15 STEM Programs for High School Students in Florida
If you are a high school student interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, joining a STEM program can be a great way to explore your field of choice further. In these programs, you will engage in activities that teach you practical skills essential to your future career. You will also have the opportunity to interact with industry experts who give you insights into the field.
In Florida, you have many options, thanks to all the well-known universities and organizations there. Whether you wish to explore marine science, dive deeply into robotics, or attend a program that covers STEM broadly, there is something for you to participate in. The state's growing tech and research scene allows you to be involved in real-world projects. Joining a STEM programs puts you in an engaging learning environment, which can help you learn and make valuable connections.
To help with your search, here are 15 STEM programs for high school students in Florida.
1. STEM Academy
Location: Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 14 – 26
Application Deadline: April 13
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders who have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, attend schools in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades, and Charlotte Counties, and have completed the Algebra I course
Determined to get high school students like you excited about careers in STEM, Florida Gulf Coast University organizes this camp where you can participate in STEM-related activities. Throughout this program, you will learn many fundamental STEM concepts, particularly in mathematics, through engaging classes. You will also meet with industry professionals who will share their insights and give you tips on having a successful career in the field. Your camp schedule also includes field trips.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type (need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8 to 12 who have completed AI Scholars or know Python
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with 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 get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance 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 apply here.
3. Ocean Engineering Summer Workshop
Location: Florida Atlantic University-SeaTech, Dania Beach, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 - 40 participants
Dates: June
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 to 17
The Ocean Engineering Summer Workshop allows you to be involved in research projects conducted at the SeaTech Ocean Engineering Research Facility. Through your participation in such scientific projects, you will also understand the impact that fluid mechanics has on people’s daily lives. Additionally, you will also be exposed to basic programming concepts with which you can operate robots or drones. The camp also teaches you naval architecture that you can apply to build tiny boats during the group race activity.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective (participants generally have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale)
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: All high school students
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 that you can explore as a high schooler. 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, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Saturday At The Sea
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students and two teacher participants in each session
Dates: June 8 – 12, June 22 – 26, July 6 – 10, or July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Middle schoolers and rising 9th graders who reside in Florida and can swim
In this five-day camp, you will discover the field of experimental marine ecology through research projects. You will also explore local habitats, collecting data and analyzing it with your campmates. By participating in this camp, where you take the role of a marine scientist, you will be able to gain insight into having a career in the field. It also encourages you to become conscious about your environment. The FSU Department of Biological Science's Office of STEM Teaching Activities (OSTA) sponsors and organizes this camp.
6. Building Futures Summer Workshop
Location: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30
Dates: July 28 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders
The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatics Engineering at FAU introduces you to civil and environmental engineering by encouraging you to participate in hands-on activities at the camp. You will simultaneously learn about the different challenges faced by environmental engineers and how you can overcome them. Some of the concepts that you will cover here are solid waste management, environmental problem-solving, concrete technologies, and 3D printing. You will also discover the different career paths you can choose from based on the topics you study during the program.
7. ITWomen's Summer Robotics Camp for Girls
Location: Hialeah Gardens Senior High School, Hialeah, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Space is limited
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: All middle school and high school girls
Aiming to get more girls curious about careers in tech, the ITWomen organization organizes this camp that is particularly focused on robotics. At this camp, which combines learning and entertainment, you will study key elements in robotics and participate in fun activities. You get to network with industry experts and peers with similar interests in technology. You will also get useful tips and advice for your education and career.
8. STEM for Scholars Summer School
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $500 per week; free for some highly talented students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 16 – July 3
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted all year-round
Eligibility: All high school students
STEM for Scholars Summer School is an immersive program where you will explore a wide range of STEM concepts through hands-on activities. It makes you more interested in STEM fields and encourages you to pursue careers in that area. You will also be exposed to different areas of research within the field and learn advanced concepts, such as quantum information, machine learning (AI), nanotechnology, epidemiology modeling, and bioinformatics. The program also helps you prepare for college by focusing on standardized testing, essay writing, and undergraduate research.
