If you are a high school student based in Buffalo, NY, looking for an accessible way to explore a subject in depth, consider a local summer program!
Local summer programs allow you to immerse yourself in specialized fields such as research science, engineering, leadership, business, or creative arts, gaining exposure to college-level or even professional material without having to spend a ton!
Buffalo, NY, is home to several top universities and institutions, such as the University of Buffalo and Canisius University. These schools offer a wide range of summer programs at reduced tuition fees for local students. Summer programs in the state can also help in reducing travel and housing costs.
Whether you’re looking to build new skills, explore a potential major, or just make the most of your summer, summer programs for high school students such as the ones provide valuable hands-on experiences and learning opportunities.
In this blog, we’ve rounded up 15 great summer programs for high school students in Buffalo, NY, that can help you grow both inside and outside the classroom.
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Buffalo, NY
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available | None
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; Summer I cohort: June 1, Summer II cohort: July 14
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort; Summer I: May 10, Summer II: June 23
Eligibility: 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)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research experience tailored for high school students. It offers extensive one-on-one research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high school student. 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, students develop 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. Even though the program isn’t run by a university, completing it may make you eligible to receive UCSD credit. You can apply here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
3. University of Buffalo’s CSExplore Camp
Location: University of Buffalo North Campus
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Dates: August 5 – 8
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Current high school students
Designed for high school students with little to no background in computer science or engineering, this three-day program offers an engaging, exciting, and practical introduction to the field. Through hands-on activities, you’ll explore topics ranging from basic circuitry and hardware to software development. Past sessions have featured projects like programming robots, designing video games, and visiting cutting-edge research labs. The camp also features occasional trips to some research labs that apply computing to solve real-world problems. The program emphasizes exploration and skill-building in a collaborative, low-pressure environment, and fosters skills like logic, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration.
4. SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Internships
Location: SUNY Oneonta campus, Buffalo
Cost/Stipend: None | $3,000 upon successful completion
Dates: 9 week program with a flexibility regarding when the internship begins and ends between late May and August
Application Deadline: March 26
Eligibility: All New York State resident high school students | At least 16 years old by June 20
This competitive 9-week internship places New York State high school students in active field research roles, with one slot reserved for an Otsego County resident. You will support faculty and staff at the Biological Field Station or pursue independent research. You’ll gain technical experience in ecological fieldwork and lab techniques, including fish and plant surveys, water chemistry analysis, microscopic identification of zooplankton, and dissection procedures. You will also compile and analyze collected data, draft technical reports, and design a research poster summarizing findings. The program concludes with a formal poster presentation summarizing your research findings.
5. Pharmacy Summer Institute at the University at Buffalo
Location: University at Buffalo South Campus
Cost/Stipend: $150 | None
Dates: July 14 – 16
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Current high school student | minimum GPA of 3.0 | B-letter grade, fall in the 83-86th percentile
This three-day program introduces high school students to careers in pharmacy through academic advising, hands-on demos, lab tours, and faculty sessions. You will step into UB’s high-tech pharmaceutical labs and use professional tools and equipment to conduct experiments, guided by faculty and current students. You will learn how medicines are created, tested, and delivered and also engage in role-play scenarios that simulate real patient interactions. The program includes group activities such as mock counseling, vaccination sessions and compounding sessions, and tours of the Buffalo General Medical Center and UB Libraries. You will gain exposure to pharmacy, college life, and healthcare environments.
6. Roswell Park High School Summer Research Experience
Location: Roswell Park, Buffalo
Cost/Stipend: None | Subsistence allowance for a 7-week program; paid internships are awarded to applicants who qualify based on funding source eligibility criteria. (this is based on previous years)
Dates: June 26 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school students residing in Western New York counties: Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua | Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident | Must be 15 or older at the program’s start | Mandatory proof of full COVID-19 vaccines.
Designed for high school juniors, this program offers hands-on experience in biomedical research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The program matches you with a research mentor and an independent project aligned with your interests, gaining exposure to lab techniques, data analysis, and scientific writing. Working in a professional lab environment, you will build technical and critical thinking skills while exploring potential careers in healthcare and biomedical science. The program also includes seminars, networking events, and field trips to locations like Niagara Falls and local research institutions, fostering both academic growth and community engagement.
7. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP)
Location: Various sites along with New York City
Cost/Stipend: None | Provided (varies by site)
Dates: 6–10 weeks in summer; typically late May–early August
Application Deadline: Typically March
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents | Currently enrolled in high school | At least 14 years old
The Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) offers research-based summer apprenticeships for high school students in partnership with U.S. Army research centers and academic institutions. As an apprentice, you’ll conduct STEM research alongside professional scientists or engineers in a Department of Defense lab or university setting. The program emphasizes mentorship and technical skill-building, with each participant receiving one-on-one guidance from a research professional. Projects vary by location and focus area; one example at SUNY Buffalo introduces students to the fundamentals of neural networks, offering applied experience for those interested in machine learning and software engineering.
8. Chem-E Camp at University of Buffalo
Location: University of Buffalo
Cost/Stipend: $400 | None
Dates: August 11 – 15
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: High school students entering 11th and 12th grade in fall of the application year
Chem-E Camp introduces high school students to chemical engineering through practical lab work, site visits, and sessions with faculty and professionals. You will gain exposure to areas like reaction engineering, material processing, and industrial applications, while also exploring how chemistry translates into real-world problem solving. The week includes guided experiments, facility tours at companies like Linde, Thermo Fisher, DuPont, and SAMCO, and on-campus lab access within UB’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. You will strengthen technical observation, scientific communication, and systems-thinking skills while learning from researchers and engineers. At the end, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.
