15 Science Camps for High School Students
Science camps can be a useful way for you to explore specific subjects in a focused and structured setting during high school. They allow you to focus on one area of interest while building skills through activities, projects, and collaborative work with peers. Many camps also include presentations or showcases, giving you the opportunity to apply what you have learned and communicate your ideas clearly.
How are camps different from other programs in high school?
Unlike year-long clubs or broad enrichment courses, science camps are short, focused, and experiential. They pack a lot of learning into a defined period of time, allowing you to dive deeply into one subject area without juggling a full academic schedule. Most camps are project-based: you might defend virtual systems in a cyber simulation, prototype an aerospace design, conduct hands-on healthcare labs, or present findings from a mathematical modeling challenge. Many camps culminate in showcases, competitions, or formal presentations that mirror real academic and professional environments, giving you a chance to apply what you have learned in a meaningful way.
To help you find options, we’ve curated this list of 15 science camps for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. WNE-MHC Golden Bear Summer Camp
Location: Western New England University, Center for Sciences and Pharmacy, Springfield, MA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 35 students
Dates: June 22–26
Application deadline: No formal deadline; first 35 registrants accepted
Eligibility: High school students ages 13–18
Focused on health and pharmaceutical sciences, this program introduces you to fields such as pharmacy, neuroscience, occupational therapy, and pharmaceutical research. Through laboratory demonstrations and hands-on activities, you might try medication compounding, DNA extraction, and clinical simulations that show how healthcare science is applied in real settings. You'll also explore how neuroscience integrates biology, chemistry, and psychology in understanding the nervous system. Sessions on academic preparation and healthcare pathways help you connect what you are learning to future study options. By the end of the week, you will have explored multiple healthcare disciplines through both practical and conceptual lenses.
2. Veritas AI Programs
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12- to 15-week cohorts throughout the year, including in summer
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 must have either completed the AI Scholars program or have experience with AI concepts/Python
These online AI programs guide you through applied machine learning and research in a structured, mentor-led environment. If you're just getting started, the AI Scholars track introduces you to key concepts such as neural networks, data science principles, and model-building through hands-on group projects. If you already have some coding or AI experience, you can pursue the advanced research pathway, AI Fellowship, where you develop an independent project under one-on-one mentorship. By the end of the program, many students complete substantial research papers or applied AI projects that reflect strong academic and technical skills. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. RxPLORE Camp at the University of Pittsburgh
Location: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 70-80 students
Dates: July 23 – 25
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
This science camp for high school students introduces you to the wide range of roles pharmacists play across community, hospital, and industry settings. Through patient care simulations, medication preparation exercises, and innovation-based activities, you gain exposure to both the scientific and clinical aspects of pharmacy. You practice skills such as compounding and injection techniques, while also learning how drug development connects with broader healthcare systems. Faculty, researchers, and pharmacy students guide lab visits and discussions, helping you understand different professional pathways within the field.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions of varying lengths (12 weeks–1 year) available, including summer cohorts
Application deadline: Varies by cohort/multiple cohorts run each year, including in the summer
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
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. √mathroots – MIT PRIMES
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free (tuition, housing, and meals covered; travel not included, with limited travel scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, with approximately 20 students
Dates: July 1 – July 15
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in early January and close on March 3
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18 who are U.S. citizens or attend a U.S. high school and demonstrate a strong interest in mathematics
√mathroots @ MIT is a two-week residential program designed for high school students who want to explore creative problem solving and advanced mathematical ideas beyond the standard curriculum. Students participate in classes, group problem-solving sessions, and lectures that introduce topics such as proof techniques and abstract mathematical reasoning. The program emphasizes collaboration, with participants working closely with instructors and peers to tackle challenging problems and develop new ways of thinking. Through structured activities and academic discussions, students build confidence in mathematics while engaging with peers who share a strong interest in the subject.
