10 Winter Programs for High School Students in California
If you’re trying to figure out how to make the most of your winter break, winter programs can be a solid choice. They give you the chance to try out new subjects, build skills, learn from instructors and mentors, and get exposure to networking opportunities. Winter programs are useful if you want to test an interest, strengthen your profile, or stay academically engaged during the break, without the long commitment of a summer program.
Why should you attend a program in California?
California offers a range of winter programs hosted by universities, research institutions, and community organizations across the state. These programs allow you to work on research projects, coursework, simulations, and creative assignments across fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedical science, and journalism. Whether you live in California or are traveling from elsewhere, these programs give you access to strong academic environments and diverse subject areas.
For your reference, we’ve rounded up 10 winter programs for high school students in California.
If you are interested in winter programs, check out our blog here.
1. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Program Dates: Multiple 12–15 week cohorts throughout the year (spring, summer, fall, winter)
Application Deadline: Rolling. Upcoming deadlines align with cohort start dates: January (spring), May (summer), September (fall), and November (winter)
Eligibility: High school students worldwide. Fellowship applicants must have completed the AI Scholars program or demonstrate prior experience in AI 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 and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
2. Girls Garage: Construction + Community
Location: Girls Garage, Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students per session, 16–24 students per year
Program Dates: October 7 – May 20
Application Deadline: Applications open each season; waitlist available once filled
Eligibility: 9th–12th grade students, including girls and gender-expansive youth
Construction + Community is a year-long after-school program where you’ll gain hands-on construction experience while working on real projects for local community clients. Across three 8-week sessions, you’ll learn technical skills in architecture, design, engineering, and construction trades, guided by experienced instructors with backgrounds in architecture and metal fabrication. The program emphasizes using power tools and teamwork to create structures that benefit the wider community, blending skill development with service. Instructors also facilitate conversations about collaboration, equity, and identity in the trades, giving you a chance to reflect on how your work impacts others. Each year, students complete around three community-based construction projects, applying their skills directly to meaningful causes.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote – available worldwide
Cost/Stipend: There is no information available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Summer: June – August, Fall: September – December, Winter: December – February, Spring: March – June)
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. Upcoming deadlines include Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Current high school students with strong academic achievement (students typically have at least a 3.3 unweighted GPA). No prior experience in your chosen field 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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
4. Fresno Unified School District – Winter Enrichment Camps
Location: Various Fresno Unified School District campuses and partner sites, Fresno, CA
Cost: Free for enrolled FUSD students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Program Dates: January 6 – 10, 2025 (tentative, based on previous year)
Application Deadline: Registration opens in December (exact dates not yet released)
Eligibility: K–12th–grade students currently enrolled in Fresno Unified
Fresno Unified’s Winter Enrichment Camps provide hands-on, engaging learning experiences across four themes: Adventure, College & Career Discovery, Creative Arts, and Sports & Fitness. Camps are hosted in collaboration with community partners, offering over 30 different options such as STEM discovery programs, sports clinics, creative arts workshops, and career exploration activities. Activities are designed to promote critical thinking, teamwork, creativity, and physical activity while giving students the chance to explore new interests outside of the regular classroom. With offerings ranging from robotics and 3D printing to sports camps, zoo adventures, and visual arts, the camps aim to inspire curiosity and provide meaningful enrichment during winter break.
5. Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research – Winter Break Biomedical Workshops
Location: Alameda, CA (Biomedical Research); Berkeley, CA (Cancer Research); Online (Medicinal Chemistry, Medical Bioinformatics)
Cost: $1,890 (Biomedical Research, Alameda); $1,690 (Cancer Research, Berkeley); $670 (Online Medicinal Chemistry and Online Medical Bioinformatics)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Program Dates: December 26 – December 31, 2025 (tentative)
Application Deadline: There is no information available
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18 for in-person workshops; online workshops open to students ages 12–18
The Rosetta Institute offers intensive, short-term biomedical workshops over winter break for students who want to explore careers in medicine and research. Online options include Medicinal Chemistry and Medical Bioinformatics, which combine lectures with computational analysis and drug discovery simulations. Each course is taught by PhD-level instructors and emphasizes molecular and cellular biology, experimental design, and the role of personalized medicine in modern healthcare. After the program, you’ll complete a research project or case study presentation, building both scientific knowledge and communication skills.