9. National Grid Leadership Camp
Location: University of Buffalo
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Dates: July 28 – 31
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Western New York students entering grades 10-12
This residential STEM camp introduces high school students to engineering concepts, collaborative problem-solving, and professional development through a three-night stay at UB’s North Campus. You will work in teams to complete an engineering design challenge and participate in workshops and lab sessions focused on applied science and technology. Program activities include lab tours, fieldwork, and small-group discussions with professionals from National Grid and UB. A key feature is a field trip to National Grid, where you will explore energy systems and connect with industry mentors. The camp emphasizes teamwork, leadership, and career exploration, particularly for students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM. No prior STEM experience is required.
10. National Grid Sustainability Camp
Location: University of Buffalo
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: All students entering 8th and 9th grade in the fall
This five-day program introduces you to core sustainability topics through lab projects, fieldwork, and applied data analysis. You will explore the environmental, global, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability with a STEM lens, covering themes like carbon accounting, energy systems, ecology, and lifecycle analysis. You will be part of hands-on sessions, including building and testing small-scale solar and wind-powered devices, and tracking personal carbon footprints. You will also participate in site tours of campus sustainability features such as the UB North Campus covering the Ellicott complex, Letchworth Woods, Lake Lasalle, University Garden, and UB Solar Strand.
11. National Summer Transportation Camp
Location: University of Buffalo
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Dates: August 5 – 9
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12
This one-week, fully funded program introduces high school students to transportation systems through technical site visits, design challenges, and interactions with professionals across the field. You will explore sectors like aviation, civil infrastructure, public transit, and intelligent transportation systems. You can take part in bridge and rail design projects, motion simulation demonstrations, and guided tours of facilities such as the Buffalo Airport Control Tower and Erie Canal locks. The program also includes sessions on leadership, communication, and college admissions. You can expect to work in teams to apply problem-solving skills and gain exposure to real-world engineering environments.
12. Next-Gen Internship at The Jacobs Institute
Location: The Jacobs Institute, Buffalo
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: July 7 – 18 (2-week program); July 7 – August 22 (7-week program)
Eligibility: Current high school sophomore or junior
This internship introduces students to careers in healthcare and biomedical research through hands-on activities, lectures, and professional mentorship. The two-week core program includes health science seminars led by neurosurgeon Dr. Kenneth Snyder, group research projects, exposure to vascular disease challenges, and shadowing opportunities in operating rooms or catheterization labs (age permitting). Sessions also include TED Talk discussions, case reviews, and guest presentations from medical professionals, engineers, and business leaders working in the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus ecosystem. From the 20-person cohort, 8 students will be selected for an extended five-week track focused on lab skills development and placement in a biomedical lab setting.
13. Blue Path at University of Buffalo
Location: University of Buffalo
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Dates: July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 11th- and 12th-grade students in the Buffalo-Niagara area
Blue Path is a no-cost, interdisciplinary summer program designed for high school students interested in public health and health-related fields. The program emphasizes equity and access by connecting students from diverse backgrounds to professional pathways in health science. The curriculum combines hands-on activities with interactive sessions led by university faculty and local professionals. You will develop foundational skills in critical thinking, behavioral health research, and scientific communication, tools essential for pursuing careers in public health and allied health professions. You will also be able to earn one college credit while exploring areas such as epidemiology, occupational and physical therapy, nutrition, community health, and health policy.
14. Summer Session at Canisius High School
Location: Canisius High School, Buffalo
Cost/Stipend: $250 (half-credit course); $500 (full-credit course) | None
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: Current high school students from all over Western New York | Health (½ credit): Students must have an overall GPA of 80% | Precalculus (1 credit): Students must have a grade of 85% or higher in Algebra II Trig and obtain department approval | Physics (1 credit): Students must have successfully completed Biology, Chemistry, and Geometry with an average of 85% or higher and also receive department approval | Common Application Essay Workshop: This workshop is only available to Canisius High School students currently in Grade 11
Canisius High School’s Summer Accelerated Learning Program offers in-person courses for high school students across Western New York in Health (½ credit), Precalculus (1 credit), Physics (1 credit), and Common Application Essay Workshop (No credit). Health combines in-person and online learning, covering mental health, nutrition, disease, and first aid. It fulfills the high school health requirement. Precalculus prepares students for AP Calculus and covers functions, trigonometry, and algebra. Physics covers mechanics, energy, and waves, and qualifies students for advanced science courses. The Common Application Essay Workshop is a five-day program that deep dives into essay prompts, brainstorming essay ideas, writing hook sentences and introductions, structuring the body and constructing a compelling clincher.
15. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Location: Virtual | NASA facilities across the United States; opportunities in New York are available
Cost/Stipend: None | Amount unspecified, but provided based on academic level and session duration
Dates: Spring (16 weeks, mid-January to early May) | Summer (10 weeks, late May/early June to August) | Fall (16 weeks, late August/early September to mid-December)
Application Deadline: Spring: September 12; Summer: February 27; Fall: May 22
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old | U.S. citizens | Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships for high school and college students across its nationwide centers. You will work alongside NASA mentors, including research scientists and engineers, on real agency projects, receive mentorship, professional development, and hands-on training in fields like aerospace engineering, robotics, microbiology, data analysis, ecology, and science communication. Projects may involve designing experiments, working with mission data, or contributing to outreach. You’ll gain practical research experience and technical skills while learning to navigate collaborative workflows in high-stakes scientific environments. Internships are available in multiple disciplines; use the “Filter” tool on their site to find roles specifically open to high school students.
Image source – University At Buffalo