8 Summer Camps in Houston for High School Students (Texas)
If you're a high school student in Houston looking to make the most of your summer, there are various local camps that offer hands-on experiences in computer science, engineering, AI, and biomedical research. These summer camps, typically offered by leading Texas universities and tech organizations, provide a short, structured opportunity to explore your interests, build new skills, and get a head start on future academic or career goals.
Whether you're drawn to hands-on lab work, coding challenges, creative problem-solving, or collaborative projects, there's something in this list of summer camps for you. These summer camps also offer a valuable chance to connect with peers and mentors, gain real-world experience, and strengthen your college applications.
In this list, we’ve curated 8 summer camps in Houston for high school students!
1. DACCPM Summer Research Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school seniors 18+ with good academic standing
This 10-week program lets you explore cancer biology by working directly with researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center. As a participant in the DACCPM Summer Research Program, you’ll join one of the world’s most respected cancer research institutions and work on real medical research projects.
It provides hands-on experience in lab techniques and research methodologies typically reserved for graduate-level students. You will gain insight into how scientific discoveries are made and use tools that go far beyond what’s taught in high school labs.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Cost: Starts at $2,290; need-based financial aid available
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or 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.
3. PATHS-UP Young Scholars Program – Rice University (Digital Health)
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Dates: June 9 – 26
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Current high school 10th or 11th graders who reside in the Houston area
If you’re a high school sophomore or junior in Houston, this three-week program at Rice gives you a hands-on dive into engineering research. You’ll become part of a team working on real engineering projects where you’ll apply your problem-solving skills and learn how to communicate your findings, whether in writing or during presentations to a group. You will receive mentorship from Rice University faculty and gain insight into college-level research processes.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June)
Cost: Starts at $2,990; financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
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, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Sustainable Futures Academy – Rice University
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selects 12 students
Dates: July 7 – 11
Cost: Free (scholarships available; contact stem@rice.edu for details)
Application Deadline: Typically in April/June
Eligibility: High school girls entering 10th or 11th grade (boys and non-binary students welcome)
The Sustainable Futures Academy at Rice University brings together a small group of 12 students to undertake hands-on projects that connect physics and engineering to real-world environmental challenges. You will investigate sustainability through activities such as creating energy-efficient solutions, constructing roller coasters and landing capsules, and utilizing tools like Microbits to understand circuits.
You’ll also work with TI Nspire Rovers to understand motion and dive into key physics concepts that connect directly to green engineering. You’ll be mentored by Rice faculty and students while working in a collaborative, innovation-focused setting.
6. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program (Biomedical Sciences) – MD Anderson
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Cost: Free; $6,800 stipend
Application Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors who are 18 or older by program start
If you’re a high school senior interested in medicine or research, this 10-week summer program lets you conduct biomedical research at one of the world’s top cancer centers. You will work in the MD Anderson Cancer Center, where you will spend the summer acquiring experience in biomedical sciences, which includes practical lab skills and the analysis of research data.
You’ll be mentored by professionals and trained in methods usually reserved for college or grad students. The small cohort of 12 means you get close attention and guidance throughout the program. While not a traditional camp, the combination of selectivity, mentorship, and hands-on research makes it one of the more prestigious summer options available to high school seniors.
7. Tapia STEM Camps at Rice University
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $2,500
Dates:
Session 1: July 6 – 11
Session 2: July 13 – 18
Session 3: July 20 – 25
Session 4: July 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Current 7th-12th graders
Tapia STEM Camps address real-world challenges through STEM, providing an opportunity to train like a professional mathematician. This residential camp at Rice University blends tech, science, and applied problem-solving into a hands-on experience that can be both fun and intense.
You’ll choose from projects like developing carbon storage solutions or exploring how college admission algorithms work. Every project shows how STEM is connected to the world around us. If math is your forte, there’s an exclusive session titled “Techniques of a Pro Mathematician.”
The week focuses on enhancing your abilities to solve problems as well as articulate how and why your solutions are effective. Presenting your work is a big part of the program, and you’ll get feedback from instructors, peers, and professionals alike.
8. University of Houston (Sugar Land) – Code Cougars
Location: University of Houston at Sugar Land, Sugar Land, TX
Dates: June 9 – 13
Cost: $400, Scholarships Available
Application Deadline: June 6
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6-12. No prior coding experience is required.
Girls Coding Academy is a one-week coding camp that introduces you to computer science through hands-on projects in everything from web design to Python. The camp covers game design, web development, Microbit programming, Python, and cybersecurity, all through activities you’ll build and test yourself.
There are separate sessions for middle school and high school students, and the camp is open to all genders. Whether you’re brand new to coding or already playing with projects on your own, this camp gives you the space to learn and grow at your level. Along the way, you can sharpen your problem-solving skills and tackle tech challenges that push your thinking.
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