13 Camps for High School Students in Florida
If you’re a high school student looking to explore your interests in a focused and practical way this summer, camps can be a strong option. Unlike broader pre-college programs that span several weeks and cover multiple subjects, summer camps are shorter, highly structured experiences centered on a single field. This focused format allows you to build advanced skills through projects, practical challenges, and collaborative activities. Many camps also provide exposure to industry practices, mentorship from professionals or university faculty, and opportunities to build valuable peer and mentor connections, all within a condensed timeframe.
Why should you attend a camp in Florida?
Florida is home to a wide range of universities, research institutions, and organizations that host summer camps for high school students each year. Across the state, you can explore activities such as laboratory experiments, robotics builds, coding projects, entrepreneurship pitch competitions, marine biology fieldwork, medical simulations, creative arts workshops, and leadership exercises. Whether you are a local or out-of-state student, Florida camps offer diverse academic themes and vibrant university settings.
With that in mind, we’ve narrowed down our list to 13 Florida summer camps for high school students worth exploring.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
1. University of Florida’s Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: Free, except for a $25 non-refundable application fee
Dates: June 7– June 13
Application Deadline: February 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in Florida
The Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp is a week-long residential program hosted by the University of Florida College of Pharmacy for high school students interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy. Throughout the week, you’ll participate in skills labs, workshops, presentations, and discussion groups, along with team-building activities. Pre-Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy students serve as mentors, while practicing pharmacists share insights into various career paths and practice settings. You’ll also collaborate on a group public health project and learn about pharmacy education pathways, including the UF Pharmacy Early Assurance Program.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Dates: Several cohorts each year, including summer sessions
Application deadline: Varies by cohort; you can apply to the program here. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students; the AI Fellowship requires completion of the AI Scholars or prior experience with 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. USF Bulls Startup Summer Camp
Location: USF St. Petersburg and USF Tampa
Cost: $575
Dates: July 6–10 and July 20–24
Application Deadline: Applications open on February 1; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students
The University of South Florida Bulls Startup Summer Camp introduces high school students to entrepreneurship and innovation through hands-on learning. In workshops and interactive sessions led by USF faculty and industry professionals, you’ll explore how entrepreneurs identify opportunities, solve problems, and create value. Throughout the program, you’ll brainstorm product ideas, analyze customer appeal, and design business models. The camp also introduces concepts in coding, cryptocurrency, and social media marketing to demonstrate how technology supports modern ventures. On the final day, you’ll present a pitch deck to a panel of industry professionals, receive feedback, and strengthen your public speaking and business presentation skills.
4. Lumiere Research Scholars Program
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring; options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
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. FSU Entrepreneurship Summer Camp
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost: $100
Dates: June 8-12
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Grades 11-12
Florida State University’s Entrepreneurship Summer Camp offers high school students an industry-focused introduction to startup development. Guided by faculty from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, you’ll learn how to generate a novel business idea, build a founding team, design strategic pitches, and evaluate viable business models. Working collaboratively with peers, you’ll develop a startup concept and present a venture pitch at the end of the program. The camp also features guest lectures from entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, local field trips, and daily lunches with restaurant owners, providing insight into real-world business operations and hands-on learning.
6. CJC’s Summer Media Institute (SMI)
Location: College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: $949 (early registration fee) | $999 (regular registration fee)
Dates: June 18 – June 23 — Standard SMI session and June 24 – June 29 — SMI Sports session
Application Deadline: March 5
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The University of Florida Summer Media Institute (SMI) is a six-day workshop designed for high school students interested in journalism and communications. During the program, you’ll choose a specialization and electives while learning directly from UF faculty and media professionals. Specialization tracks include broadcast reporting, anchoring and hosting, feature and news writing, photojournalism, filmmaking, sports reporting, social media strategy, and communication planning. Through electives selected via a survey, you can further explore topics including sports analytics, AI in media, body language in communication, sound design, graphic design, reality television production, public relations, and screenwriting.
7. USF Wyndham Hospitality Experience
Location: Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Hotel, Clearwater, FL
Cost: $250
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
The University of South Florida Wyndham Hospitality Experience introduces high school students to careers in hospitality, tourism, and culinary arts. Throughout the camp, you’ll learn how a luxury hotel operates by exploring areas such as housekeeping, catering, operations management, and the coordination required to deliver an exceptional guest experience. You’ll also train alongside professional chefs, practicing cooking techniques, plating, and food presentation. Working in teams, you’ll design and execute mock events, create themed experiences, and solve real hospitality challenges, gaining practical insight into the industry.
