If you want to spend your summer learning chemistry through hands-on experience, a chemistry summer camp for high school students can be a practical choice. These camps let you go beyond the classroom and explore lab work, experiments, and research in ways you might not get at school.
Unlike broader academic programs, camps are shorter, more focused, and usually concentrate on one area of chemistry, whether that’s biochemistry, polymers, or synthetic chemistry. At a chemistry camp, you could run experiments, analyze data, and see how professional researchers approach real-world problems.
Participating in a chemistry camp also strengthens your CV and college applications. It shows admissions officers that you are motivated, interested, and willing to pursue learning outside the classroom. The experience gives you an edge by highlighting practical skills, research exposure, and a deeper understanding of the field.
To help you get started, here is a list of 15 chemistry summer camps for high school students! (Note: Some programs listed are broader STEM research tracks but follow a camp-like model, offering structured, short-term, chemistry-focused experiences for high school students.)
15 Chemistry Summer Camps for High School Students
1. Stanford’s Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS) Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: Mid-January – April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors attending school in Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, or San Mateo Counties | At least 16 years old by the start of the program
Stanford’s IFSS program lets you spend two weeks inside real chemistry labs. Instead of working on one project, you will shadow several graduate students as they research different topics and methods. This gives you a broad look at how experiments are designed, tested, and analyzed. You’ll spend your mornings on campus, observing and talking with graduate students. Depending on the labs you visit, you might see work in molecular synthesis, spectroscopy, or computational modeling.
2. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost | Stipend: Free | $1,000
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 6 – February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from NYC schools | Full-time NYC resident
In this 10-week summer program, you will begin with four weeks of foundational training in lab safety, academic writing, and core research practices. The following six weeks are dedicated to a full-time placement in one of NYU’s research labs, such as the Flow Chemistry with Microsystems Laboratory, where you will assist faculty and graduate researchers on active projects. You’ll gain about 120 hours of direct lab experience, along with opportunities to present your findings at NYU’s colloquium and a poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History.
3. COSMOS Program
Location: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego, or UC Santa Cruz, depending on the cluster you choose.
Cost: $5,256 + $44 application fee (financial aid available)
Cohort Size: Typically 20–25 students per cluster, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 5:1
Program Dates: July 6 – August 1 (UC Irvine & UC San Diego) or August 2 (UC Davis, UC Los Angeles, & UC Santa Cruz)
Application Deadline: January 8 – February 7
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors from California | Required GPA of 3.5 or above | Each cluster might have its own prerequisites—check here!
The COSMOS is a four-week residential program where you will join an academic cluster at a University of California campus to study advanced topics in science and mathematics. As part of a cluster, you will take two specialized STEM courses along with a science communication course, all taught by UC faculty and researchers. If you are interested in chemistry, you can choose a chemistry-focused cluster such as Practical Applications of Chemical Principles, Nanochemistry and Nanotechnology, or Revealing Molecular Structure. You will participate in hands-on labs, field activities, lectures, and discussions that build both subject knowledge and research skills. You will also complete a cluster-related research project by the end of the program.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Chemistry Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the cohort, depending on the type of program (financial aid is available)
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 12.5%
Program Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week online mentorship experience that helps you dive into academic research with personalized guidance. If you’re interested in chemistry, you can explore topics like organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and chemical kinetics and dynamics. You’ll work one-on-one with a PhD mentor from a top university to choose a research question, review existing literature, and develop your own methodology. You’ll also meet with a writing coach who helps you shape your research paper and prepare it for presentation. If you want to take your work further, you can apply to the Premium Research & Publication Program, which includes extra support from a publication specialist to help you submit your paper to academic journals. Apply here!
5. Horizon Academic Research Program – Chemistry Track
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: 26%
Program Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply
The Horizon Academic Research Program is a trimester-long virtual research experience for high school students interested in exploring advanced topics under the guidance of professors and PhD scholars from top universities. If you are interested in chemistry, you can opt for Horizon’s formulation chemistry course, which explores foundational concepts in the field and its applications in cosmetics, food, or pharmaceutical industries. You can also conduct research in analytical or physical chemistry on topics such as atomic and molecular spectroscopy or chemical thermodynamics. Over the course of the program, you will conduct an in-depth literature review and complete a college-level research paper. At the end, you will receive detailed feedback on your project and can even request a letter of recommendation from your instructors. You can also submit your work to academic journals for publication. Apply here!
