Are you a high school student looking to explore science beyond what you cover in class? Science camps are a fun and practical way to do exactly that. Instead of only reading about scientific ideas, you get to test them through hands-on experiments, guided activities, and real-world problem solving. You will spend your time building models, running small experiments, and learning how real scientists think and work.
These camps are designed to be structured and focused, so you do not feel overwhelmed. They are usually shorter than full research programs and concentrate on a specific subject like biology, chemistry, physics, robotics, or environmental science. By the end of the camp, you often complete a small project, presentation, or experiment that shows what you learned.
Why science camps are worth your time
Science camps are a great way to explore potential career interests without a long-term commitment. They help you develop practical lab skills, strengthen critical thinking, and give you real examples to talk about in college essays and interviews. You also get to meet other students who are just as curious about science, which makes the experience even more motivating.
If you’re also interested in more in-depth research opportunities, you can check out our complete guide to science research programs for high school students here.
15 Best Science Camps for High School Students
1. Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cost: Fully funded (students cover travel only)
Program Dates: Virtual Jumpstart: June 15–16; Residential Program: June 20-August 1
Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders; must be 16 by June 20; requires demonstrated financial need
SAMS is a highly immersive six-week STEM experience designed to expand your academic confidence and strengthen your pathway into competitive STEM majors. You begin with a required virtual Jumpstart that helps you build the foundational skills needed for the in-person program. During the residential portion, you take rigorous coursework in subjects like mathematics, biology, chemistry, and writing while completing hands-on research guided by faculty and mentors deeply invested in student success. You also participate in a research symposium where you present your work in a professional academic setting.
2. National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp)
Location: Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia
Cost: Free (housing, meals, transportation, and supplies covered)
Program Dates: July 10 – August 2
Deadline: Applications open January 27; due February 28
Eligibility: Two delegates per U.S. state + D.C.; additional international delegates; some states select via science fairs
NYSCamp brings together a small group of rising STEM students for a residential program built around exploration and curiosity. You spend your days learning from scientists, engineers, and other experts who walk you through advanced ideas in fields like physics, biology, computer science, and math. The sessions feel open and interactive, with room to ask questions and follow threads that interest you. A big part of the program happens outdoors. You hike, climb, backpack, and join overnight trips that push you to work with your group and stay present. You also travel to Washington, D.C., where you visit scientific institutions and meet people working in STEM fields.
3. Advanced Space Academy
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Cost: $1,999
Program Dates: 24 May- 29 May; 31 May- 5 June
Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students ages 15–18
Advanced Space Academy gives you a close look at how space missions actually work. You spend your time on simulations built around real aerospace problems, so you use physics and basic engineering ideas to make decisions in the moment. The work feels hands-on and steady, with activities that teach you how different spacecraft systems fit together and how to read technical information under pressure. Most tasks happen in teams. You plan missions, solve issues that come up during simulations, and learn how to communicate clearly when the stakes feel high.
4. SigmaNext
Location: Sharon, Connecticut
Cost: $2,350
Program Dates: August 9–16
Deadline: Applications open in February
Eligibility: Students ages 14–17
SigmaNext is a one-week residential program for high school students who want a closer look at how real STEM research works. You spend your time with faculty and researchers who guide you through problems in math, physics, biology, and computer science. The work feels hands-on and steady, with a focus on trying things, testing ideas, and talking through your reasoning. Each day includes workshops and project time where you build hypotheses, look at data, and explain what your results mean. You learn how scientists shape questions and adjust their approach when the first plan doesn’t work.
5. Science Camps of America – Overnight Camps
Location: Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaii
Cost: $2,795
Program Dates: July 1-10, July 11-20
Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
Science Camps of America immerses you in field-based science across Hawaiʻi Island’s forests, volcanoes, coastlines, and night skies. You investigate geology by exploring lava tubes, study marine ecosystems along diverse shorelines, and examine native plants through hands-on botany and ecology sessions. Astronomers and engineers introduce you to space science, instrumentation, and data collection techniques used in real research settings. Each day blends scientific inquiry with physical exploration, giving you direct experience with how professionals conduct observations in the field. You also participate in labs such as DNA extraction, environmental sampling, and ecosystem mapping.