8. USF Bulls Finance Camp
Location: USF Tampa’s Muma College of Business, Tampa, FL
Cost: $750
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: Not specified; registration opens February 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12
The Bulls Finance Camp, offered by the University of South Florida, gives high school students practical exposure to investing, financial planning, personal finance, corporate finance, and FinTech. Hosted by the Muma College of Business, the program blends classroom instruction with guest speaker sessions and networking opportunities featuring industry professionals and representatives from the USF Federal Credit Union. During the camp, you will explore career pathways in finance, learn how to analyze financial data, and strengthen your financial literacy and decision-making skills. You will also gain hands-on experience using Bloomberg Terminals in USF’s trading room, developing familiarity with tools used in professional financial environments.
9. USF Biomedical Engineering Camp
Location: USF Tampa’s College of Engineering, Tampa, FL
Cost: $1,350
Dates: July 13 – 17 | July 20 – 24
Application deadline: Not specified; registration opens February 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12
The week-long biomedical engineering camp at the University of South Florida introduces high school students to the intersection of engineering and medicine. You will explore how devices are designed to monitor and support the human body. Throughout the program, you will plan, build, and test bioelectrical interfaces in USF’s design labs. You will learn how to measure bioelectrical signals, understand how biomedical data is stored and analyzed, and work with tools similar to those used by cardiologists, neurosurgeons, and other medical professionals. The camp offers both hands-on technical experience and insight into careers in healthcare technology.
10. USF High School Robotics Camp
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $999.99
Dates: June 22 – 26 | July 20 – 24
Application deadline: Not specified; registrations open on February 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders
This robotics camp at the University of South Florida offers a project-based learning experience guided by faculty from the USF College of Engineering. During the program, you will design, build, and program your own autonomous mobile robot using sensors, actuators, Raspberry Pi boards, and 3D-printed components. Along the way, you will study core concepts in robotics theory, circuit design, Python programming, and industrial robotics. You will also gain experience working with ABB RobotStudio to simulate and control robotic systems. By the end of the camp, you will leave with a self-designed robot and the programming files needed to continue refining your skills at home.
11. UCF Camp Connect I
Location: University of Central Florida main campus, Orlando
Cost: $200
Dates: June 22 – June 26
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 8th through 11th graders who are at least 13 years old
At the University of Central Florida, Camp Connect I introduces high school students to the breadth of engineering through a structured, week-long experience. Rather than focusing on a single area, the camp rotates through disciplines such as computer, mechanical, and aerospace engineering, providing exposure to different labs, research spaces, and technical demonstrations. Through interactive sessions and guided activities, you will explore how engineers approach design and problem-solving across fields. Faculty members and current UCF students provide insight into college life and engineering pathways while supporting you during hands-on tasks. The week concludes with a collaborative team project presentation, allowing you to apply concepts learned throughout the camp.
12. JMC Entrepreneurship Summer Camp
Location: Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, Tallahassee, FL
Cost: $125 registration fee
Dates: June 8 – June 12
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
This summer camp is designed to help high school students understand how ideas turn into real ventures while experiencing campus life firsthand. Throughout the program, you will collaborate in teams to generate business concepts, refine them through structured venture-building sessions, and develop workable models. Faculty and staff guide you through the startup process, emphasizing teamwork, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. You will also connect with entrepreneurs and industry professionals, visit local startups, and gain insight into how businesses operate beyond the classroom. The experience concludes with a team pitch presentation, where you present your venture and demonstrate what you have built over the week.
13. Fashion Summer Camp at The Miami School of Fashion & Design
Location: Istituto Marangoni, Miami, FL
Cost: $3000 (Domestic Students) | $3,500 (International Students)
Dates: June 1st - June 12th | June 15th - June 26th | June 29th - July 10th | July 13th - July 24th | July 27th - August 7th
Application Deadline: Not Specified
Eligibility: Students aged 14–18
The Istituto Marangoni Fashion Summer Camp offers high school students an immersive introduction to fashion design, styling, and the business side of the industry. You’ll explore textile selection, marketing, garment construction, branding, and portfolio development while gaining hands-on experience in draping, sewing, and adding functional details such as buttons, pockets, and zippers. Throughout the program, you’ll work with mannequins, experiment with different fabrics, and examine sustainability through upcycling and textile innovation. On the digital front, you’ll use tools such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop to strengthen visual storytelling and build a professional portfolio. Additional topics may include streetwear design, fashion illustration, photography, garment deconstruction, trend forecasting, digital portfolios, and social media management.
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