15 STEM Camps for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in STEM, camps can be a practical way to explore advanced topics while building concrete skills outside the classroom. Through structured workshops, collaborative projects, and mentorship from professionals or instructors, you get exposure to both technical tools and real industry pathways. Whether you’re experimenting in a lab, coding an application, or tackling an engineering challenge, you’re gaining experiences that translate directly into stronger essays, resumes, and interviews. You also build connections with like-minded students, which can open doors to future collaborations.
How are camps different from other programs in high school?
Unlike year-long clubs or semester courses, camps are shorter and more focused, usually running over the summer or during school breaks. Their structure allows you to dive deeply into one area, like artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, or robotics, and complete a tangible project in just a few weeks. For example, some camps guide you through designing and coding an AI model, building and programming a robot, or conducting supervised lab research.
In this blog, we’ve selected 15 STEM camps for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
1. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: CDC Headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 27 students per session
Dates: June 22 – June 26 | July 20 – July 24
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who will be rising juniors or seniors; students must be at least 16 years old by the first day of camp
The CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp is a highly selective public health program where students learn about epidemiology, disease outbreaks, chronic disease surveillance, and global health through simulations, group activities, and expert-led sessions at CDC headquarters. Participants explore how public health professionals investigate and respond to real-world health threats while interacting directly with CDC scientists and researchers. The camp also introduces students to careers in medicine, epidemiology, and health policy through workshops and collaborative projects. This program is a strong fit for students interested in biology, medicine, public health, or data-driven scientific research
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12–15 week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions. Cohort start periods include Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. Applicants to the AI Fellowship should have completed the AI Scholars program or demonstrate prior experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI is a virtual artificial intelligence program founded and run by Harvard graduate students, designed for high school students interested in AI, machine learning, and data science. The AI Scholars program introduces students to foundational AI and data science concepts through a structured 10-session boot camp that includes hands-on, real-world projects. For more advanced students, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase provides 1:1 mentorship from researchers at top universities and supports the development of an independent AI research project. Fellowship students also receive guidance from an in-house publication team to help submit their work to high school research journals. Across its programs, Veritas AI emphasizes mentorship, project-based learning, and individualized research opportunities in AI.
3. IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly specified
Dates: June 22 – June 26
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a year-long course in single variable calculus; graduating seniors are eligible
The IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp is a week-long program in which students use mathematical modeling to study real-world problems in traffic systems, disease spread, climate change, and population trends. Working in collaborative teams, participants learn how to apply mathematical concepts to practical challenges while developing quantitative reasoning and problem-solving skills. The camp also emphasizes communication, requiring students to present and explain their models and findings to peers and instructors.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring). Program lengths range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students who 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. Summer Physics Camp
Location: Los Alamos National Laboratory (host) | Sandia National Laboratories (partner) | New Mexico School for the Arts (site), Santa Fe, NM
Cost/Stipend: Free; $350 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 8 – 19
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students living in New Mexico, New Mexico tribal communities, or East Hawaii Island must have completed Algebra I or a higher-level math course
The Summer Physics Camp is a two-week, hands-on STEM experience where you explore big scientific ideas, especially the “invisible” forces that shape our world, alongside scientists and engineers. You’ll dive into physics, engineering, bioengineering, chemistry, computer programming, and cybersecurity through interactive projects designed to build real-world problem-solving skills. The most recent theme, “Invisible Worlds: Physics Beyond What Our Eyes Can See,” focuses on concepts like electricity, gravitational waves, quantum mechanics, and the microscopic systems that power life and technology. In addition to technical learning, you’ll practice professional skills like résumé writing and interviewing, and explore college and career pathways connected to U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories.
