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January 12, 2025
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12 Amazing Summer Programs in Maine That Every High Schooler Should Know About

Summer programs provide hands-on experience in fields like STEM, engineering, music, ecology, astronomy, and architecture.

Summer programs provide hands-on experience in fields like STEM, engineering, music, ecology, astronomy, and architecture. If you’re considering a future in these areas, summer programs offer specialized training, mentorship, and real-world experience. In Maine, various universities, organizations, and labs host summer programs. Here’s a list of 12 great summer programs in Maine for high school students.

1. The Chip Moody Consider Engineering Program

The Chip Moody Consider Engineering Program is a free, four-day overnight program at the University of Maine for high school juniors interested in engineering. You will participate in engineering experiments and problem-solving challenges as well as network with faculty and engineers. The camp is geared toward students interested in STEM who demonstrate excellent leadership and communication skills. The program aims to help you decide if you want to pursue engineering as a career. To apply, you have to submit your high school transcript, a letter outlining how you would benefit by attending, a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor, and a list of your extracurricular activities.

Subject Areas: Science, Math, Engineering

Location: University of Maine, Orono, ME

Program Dates: July 14 – 17 | July 21 – 24 | July 28 – 31

Cost: Free

Eligibility: Current high school juniors

Application Deadline: April 15

2. Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program

The Jackson Laboratory’s Summer Student Program offers an in-depth experience in genetics and genomics research. Under the guidance of scientific mentors, you’ll develop and implement your own independent research project. This project will include data analysis and a presentation of your findings at the end of the program. This 10-week program has been running since 1924 and is extremely competitive, with a 6% acceptance rate.

Subject Areas: Genetics, genomics research

Location: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME

Program Dates: May 31 – August 8

Cost: No cost, stipend of $6,500. The program covers travel from your home to the lab and back

Eligibility: Students who have completed grade 12, are at least 18 years old, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

Application Deadline: January 27

3. Maine Research Internships for Teachers and Students (MERITS)

The Maine Research Internships for Teachers and Students (MERITS) program, supported by NASA, offers six-week paid summer internships for high school juniors. The program focuses on STEM applications through hands-on research and technology development at institutions across Maine. You can apply for internships in fields such as astrophysics, biological science, chemistry, earth science, manufacturing, and space communications.

Subject Areas: STEM

Location: Host institutions across Maine

Program Dates: Six weeks in the summer

Cost: Stipend provided, amount unspecified

Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S citizens, residents of Maine, and enrolled at a Maine school

Application Deadline: January 31

4. League of Women Voters of Maine—Youth Council Internship

This internship offers high school students the opportunity to engage their communities through political organization. Ideal applicants are committed to political equity and voter participation in Maine, with a passion for community involvement and education. You will host events to raise political awareness among young people, create public service announcements on topics like voter rights for classroom use, and produce the Youth Council newsletter. Interns work 5 hours per week. Applications are followed by interviews, with 3 to 4 interns selected each semester.

Subject Areas: Community organization, politics, communications

Location: Maine (Remote/various locations)

Program Dates: TBA

Cost/Stipend: Interns are paid $15/hour

Eligibility: High school students

Application Deadline: May 16

5. Upward Bound at Bowdoin College

Upward Bound provides a residential on-campus experience to prepare you for high school and future academic goals. As a rising sophomore or junior, you’ll take courses like Art, French Culture, Immigration, and Earth Science along with a STEM course in Chemistry, Microbiology, Physics, or Technology.

The program offers access to advanced labs and studios, plus elective workshops to enhance your learning. You’ll receive support in college preparation, including financial aid guidance, assistance with the Common Application, and interview skills. You’ll also participate in field trips to a Shakespeare theater, various colleges, and the beach.