6. The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost | Stipend: $25 application fee | $750
Cohort Size: 12 students
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years old
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is one of the most selective summer research opportunities for high school students in the United States. If you’re a rising junior or senior with a strong academic record and a deep research interest, this seven-week residential program gives you the chance to work one-on-one with faculty mentors on advanced projects in fields like chemistry, health sciences, engineering, and more. Only twelve students are selected each year, making the experience highly personalized and intellectually rigorous. You’ll spend your summer immersed in lab work, attending weekly seminars, and participating in group discussions that connect your research to broader scientific and societal questions.
7. American Chemical Society (ACS)’s Project SEED Program
Location: Locations across the U.S. (virtual summer camps are available). Click here to view possible locations
Cost | Stipend: Free | $4,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 350+ students each year
Program Dates: 8–10 weeks in June – July or August
Application Deadline: February – April
Eligibility: High school students with an annual family income that does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size
Project SEED is an 8–10 week paid summer research experience for high school students interested in chemistry and related fields. As a participant, you’ll work full-time in an academic or industry lab under the guidance of a professional scientist, contributing to projects in areas such as chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or materials science. First-time students join the Summer I program, while returning students can continue or begin new projects in the Summer II program, both offering a $4,000 stipend. Beyond lab work, some sites include additional activities like career panels, campus tours, and poster presentations at ACS meetings.
8. Chemistry Research Academy at Penn University
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,949 + $100 application fee (limited number of scholarships available for students who are Philadelphia residents and attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school)
Program Dates: July 5 – 26
Application Deadline: Applications typically close by mid-April (based on previous years)
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who have completed at least one year of high school chemistry | Minimum GPA requirement of 3.5
The Chemistry Research Academy at Penn lets you explore different areas of chemistry while building lab and research skills. You’ll spend half your time in the lab practicing techniques like spectroscopy and gas chromatography, and the other half in class learning concepts such as bonding, materials science, and coordination chemistry. The program includes research lectures, journal clubs, and tours of places like the Singh Center for Nanomaterials and other labs. You will also learn to design experiments, analyze data, read scientific papers, and present your results. For your capstone project, you will create a plan for an independent research project using Penn’s resources.
9. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 100 high school students from around the world participate in the program
Program Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December 11 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: High school juniors with PSAT Math ≥740, EBRW ≥700, ACT Math ≥33, and ACT Verbal ≥34 (lower scores may be offset by strong academics or science achievements). Open to U.S. and international students.
If you are accepted into RSI, you will take part in advanced research across STEM fields, including chemistry, and attend college-level classes. The first part of the program includes seminars by professors on biology, chemistry, engineering, math, and physics. After that, you will do a mentored research internship where you design and carry out your own project. You will get hands-on experience reviewing scientific papers, planning experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting your results in writing and orally. You will also develop skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and scientific communication while attending evening lectures by researchers and industry experts.
10. Columbia University Pre-College Summer Programs – Intensive Seminars in Modern Chemistry
Location: Columbia University, NY
Cost: $12,764 (Residential) or $6,310 (Commuter)
Program Dates: June 30 – July 18
Application Deadline: March (based on previous years)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed Algebra 1 & Algebra 2 and one year of high school chemistry | Students applying to the residential program must turn 16 before December 31 of the year they are attending the program
Intensive Seminars in Modern Chemistry is a pre-college course that introduces you to core themes in modern chemistry through faculty-led lectures, small group discussions, and laboratory experiences at Columbia University. As a participant, you’ll examine areas such as forensic, environmental, and materials chemistry while learning how chemistry functions as the central science. You will build skills in problem-solving and critical thinking through integrative experiments and collaborative projects. You will get formal training in instrumental methods in spectroscopy, chromatography, magnetic resonance, and computer simulations at university labs.
11. Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces – Research Experience for High School Students
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $4,000 + $50 registration fee + optional $2,507 (room), $120 (meals for approximately 1 week), and $60 (health services)
Program Dates: June 26 – August 8
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old | Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.8/4.0 | Minimum standardized test scores (SAT/Regents) of at least 60% | Must have taken at least 3 of the following subjects (Honors or AP a plus): English, Chemistry, Mathematics or Calculus, Physics, and Biology
The Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces offers a seven-week summer research program at Stony Brook University. You will start with instruction and lab safety training, then design and carry out your own research project with help from faculty, graduate students, and staff. The program focuses on polymer science, but you may also explore areas like nanotechnology, 3D printing, or surface engineering. You will work in teams, analyze data, and share your results through presentations and writing. After the summer, you can continue your research during the school year through the Mentor Program with a faculty advisor.
12. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Topics in Biochemistry
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,080 (there might be additional costs for course readers or textbooks, but they won’t exceed $100) (financial aid available)
Cohort Size: Average number of students per course is 15
Program Dates: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: March 20 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11 who have completed a high school biology course
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes’ Topics in Biochemistry is a two-week online course. You will study the molecular building blocks of life – proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids and how they affect human health. Through live lectures, group discussions, and assignments, you will see how biochemistry connects to real-world applications like CRISPR-Cas9, mRNA vaccines, and antibiotic resistance. You will practice interpreting data, communicating scientific ideas, and giving group presentations. The course ends with a final project.
13. Summer Science Program (SSP) – Synthetic Chemistry
Location: Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, OK
Cost | Stipend: $9,800 (financial aid available; click here to learn more) | A limited number of $3,000 stipends are given as “lost wages,” in addition to full financial aid, to students who might typically need to work during the summer
Program Dates: June 8 – July 13
Application Deadline: December 12 – February 21 (Deadline is January 24 for international applicants)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors aged 15–18 | Must have completed any level of high school chemistry by June of the year of attending the program | Strong algebra skills are highly recommended
SSP’s Synthetic Chemistry track is a research program for high school students interested in organic and inorganic chemistry. You will work on making macrocyclic compounds while learning lab techniques like multistep synthesis, purification, vacuum distillation, recrystallization, and working in an inert atmosphere. You will also use tools like NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, UV–Vis, and IR spectroscopy to study compounds. Throughout the program, you will work with peers and faculty to run experiments and improve your research and problem-solving skills.
14. Summer@Brown – Organic and Biochemistry: Key Pathways to Success for the Pre-Med Student
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: $6,134 for commuter program and $8,006 for residential program + $65 application fee (scholarships and application fee waivers available)
Program Dates: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 15 – May 9 (Application fee increases to $100 when submitted on or after April 7)
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12 | Ages 14–18 | At least one year of high school chemistry is recommended
Organic and Biochemistry: Key Pathways to Success for the Pre-Med Student is a summer course at Brown University. You will start with basic concepts in organic chemistry, like nomenclature, structure, and reactions, and then move on to biochemical molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and enzymes. Lab sessions give you hands-on experience analyzing materials, making active pharmaceutical ingredients, and separating components of natural products. By the end, you will have practical lab skills and a working knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry to prepare for future study in chemistry, pre-medicine, or life sciences.
15. Exploring the World of Chemistry Summer Scholars at the University of Notre Dame
Location: The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Cost: $4,950 + $60 application fee (financial aid available)
Program Dates: June 6 – 20 (Session I) and June 27 – July 11 (Session II)
Application Deadline: October 14 – February 19 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old
Exploring the World of Chemistry is a two-week, college-level course for high school students. You will learn the basics and applications of chemistry through lectures, discussions, and lab sessions led by Notre Dame faculty. You will work in labs doing experiments that link theory to practice. Outside class, you will work with peers on assignments and get a feel for college life at Notre Dame. If you complete the course, you may earn one transferable college credit.
Image source – The University of Notre Dame