6. SAGE Camp at SLAC
Location: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, and Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – June 27
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Students currently in 9th–11th grade at a Northern California high school
Hosted at SLAC and Stanford, the camp connects you with scientists and professionals at Department of Energy National Laboratories, exposing you to a wide range of career paths that impact communities worldwide. You’ll engage in activities that highlight how STEM intersects with creativity, athletics, writing, and other passions, reflecting the idea that scientists often have diverse interests beyond the lab. Throughout the week, you’ll meet mentors at different career stages, collaborate with peers, and join the larger SAGE community for continued support after camp ends. The program specifically encourages students from all backgrounds, including those who may not already see themselves as “STEM students,” to apply.
7. Summer STEM – U.S. Naval Academy
Location: United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
Cost: $450
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Rising 9th graders: June 1 – June 6 | Rising 10th graders: June 8 – June 13 | Rising 11th graders: June 15 – June 19
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students entering 9th–11th grade
The Naval Academy’s Summer STEM Program is a hands-on introduction to engineering and problem-solving at one of the country’s leading public institutions. You’ll work in small groups to design and build STEM projects while learning directly from Naval Academy faculty and Midshipmen mentors in labs and classrooms on campus. Throughout the week, you’ll test your creativity, collaboration, and analytical skills, whether you’re interested in coding, robotics, game design, or engineering more broadly. The program also includes structured leadership exposure, a technology and majors fair, and opportunities to connect with students from across the country. Your fee covers housing, meals, transportation to and from Baltimore-Washington Airport, and program activities, so you can focus fully on the experience.
8. Summer Engineering Exploration Camp (SEE Camp)
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $750; need-based financial aid available for camp fees and flights
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 students accepted
Dates: July 5 – July 11
Application Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: High school students of all genders entering grades 10–11
SEE Camp is a week-long, residential engineering experience designed to introduce you to multiple engineering fields while helping you build confidence and community. The camp focuses on students who may not have easy access to engineering opportunities at their schools or in their communities. During the week, you’ll work in small teams to tackle a design challenge using the engineering design process, participate in hands-on activities across different disciplines, and learn more about engineering pathways at Michigan. You’ll also tour the campus (including the Big House), hear from current students and admissions staff, and take part in team-building activities such as kayaking and leadership challenges.
9. Tapia STEM Camps
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $2,200 (Early Bird before March 1) | $2,500 (Regular before May 1)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 5 – July 10 | Session 2: July 12 – July 17 | Session 3: July 19 – July 24
Application Deadline: Early Bird deadline March 1; Regular deadline May 1
Eligibility: Rising 8th–12th graders
Tapia STEM Camps are residential, project-based STEM experiences where you live on Rice’s campus and tackle hands-on challenges while building communication skills. Over six days and five nights, you’ll work on projects such as designing college admissions algorithms, building heat sinks to explore heat transfer, modeling wind turbines and carbon capture systems, and analyzing how AI-generated media can be detected using physics and math. You will learn from university students through a research-led curriculum, and at the end of the week, you’ll present your final project to professors and peers. A field trip in the Houston area, like to NASA Johnson Space Center, offers hands-on experience outside the classroom.
10. Achieve in Medicine (AIM-High) Day Camp
Location: Nova Southeastern University (Davie/Fort Lauderdale, FL; Tampa Bay Regional Campus in Clearwater, FL)
Cost: $1,800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students per session (limited seats)
Dates: Davie/Fort Lauderdale: July 6 – July 10 or July 12 – July 17 | Clearwater (Tampa Bay): June 22 – June 26
Application Deadline: Applications currently being accepted, no fixed deadline listed
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students; minimum 3.2 GPA required
AIM-High is a five-day medical immersion day camp designed to give you early, hands-on exposure to healthcare careers in a real medical school setting. The program includes interactive suturing sessions, dissection labs, pharmacy practices, sports medicine, emergency response (“Stop the Bleed”), CPR/AED training, and more. You’ll explore fields such as neuroscience, public health, nutrition, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and health informatics while learning directly from medical students and faculty. In addition to academic sessions (7+ hours daily), the program includes social events, roundtable discussions with current medical students, and a community service project.