6. The Marillyn A. Hewson Cybersecurity Summer Camp
Location: University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Camp 1: June 1 – 5 | Camp 2: June 8 – 12
Application deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: High school students in the Tuscaloosa area
This science camp for high school students combines academic learning with hands-on defense simulations. You can choose between a standard track that covers core concepts such as web infrastructure, operating system fundamentals, and network security, or an advanced pathway that dives deeper into system hardening and vulnerability mitigation. Throughout the camp, you'll work directly in virtual environments, configuring settings, identifying weaknesses, and strengthening defenses using guide frameworks. A central component of the experience is participation in CyberPatriot-style cyber defense exercises, where you simulate defending virtual machines against active threats while managing system policies and user accounts under time constraints. Faculty members bring in current cybersecurity research and real-world case discussions, helping you connect what you are doing in simulations to broader issues in data protection, risk management, and national cyber defense initiatives.
7. PNW GenCyber Summer Camp
Location: Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 – 13 (based on previous cohort)
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students
This cybersecurity-focused science camp for high school students gives you a hands-on introduction to how modern systems are both attacked and defended, through a mix of labs, guided challenges, and team problem-solving. You’ll explore core areas such as cryptography, wireless network security, ethical hacking, and digital forensics, using real tools and step-by-step simulations. One activity might have you running a Wi-Fi scavenger hunt to spot insecure configurations and understand how data moves across networks, while in another, you could program and test robot-based tasks that push you to think like a security engineer working under constraints. As the week progresses, you’ll move into more advanced challenges, including ethical hacking labs and forensic case scenarios where you have to gather evidence, piece together what happened, and explain your reasoning clearly.
8. University of Minnesota’s IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students (preferably in Minnesota) who have completed a one-year course in single variable calculus
In this math modeling experience, you'll explore how quantitative reasoning can help solve real-world problems, from tracking the spread of infectious diseases to understanding traffic patterns and predicting environmental changes. Working in small groups, you construct, test, and refine mathematical models under the guidance of faculty mentors, learning how assumptions, variables, and data shape outcomes of your work. Projects change each year but often focus on civic and scientific challenges, such as evaluating transportation routes or assessing resource impacts. Throughout the program, you move beyond textbook equations into applied analysis, using collaboration and analytical reasoning to solve open-ended problems. The program concludes with team presentations, during which you defend your modeling approach and findings to instructors and peers.
9. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Virtual or residential at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $3,750; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Residential: 40 students | Online: 64 students
Dates: Online Session One: June 15 – July 3 | Online Session Two: July 6 – 24 | Residential: June 21 – July 17
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Designed for high school students ready to dive deeply into theoretical mathematics, this program focuses on advanced topics such as abstract algebra, number theory, and algebraic topology. Through daily lectures and guided problem-solving sessions, you'll work through proof-based reasoning and multi-step theoretical arguments similar to what you would encounter in upper-level college coursework. Teaching assistants and instructors lead discussions that push you to think more conceptually, while independent assignments outside of class demand sustained focus and intellectual persistence. The experience culminates in a research-style presentation, allowing you to articulate complex mathematical ideas clearly and rigorously.
10. Camp SOAR (Summer Opportunities in Aerospace Research)
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: Not specified; Financial need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 12 – 17
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (as of fall)
This aerospace engineering camp allows high school students to select a focus area such as aircraft systems, rotorcraft, or space technologies, and take on hands-on design challenges within that track. Faculty-led lectures introduce key engineering concepts that you'll immediately apply through build-and-test projects. You'll also tour major research laboratories, including wind tunnels and robotics facilities, giving you a glimpse into active aerospace research environments. Throughout the program, you'll work closely with peers using collaboration and iterative design to refine your prototypes. Along the way, conversations with faculty and current engineering students will help you understand academic pathways and research opportunities in aerospace engineering.
11. Kode with Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Multiple locations across the country
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective; eligible applicants accepted on a first-come, first-served basis
Dates: Multiple two-week sessions from June to August
Application deadline: March
Eligibility: Open to girls, gender nonconforming, and trans students between the ages of 13 and 18
In this project-driven coding program, you'll build technical skills by working on real projects in areas such as web development, mobile applications, data science, or machine learning. Each track centers on producing a functional final product, whether that’s a responsive website, an app, or a chatbot trained on real datasets. Alongside coding, you'll explore bigger questions around technology, such as algorithmic bias, user experience, and ethical technology design. Guest speakers and industry mentors share insights into career pathways in tech. By the end of the session, you'll have completed a technical project and gained confidence in applied programming.