9. Student Science Training Program
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: A non-refundable application fee of $50 and a program fee of $5,500 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 90
Dates: June 8 – July 26
Application Deadline: Opens in January and closes on April 15 for high school students in Florida and on April 1 for other high school students
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders who are at least 16 years old
This is a seven-week research program tailored for students planning to pursue careers in science or other STEM fields, like medicine, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. During this program, students will stay on the university’s campus and work with its staff and students on research projects. The University of Florida encourages you to learn different concepts through your participation in the projects, in addition to the lectures and seminars you will attend. Given that this training program has a jam-packed schedule with activities even on weekends, it is highly recommended that you commit to the entire seven weeks without any other plans.
10. USF High School Robotics Camp
Location: University of South Florida - DFX Lab, Tampa, FL
Cost: $999.99 plus an additional $995 if you choose to stay on the campus
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Opens on February 1 and closes once camp reaches its maximum capacity
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders
If you are a high school student fascinated by robotics, then here is a camp where you can explore the field in depth. You even get to design, build, and program an Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) while simultaneously learning how to use tools like Raspberry Pis and 3D printers and deepening your understanding of sensors and actuators. Apart from these activities, you will also gain practical exposure to industrial robotics. USF lets you take essential program files after the camp so that you can continue practicing with them later.
11. USF High School CyberCon
Location: University of South Florida - Muma College of Business, Tampa, FL
Cost: To be announced. $450 during previous editions
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Total capacity is 100; you will be working in groups of 10-12 campers
Dates: July 22 – 26
Application Deadline: Opens on February 1 and closes once camp reaches its maximum capacity
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders
The CyberCon camp equips you with the knowledge required to develop a good understanding of cybersecurity. The camp is structured as a conference, where you will engage in workshops, panels, and activities focused on teaching you cybersecurity. You will attend lectures conducted by industry experts and have the opportunity to network with them. By the end of this five-day camp, you'll know if a career in cybersecurity, like ethical hacking, is right for you.
12. SAME/U.S. Navy Engineering & Construction Camp
Location: Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, FL
Cost: $800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 - 50
Dates: June 22 – 28
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders who are at least 15 years old and U.S. citizens
This is an engineering and construction camp where you will participate in hands-on activities that help you explore the field. During this one-week camp, you will participate in various activities like building concrete beams, constructing and testing cardboard boats, and more. By participating in these group projects, you can develop soft skills, such as teamwork, leadership, project management, and problem-solving, that are essential to your future career as an engineer. The program also ensures you have a basic understanding of engineering so that you can feel much more confident in college.
13. Florida Tech’s STEM Summer Academy
Location: Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL
Cost: $1,500 for commuters and $2,000 if staying on campus
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 16 – 20
Application Deadline: Open in June
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders
This one-week program introduces you to topics across all the STEM fields through hands-on experiments. Some of the issues you can expect to learn at this intensive program are artificial intelligence, forensic psychology, marine science, aviation human factors, and meteorology. Throughout the program, you will interact with like-minded peers, as well as students and staff from Florida Tech, who can assist you in finding your right academic and career path. You will also interact with industry experts, particularly aviation professionals.
14. Leaders in Technology Program
Location: SCF Advanced Technology Center, Bradenton, FL
Cost: Information not provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Year-long
Application Deadline: Open all year-round
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders and 1st and 2nd-year college students.
Once signed up for this year-long program, you will start to form a more profound understanding of emerging technologies by working in the state-of-the-art lab at the State College of Florida. You will primarily focus on one pre-approved area, including but not limited to robotics & automation, software engineering, cybersecurity & ethical hacking, and AR/VR & game design. You are required to complete a project in your chosen area of interest. More importantly, this program offers a flexible schedule, allowing you to choose 12 lab sessions per quarter (48 throughout the year). You will also meet regularly with a lab coordinator who will provide feedback and help improve your work.
15. Drones for Girls Summer Tech Camp
Location: HCC Brandon Campus, Tampa, FL
Cost: $399
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: Registration form is available all year-round and has to be filled out and mailed to the address mentioned in the form
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 10
This program is primarily geared toward students fascinated by drones and curious about their mechanics. As a participant, you will acquire crucial skills, including critical thinking, coding, creativity, communication, teamwork, and the confidence to work with cutting-edge technology. By the end of the camp, you will also be prepared to fly drones in both personal and industrial settings, thanks to sessions where you learn to navigate a drone through obstacles.
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