Subject Areas: STEM, humanities

Location: Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME

Program Dates: No information available

Cost: Free

Eligibility: High school students who attend one of the 14 eligible Maine high schools and are first-generation college students or from a limited-income household

Application Deadline: Students must apply to Upward Bound to be eligible for the summer program. Upward Bound deadline: December 1

6. Maine AHEC Health Careers Explorations Camp

This free health career exploration camp, hosted by the University of New England, is tailored for high school students from rural or underserved communities. It offers hands-on learning experiences across various healthcare fields, including dental medicine, osteopathic medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, and public health, among others. This program offers a glimpse of college life while introducing you to different healthcare career paths and offering guidance on the college admissions process.

Subject Areas: Medicine, nursing, healthcare, neuroscience, dentistry, pharmacy, public health

Location: University of New England, Biddeford, ME

Program Dates: June 22 – 24

Cost: Free

Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12. Priority will be given to Maine students from underserved or rural communities

Application Deadline: May 3

7. Forestry Immersion Program

The six-week Summer Forestry Immersion Program provides an exciting camping experience in Maine’s forests. You will explore forest ecology, wildlife habitats, and various careers related to the outdoors. The program offers a solid foundation in forestry, natural resources, and forest-based manufacturing while helping you develop essential skills like communication, teamwork, and a strong work ethic. You’ll also learn about various forest-related and outdoor recreation career opportunities and receive guidance on preparing for these paths.

Subject Areas: Ecology

Location: Various forests in Maine

Program Dates: Six weeks in the summer

Cost: No information available

Eligibility: High school students

Application Deadline: TBA. You can sign up to be notified here.

8. Camp Chewonki Leaders in Training Program

The Camp Chewonki Leaders-in-Training program is designed for those interested in building advanced leadership skills. Geared toward experienced backcountry travelers, this program includes a challenging canoe expedition in Canada’s remote wilderness. You’ll be involved in every aspect of the trip, from food prep and river scouting to portaging and risk management as Leader of the Day. Leadership skills are reinforced through goal setting, journaling, and group activities, with increasing responsibility as the program progresses. You’ll gain practical experience in communication, group dynamics, and trip facilitation.

Subject Areas: Leadership, risk management

Location: Expeditions start from Wiscasset, ME

Program Dates: June 29 – July 21

Cost: $7,350. Financial aid available

Eligibility: Students completing 10th or 11th grade

Application Deadline: January 1

9. Maine College of Art & Design Pre-College

The Maine College of Art & Design Pre-College program is a three-week intensive experience that simulates the pace of a first semester in art college. You’ll build your admissions portfolio, enhance your critique skills, and earn college credits while working alongside professional artists and designers. The program includes studio classes, evening work, and weekend sessions.

Each student chooses two majors from options including Ceramics, Fashion & Textile Design, Animation, and Comics & Graphic Novels. You’ll have one-on-one meetings with Admissions Counselors for portfolio reviews. At the program’s conclusion, you will exhibit your work in a final showcase and earn three college-level studio elective credits.

Subject Areas: Art, design

Location: Maine College of Art & Design, Portland, ME

Program Dates: July 12 – August 2

Cost: $4,600 or $5,100 depending on shared or single room. Financial aid available

Eligibility: Students aged 15–18

Application Deadline: April 15

10. College of the Atlantic’s Islands Through Time

Islands Through Time allows rising high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit while exploring the ecology, culture, and history of Downeast Maine through drawing and painting. Hosted by the College of the Atlantic near Acadia National Park, this program combines academic and artistic experiences.

You will stay at the college’s island field stations, gaining hands-on experience in data collection and research. Activities include visiting whale feeding grounds, seal haul-outs, seabird colonies, and small island communities. The program will also enhance your writing skills by connecting literature to the local environment.

Subject Areas: Ecology, research, art, history

Location: College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME

Program Dates: July 27 – August 8

Cost: No information available

Eligibility: Rising junior or senior in high school

Application Deadline: TBA

11. Ladder Internship Program

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)

Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.

Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). 

Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

12. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.

Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!

Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.

Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.

Cost: Full financial aid is available!

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.

Bonus summer program for students in Maine – Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)

If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!

Image source: Bowdoin College logo

David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.