6. CSUSM Winter Intersession
Location: California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA
Cost: $350 per unit + $12 Academic Records Fee + $60 EL Technology Fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Program Dates: December 19 – January 10
Application Deadline: October 13 for CSUSM students and October 20, 2025, for non-CSUSM students
Eligibility: Open to qualified high school seniors
At CSUSM’s Winter Intersession, you’ll have the chance to complete up to 4 units in just four weeks, helping you get ahead on your degree or explore new subjects. Courses are fully accredited and transferable, which means you can apply them toward your CSUSM program or transfer them to other universities. You can expect a wide selection of classes across disciplines like Biology, Computer Science, Economics, History, and Sociology, many of which are offered entirely online for flexibility. High school seniors can also participate, giving you a taste of real college coursework before you graduate. This short session is beneficial if you want to lighten your spring workload or accelerate your graduation timeline.
7. IYRC STEM Winter 2025
Location: Virtual, hosted in collaboration with Stanford University
Cost/Stipend: Fees required; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly listed
Program Dates: November 22 – January 10
Application Deadline: Regular – September 30; Late – November 15
Eligibility: High school students interested in STEM research and professional development
The IYRC STEM Winter Program is a seven-week virtual experience that blends live and asynchronous learning to give you a deeper understanding of science and technology. You’ll study Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Aerospace Engineering, Math, and Computer Science, while also practicing key professional skills like resume writing, cold emailing, and research proposal development. Sessions are led by Stanford faculty, students, and researchers, and you’ll also have access to over 50 hours of office hours with medical, dental, and undergraduate students. You’ll engage in hands-on demonstrations like virtual dissections and lab simulations, as well as research literacy workshops on topics such as poster design and reading academic papers. The program also encourages global networking, connecting you with peers worldwide who share an interest in science and research.
8. Fundamentals of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics – UC San Diego Pre-College Program
Location: Online via UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Cost: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Program Dates: January 5 – March 13
Application Deadline: January 1
Eligibility: 10th–12th grade students
This winter program for High School Students in California is a 10-week online course that blends lectures with computer labs to introduce you to the growing fields of bioinformatics and biostatistics. You’ll work directly with genomic and proteomic datasets while learning to use tools like NCBI, PDB, and the UCSC Genome Browser. The curriculum covers core topics such as sequence alignment, structural bioinformatics, RNA sequencing, and statistical methods used in biological research. Instruction emphasizes hands-on use of the R programming language, with no prior coding experience required. You’ll also explore how modern computational methods are applied to next-generation sequencing, protein interaction networks, and phylogenetics. To complete the course, you’ll prepare and deliver a presentation on a bioinformatics topic of your choice, giving you experience in both technical analysis and scientific communication.
9. SCAD Joint Enrollment – Winter Session
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $100 application fee; tuition not listed for joint enrollment
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Program Dates: January 5 – March 12
Application Deadline: Selective
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The SCAD Joint Enrollment Winter Session allows you to take college-level courses online while still in high school. Over the 10-week quarter, you can enroll in up to two courses and earn five college credit hours for each successfully completed class. Course offerings span creative fields such as advertising, drawing, design, photography, communication, and literature, giving you early exposure to SCAD’s curriculum. Credits earned may be applied toward a future SCAD degree, though they typically do not count toward high school graduation requirements. The program is selective, requiring an application with supporting documents, and emphasizes academic preparation for students considering creative careers. Throughout the quarter, you’ll have access to SCAD professors, online hangouts with classmates, and the university’s academic resources, offering a structured introduction to life at The University for Creative Careers.
10. Pre-Collegiate Winter Journalism Workshop
Location: Remote
Cost: $1,000 to $1,500, depending on the date of application. Need-based aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Program Dates: December 15 – January 9
Application Deadline: November 30
Eligibility: Open to high school students of all skill levels
This four-week journalism workshop is designed to give you hands-on experience with real-world reporting. You’ll learn everything from interviewing sources and writing breaking news to developing strong opinions and feature articles. The program also covers the ethics of reporting, sports journalism, and even investigative techniques. Throughout, you’ll receive 1-on-1 guidance from Stanford Daily editors, weekly lessons, and opportunities to publish your work directly on The Stanford Daily’s website. By the end, you’ll have created a portfolio featuring multiple article types while connecting with peers and professional journalists.
Image source - Veritas AI Logo