11. BioMed STEM Workshop
Location: Niagara University, Lewiston, NY
Cost: $1,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 35 students
Dates: August 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
The BioMed STEM Workshop is a week-long residential program where you explore how science, engineering, medicine, and technology intersect through real-world labs and field experiences. Throughout the week, you’ll analyze digital forensic evidence using Python and AI tools, compare sheep and human brains in a neuroanatomy lab, and investigate bacteriophages as potential tools against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. You’ll also visit sites like the New York Power Authority Niagara Power Vista to study hydroelectric energy and the Jacobs Institute to design and test clot-clearing medical devices. Additional workshops highlight how coding supports physics and biomedical research, and you’ll experience astronomy through a planetarium visit at SUNY Buffalo State University.
12. Machine Learning – NYU Tandon Summer Program
Location: New York University (Tandon School of Engineering), Washington Square Park Campus, New York, NY
Cost: $3,180
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – June 27 | Session 2: July 6 – July 17 | Session 3: July 20 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
NYU Tandon’s Machine Learning program is a two-week, full-day introduction to the core math, coding, and logic behind AI and modern data-driven technologies. While not a typical camp, you’ll explore how systems like image recognition, autonomous vehicles, and voice assistants work by learning foundational concepts such as cross-validation, linear regression, and neural networks. Through daily assignments and collaborative projects, you’ll apply mathematical reasoning and engineering problem-solving to real-world challenges. The program is non-credit and in-person, with the option to live in NYU residence halls or commute. Outside of class, you can join campus activities and organized NYC field trips to connect with other high school students who share your interest in STEM.
13. Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC)
Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Cost: $6,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: limited enrollment; rolling admissions until full
Dates: June 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions begin December 1 (until camp is full)
Eligibility: High school students; open to U.S. and some international students
HSMC is a six-week, intensive residential math experience designed to help you grow into a stronger problem solver and researcher within an academic community. The camp is structured as a full-time commitment; you’re not allowed to enroll in other courses or programs during the summer so you can fully engage with the experience. Over multiple summers, students build advanced mathematical thinking skills that prepare them for college-level STEM study and research. Returning second- and third-year students work in small teams with research mentors on original math research projects, often connected to publications and awards.
14. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA | Online
Cost: $8,950 (residential) | $3,750 (online)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 40 residential students and 64 online students selected
Dates: June 21 – July 17 (residential) | June 15 – July 24 (online)
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th-grade students with strong backgrounds in advanced mathematics and proof-writing
SUMaC is a highly selective mathematics program at Stanford University designed for students with exceptional interest and ability in advanced math. Participants study topics such as abstract algebra, number theory, and algebraic topology through lectures, guided research, and collaborative problem-solving sessions that go well beyond a standard high school curriculum. The program also includes final research projects, allowing students to explore complex mathematical ideas in depth while working closely with instructors and peers who share similar interests. SUMaC is a strong fit for students interested in theoretical mathematics, mathematical research, or preparing for rigorous college-level STEM coursework.
15. Science Camp for Teens Hawaiʻi – Session 1: Land, Sea, Air & Space
Location: Hawaiʻi Island
Cost: $2,895
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 1 – 10
Application Deadline: Rolling registration
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17 entering grades 8–12
This 10-day residential science camp turns Hawaiʻi Island into your classroom, blending field science, conservation, and astronomy through immersive daily exploration. You’ll snorkel at black and green sand beaches, study shoreline ecology and traditional fishpond systems, hike through lava flows to examine volcanic features, and explore forests and rainforests to learn about biodiversity and land management. Field trips include destinations such as the Mauna Kea Visitors Center and the Mauna Loa Observatory, where you’ll connect astronomy and atmospheric science to real-world research environments. Back at camp in Pāhala Plantation Cottages, you’ll build and launch model rockets, create electronic projects, and participate in evening programs like stargazing and science talks.