6. Drexel University Neuroscience Camp
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cost: $2,500
Program Dates: July 21 – August 1
Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a background in biology, chemistry, or research; transcripts and two recommendations required
Drexel’s Neuroscience Camp introduces you to the structure and function of the brain and spinal cord through lectures, lab sessions, and demonstrations. You explore neuroanatomy, electrophysiology, sensory processing, neuropathology, and neuropharmacology with faculty and graduate students who guide you through core concepts and experimental methods. Hands-on work includes live brain activity recordings, molecular techniques, and small-group lab projects supported by data analysis and literature reviews. You also visit the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Franklin Institute to extend your understanding of neuroscience in applied settings. The program concludes with a project presentation and a certificate of completion.
7. Physics and Materials Science Summer Camp – University of Memphis
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Cost: $120
Program Dates: June 23–27, 9:00 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
Deadline: May 26
Eligibility: High school students
The Physics and Materials Science Summer Camp at the University of Memphis gives you a week to explore how physics and materials shape the world around you. You look at motion, energy, and the basic rules that explain everyday phenomena. You also see how materials science helps engineers design tools and devices used in labs, industry, and technology. Most sessions take place in Manning Hall. You join demonstrations, small discussions, and simple hands-on activities that build your problem-solving and observation skills. The schedule is short each day, so you get steady lab time without feeling overloaded.
8. Marine Biology Camp (Roger Williams University)
Location: Bristol, Rhode Island
Cost: $1,995
Program Dates: Session 1: July 5 – July 11; Session 2: July 12 – July 18; Session 3: July 19 – July 25; Session 4: July 26 – August 1; Session 5: August 2 – August 8
Deadline: Registration opens in December
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; rising sophomores considered if space allows
The Marine Biology Camp immerses you directly into the coastal ecosystems of southern New England, turning shorelines, bays, and tidal pools into your classroom. You explore marine habitats through field excursions that include oceanographic sampling, sea kayaking, snorkeling, and a whale-watching trip off Cape Cod. In the lab, you investigate plankton, seaweed biology, nutrient cycles, aquaculture, and other core marine science topics using a 3,000-sq.-ft. Wet lab with flowing seawater. Daily seminars from marine science experts help you connect field observations with real research challenges such as invasive species, toxic plankton blooms, and fisheries sustainability.
9. Tabor Summer Camp – Ocean & Climate Institute (High School Track)
Location: Marion, Massachusetts
Cost: Half Day: $495/week; Full Day: $775/week; Residential: Session A: $2,495; Session B: $4,740 (5% discount); Session C: $6,736 (10% discount); Session D: $11,976 (20% discount)
Program Dates: Day Programs: June 22 – July 31 (Monday–Friday); Residential: June 21 – August 1 (1–6 week sessions available)
Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students (ages 14–18)
The Researcher Track is designed for high school students who want a deeper, more advanced exploration of marine science and climate systems. You spend your days in the Marine & Nautical Science Center, on the research vessel, and in wet labs where you design investigations, collect environmental data, and interpret real scientific results. The curriculum introduces you to higher-level concepts in oceanography, marine ecology, and climate dynamics so you can understand how coastal and global systems respond to change. You also develop analytical skills by evaluating human impacts, shifting currents, and long-term climate patterns. By the end, you present your findings at the Ocean Symposium, giving you early experience in scientific communication and research leadership.
