on real-world engineering problems and gives you the chance to engage with engineering students and faculty through structured activities. Additionally, it includes a tour of the University of Washington campus.
6. University of Puget Sound’s Summer Academic Challenge (SAC)
Location: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: June 1
Dates: 4 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Tacoma and greater Pierce County students in grades 7-12
The University of Puget Sound’s Summer Academic Challenge (SAC) is a tuition-free, four-week enrichment program that offers a project-based STEAM curriculum covering science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Each program theme guides the academic focus for the session, and you’ll work in teams to complete collaborative projects. You will also engage in activities such as model building, computer programming, and laboratory experiments. Aside from this, the schedule includes field trips, workshops, and campus-based learning experiences. Past program themes have encompassed robotics, salmon survival, flight, and sustainability.
7. UW Seattle – Mission to Mars: Build Your Own Robotic Rover
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: $995 + $50 registration fee; Limited financial assistance offered
Application Deadline: 2 weeks before the start of the course
Dates: July 13 – 24; July 27 – August 7
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
The Mission to Mars: Build Your Own Robotic Rover program guides you through the process of building a Mars-style robotic rover. As a participant, you’ll explore engineering design principles through hands-on construction tasks. The course provides an opportunity to develop mechanical skills related to motion and structural design, as well as to program rover operations using Java-based instructions. Additionally, it emphasizes servo-driven arm design as a key technical component. You will also engage in team-based activities to foster collaborative engineering problem-solving.
8. University of Washington – Coding in Python I
Location: Seattle University, Seattle, WA; Virtual options available
Cost: $895 – $995 + $50 registration fee
Application Deadline: 2 weeks before the start of the course
Dates: Multiple sessions offered in Spring and Summer (click here for more)
Eligibility: Incoming 9th-12th graders
The Coding in Python I program provides an introduction to programming concepts using Python as the primary language. The course covers foundational topics including variables, expressions, conditionals, booleans, loops, and fundamental data structures. You’ll also explore programming practices such as debugging, file handling, working with libraries, and organizing code effectively. The activities are structured to support multiple learning styles and different levels of coding familiarity. You’ll complete the course by creating a text-based game that applies the concepts and programming techniques studied during the program.
9. Kode With Klossy
Location: In-person camps across the U.S., including Seattle, WA; Virtual options offered
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: For Seattle-based camps: July 7 – 18; July 21 – August 1
Eligibility: Young women and gender expansive teens ages 13-18
Kode With Klossy is a two-week coding program designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of computer science. As a participant, you’ll get to choose from several curriculum tracks, including web development, machine learning, mobile app development, or data science. Each track focuses on applied programming through hands-on projects. You’ll also develop technical skills such as building websites, training chatbots, analyzing datasets, and creating mobile applications. Aside from this, the program allows you to learn programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, Swift, and SQL.
10. NASA’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer High School Intern Program
Location: Virtual (in-person options offered)
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 22
Dates: May – July (varies by project); See here for details
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors (16+)
The NASA and UT Austin SEES Summer High School Intern Program is a nationally competitive STEM research experience hosted by the University of Texas Center for Space Research. As a participant, you’ll get to work with NASA, academic, and industry experts using real mission data. The program covers fields such as aerospace engineering, planetary science, remote sensing, and space systems, and projects involve data analysis, engineering design, and systems modeling. Some engineering themes you’ll explore include mission planning, planetary glider design, and spacecraft technology development. You’ll also get to participate in collaborative research focused on Earth systems and aerospace challenges.
11. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual (hybrid + in-person formats offered)
Cost: $1,299 + $25 application fee; Financial aid offered
Application Deadline: February 15
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Eligibility: High school students who are 15 years or older by June 18
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) provides research opportunities for high school students. As a participant, you will work closely with faculty researchers at George Mason University or partner institutions and benefit from hands-on research utilizing advanced technology. Some research areas available to you include computer simulations, modeling, machine learning, cybersecurity, data mining, and robotics. You’ll also get to participate in structured research activities throughout the summer. Completed work may be prepared for conference presentations or journal submission.
12. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual (in-person options available)
Cost: $4,120; Financial aid offered
Application Deadline: February 6
Dates: June 15 – June 26 (virtual)
Eligibility: Current 9th graders (ages 14-16)
Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week program offered in online or residential formats focused on artificial intelligence. You’ll explore core AI concepts through lectures led by Stanford faculty and researchers, while also participating in small-group research projects guided by graduate students and postdoctoral mentors. Research areas include computer vision, natural language processing, medical AI, and robotics. In the robotics track, you’ll study AI-powered systems that perceive and interact with their environments. By the end of the program, you’ll be expected to present your research findings.
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