12. University of Cincinnati Summer Engineering Camps
Location: University of Cincinnati Clifton campus, Cincinnati, OH
Cost: Varies by camp
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple camps available in June and July
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen through seniors
These science camps for high school students introduce you to the full engineering design process through project-based learning. In some tracks, such as the GE Next Engineers Camp, you'll take on technical design challenges with career-readiness sessions and direct interaction with practicing engineers, helping you connect classroom concepts to real engineering workplaces. Other specialized camps allow you to explore specific disciplines in greater depth, moving beyond introductory concepts into focused lab work and field-specific applications. Depending on the program, you might either get a broad overview of engineering fields or dive deeper into 2-3 specific programs. Small-group instruction ensures you receive direct feedback as you refine designs, test prototypes, and adjust solutions based on performance results. The experience culminates in a formal project showcase, where you present your work to faculty, families, and, in some cases, corporate representatives.
13. COHS Summer Camp – Sam Houston State University (SHSU)
Location: Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
Cost: $250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 60 participants
Dates: June 29 – July 1
Application deadline: April 3
Eligibility: Junior and senior high school students with a minimum GPA of 3.0
This three-day residential health science camp for high school students introduces you to a broad spectrum of academic majors and professional pathways within healthcare. Led by faculty from SHSU’s College of Health Sciences, the program includes hands-on workshops and applied sessions across nursing, kinesiology, human sciences, public health, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and athletic training. The program allows you to rotate through multiple subject areas, helping you understand how these professions intersect within larger healthcare systems. Interactive labs and demonstrations expose you to discipline-specific tools, clinical simulations, and foundational concepts taught in undergraduate health programs. A visit to The Woodlands Center adds another layer to the experience, offering access to advanced simulation labs and professional training environments used in healthcare education.
14. AFA CyberCamps
Location: Various locations across the U.S., including Westfield Technical Academy
Cost: Standard Camp: $1,200 / week | Advanced Camp: $1,500 / week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by hosting location
Dates: Multiple camps held from June to August
Application deadline: Varies by host institution
Eligibility: Standard Camps are open to all high school students with proficiency in English; Advanced Camps require prior cybersecurity knowledge
AFA CyberCamps introduce you to cybersecurity through a week-long program built around the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot framework. In the foundational track, you learn system configuration, account management, file protection protocols, and auditing practices through guided demonstration images. The learning progresses from core cybersecurity principles and online safety to practical exercises in securing operating systems and identifying vulnerabilities. If you join the Advanced track, you'll move into deeper technical territory, including command-line tools, Linux process management, networking fundamentals, and structured security modules aligned with Cisco NetAcad materials. Throughout the week, you'll take part in collaborative lab sessions that mirror real-world cyber defense workflows, requiring precision, documentation, and teamwork. The experience culminates in a CyberPatriot-style competition, where you and your team defend virtual systems under time pressure, applying the policies, tools, and strategies learned earlier in the week.
15. Waltham Game Design Camp
Location: Bentley University, Waltham
Cost: $1,000 / session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 participants
Dates: 6-day weeks & 3-day half-weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all skill levels
This game development camp places you in a collaborative studio-style environment where design, programming, and digital art intersect. Over the course of the program, you'll move through iterative development cycles, including building gameplay mechanics, refining visual assets, and debugging code while receiving ongoing feedback. Your daily studio time is combined with design challenges and competitive exercises that push you to turn creative ideas into playable systems. You'll also have the opportunity to experiment with different roles, such as programmer, designer, or artist, before selecting a focus area that aligns with your strengths and interests. As you go, you'll prototype concepts, revise your mechanics based on playtesting, and analyze what makes interactive systems engaging and functional. By the end of the camp, you'll complete a finished game or interactive portfolio project you can showcase.
Tyler Moulton is Head of Academics and Veritas AI Partnerships with 6 years of experience in education consulting, teaching, and astronomy research at Harvard and the University of Cambridge, where they developed a passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Tyler is passionate about connecting high-achieving students to advanced AI techniques and helping them build independent, real-world projects in the field of AI!