10. SHORE Academy (Science and Hands-on Research Experience) High School Camp
Location: University of Florida
Cost: Sea Turtle Summer Camp: $275; Science Minds Summer Camp: $180
Program Dates: June 22–26
Deadline: Registration opens March 2
Eligibility: High school students who have completed biology, environmental science, or marine science and have an interest in scientific research
The SHORE Academy (Science and Hands-on Research Experience) High School Camp is a five-day program at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience where you dive into hands-on science work and field research. Over the week you join a small group of students, get lab-based training, and explore real research topics if you’ve studied biology or environmental science. The program gives you direct exposure to coastal and marine science methods while helping you build observational skills, data-collection habits, and a sense for scientific inquiry.
11. Residential DNA Camp (Grades 9–10)
Location: University of Notre Dame
Cost: $1495
Program Dates: June 22–27
Deadline: Sign-up basis
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 9–10
The Residential DNA Camp gives ninth and tenth-graders a week of hands-on work in molecular biology. You spend your days in the DNA Center’s teaching labs, running experiments and learning the basics of genetics and DNA analysis. The work is guided, but you handle real tools and build a clearer sense of how lab research operates. Since the camp is residential, you also get a simple introduction to campus life. You stay in dorms, share rooms, and follow a routine that feels close to a college setting. Your days include lab sessions, campus activities, and meals in the dining hall, with counselors helping you through each part of the schedule.
12. Molecular Biology of Cancer – UC Berkeley
Location: Berkeley, California
Cost: Residential: $3680; Non-residential: $2280
Program Dates: June 1–14 or June 15–28
Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Ages 14–18; application and letter of recommendation required
The Molecular Biology of Cancer workshop at UC Berkeley gives you a clear look at how cancer works at the cellular level. You learn what happens when mutations build up, when signaling goes off track, and when normal cell checks break down. The lectures set the groundwork, and the lab sessions show you how researchers study these problems in real time. In the lab, you use tools that scientists rely on to track tumor growth, test ideas, and look for possible treatments. You practice basic experimental design and see how molecular biology connects to drug development and personalized medicine. As the week moves forward, you work on a small research project of your own, usually focused on a specific gene or cellular process.
13. Physics Research Camp — Saint Joseph’s University
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free (housing, meals included; travel assistance may be available)
Program Dates: June 19–24
Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students interested in completing introductory physics research (teachers also attend, but the entry is written only for students)
The Physics Research Camp at Saint Joseph’s University gives you a week inside a working physics lab. You learn how real investigations unfold by designing simple experiments, collecting data, and figuring out what your results mean. You use the same kinds of tools researchers rely on, so the work feels grounded in actual lab practice. The week ends with a short dissertation-style presentation where you explain your project and defend your choices. Along the way, you see how research teams operate, how ideas shift when data pushes back, and how scientists solve problems when experiments don’t go as planned.
14. Young Physicist Camp – Hamline University
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Cost: $598 before April 30; $698 after April 30
Program Dates: July 20 to 24
Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
The Young Physicist Camp gives you a structured introduction to innovation, renewable energy, and applied physics through a weeklong, full-day experience on Hamline’s campus. You explore how energy systems work by running hands-on experiments with solar cells, supercapacitors, and lithium-ion batteries. The camp brings in local experts who help you connect physics concepts to real-world engineering and emerging clean-energy technologies. You also work with a team to design a renewable energy system and turn your idea into a written and presented innovation plan.
15. Ecology Academy at Hiram College
Location: James H. Barrow Biological Field Station, Northeastern Ohio (Hiram College)
Cost: $1,395 (includes lectures, activities, room, and board)
Program Dates: July 20–25
Deadline: Rolling basis until May 30
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with interest in ecology and environmental science
The Ecology Academy gives you a week of hands-on field research in real forest ecosystems. You spend your mornings learning foundational concepts in ecology, then head straight to the James H. Barrow Biological Field Station’s Frohring Old-Growth Forest where you work alongside faculty and research assistants to design and execute ecological studies. You learn how scientists formulate questions about forest systems, collect data using proper field protocols, and move through the complete research cycle, from observation to analysis to presenting findings. You develop skills in data collection, management, and science communication while exploring topics like forest management, water resource conservation, wildlife ecology, and land stewardship.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
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 – Hiram College