If you are a high school student looking for a way to explore your interests this summer, summer camps can give you practical experience and help you develop an advanced skill set. These camps let you gain in-depth exposure to a subject, whether it is science, technology, arts, sports, or leadership, through hands-on activities, projects, and challenges.
Summer camps are different from regular programs because they are shorter, highly structured, and often focus on a single subject or field. Unlike longer programs that follow a broad curriculum, camps allow you to immerse yourself in one area, building focused skills and experience in a condensed timeframe. If you’re based in Florida and looking for something local, you’re in luck!
Florida is home to many organizations and universities that run summer camps for high school students each year. Choosing a local camp can also be a financially smart option, reducing travel and lodging costs while still giving you access to quality instruction and activities.
With that, here are 15 Florida summer camps for high school students worth checking out!
15 Florida Summer Camps for High School Students
1. University of Florida’s Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: Free, except for a $20 non-refundable application fee
Cohort Size: Around 25–30 students
Dates: June 8 – June 14
Application Deadline: January 15 – March 17
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in Florida
The Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp is a week-long residential program for high school students interested in pharmacy. You’ll join skills labs, workshops, presentations, and discussion groups, while also taking part in team-building activities. Pre-Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy students will guide you, and practicing pharmacists will share insights into different career paths and practice settings. During the week, you’ll work on a group public health project and learn about pharmacy school pathways, including the UF Pharmacy Early Assurance Program.
2. USF Bulls Startup Summer Camp
Location: Muma College of Business, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $550; the residential add-on costs $995
Cohort Size: Maximum 30 students
Dates: June 23 – June 27
Application Deadline: Applications open on February 1; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students
The USF Bulls Startup Summer Camp introduces high school students to entrepreneurship and innovation. Through workshops and interactive sessions with USF faculty and industry professionals, you’ll learn how entrepreneurs spot opportunities, solve problems, and create value. You’ll brainstorm product ideas, study what makes them appealing to customers, and design business models. The camp also covers coding, cryptocurrency, and social media marketing to show how technology supports business. On the final day, you’ll present your pitch deck to a panel of industry professionals, get feedback, and build confidence in public speaking and business presentations.
3. Fashion Summer Camp at The Miami School of Fashion & Design
Location: Istituto Marangoni, Miami, FL
Cost: $2,500 (Domestic Students) | $3,000 (International Students)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small class sizes
Dates: June 2 – June 13 | June 16 – June 27 | June 30 – July 11 | July 14 – July 25 | July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: July 10
Eligibility: Students aged 14–18
Istituto Marangoni’s Fashion Summer Camp gives high school students a chance to explore fashion design, styling, and the business side of the industry. You’ll study textile selection, marketing, garment construction, branding, and portfolio development, while also practicing draping, sewing, and adding details like buttons, pockets, and zippers. You’ll work with mannequins, experiment with fabric, and explore sustainability through upcycling and textile innovation. On the digital side, you’ll use tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to build visual storytelling skills and create a professional portfolio. Topics include streetwear, illustration, fashion photography, garment deconstruction, trend forecasting, digital portfolios, and social media management.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on the program; financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate: Around 10–25%
Dates: Cohorts run in fall, summer, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary based on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted minimum 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale are encouraged to apply
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you with a PhD mentor to design and complete your own research project. You can explore areas in STEM, humanities, or social sciences, including psychology, linguistics, mathematics, computer science, data science, history, engineering, and more. If none of these match your interests, you and your mentor can create a custom topic. During the program, you’ll have access to research workshops, writing support, and a writing coach to help turn your project into an academic paper. There’s an option to earn UCSD credit for your work. You can find more details and application information here.
5. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program; Need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 26%; Horizon Seminar classes typically have about 4–6 students, while Horizon Labs is designed for individual mentorship
Dates: Cohorts run throughout summer, fall, winter, and spring. Lab schedules are flexible, but you must apply at least four weeks before your preferred start date.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.67 or higher are eligible to apply. Most students are in 10th or 11th grade. Some tracks have additional prerequisites, which can be viewed here.
Horizon runs trimester-long research programs with over 600 topics to choose from, covering areas like political science, neuroscience, physics, machine learning, economics, psychology, philosophy, AI, data science, international relations, and more. You can choose either a qualitative or quantitative approach based on what interests you most. During the program, you’ll develop a research question, select your method, and work with a mentor, often a professor or PhD scholar. Throughout the process, you’ll receive personalized feedback and professional guidance. By the program’s end, you’ll complete a 20-page research paper that you can even submit to academic journals. You’ll also receive a recommendation letter to support your college or research applications. Application information is available here.
6. FSU College of Medicine Summer Institute
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost: $1,650; scholarships are available for Florida residents
Cohort Size: 20 students per session
Dates: June 8 – June 13 | June 22 – June 27 | July 13 – July 18
Application Deadline: December 1 – January 15
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with at least a 3.3 unweighted GPA and good grades in math and science
The FSU College of Medicine Summer Institute is a week-long residential program for high school students interested in medicine. You’ll attend faculty-led presentations about medical topics, experience college life from a medical student’s perspective, and learn more about financial aid and pre-health advising. You’ll get to visit rural medical facilities, shadow physicians and biomedical researchers, and join workshops with FSU medical faculty on subjects like CPR training, vital signs, medical ethics, college admissions, and financial aid. The week wraps up with a group competition where you’ll present your research, followed by an awards ceremony.
7. University of South Florida’s Bulls Finance Camp
Location: Muma College of Business, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $650; the residential add-on costs $995
Cohort Size: Maximum 50 students
Dates: July 14 – July 18 | July 21 – July 25
Application Deadline: Applications open on February 1; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
The University of South Florida’s Bull Finance Camp provides students with the opportunity to explore finance. You will study the importance of financial literacy and its vital role in business development. You’ll cover topics like investments, financial planning, corporate finance, FinTech, and the fundamentals of finance. These sessions are led by USF faculty and experts from the USF Federal Credit Union. Alongside the academics, you’ll take part in interactive activities with USF students and professionals. You’ll also get to learn about different finance career paths, explore the USF campus, and compete in a team challenge.
8. Nova Southeastern University’s Achieve In Medicine (AIM-High) Day Camp
Location: NSU Tampa Bay Regional Campus, Clearwater, FL | NSU Davie/Fort Lauderdale Campus, FL
Cost: $1,600 + $50 non-refundable application fee; need-based scholarships are available
Cohort Size: 50 students per session
Dates: NSU Tampa Bay: June 23 – June 27; NSU Davie/Fort Lauderdale: July 7 – July 11 | July 14 – July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.2 GPA
Achieve in Medicine (AIM-High) Day camp offers an opportunity for high school students to learn about various health careers. It is hosted at Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. You’ll explore areas like pharmacy, public health, neuroscience, pediatrics, preventive medicine, and physical or occupational therapy. Hands-on activities include dissection, sports medicine, suturing, cancer detection, and pharmacy practice. You’ll also get to try out tools such as augmented reality, natural language processing, and 3D modeling. You’ll participate in social events with NSU medical students and disaster medicine training with Sunrise Fire and Rescue.
9. USF High School Esports Camp
Location: Recreation and Wellness Building, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $425; the residential add-on costs $995
Cohort Size: Maximum 30 students
Dates: June 24 – June 28
Application Deadline: Applications open on February 1; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
The USF High School Esports Camp offers students the opportunity to improve their gaming skills. You’ll get to compete in games like Fortnite, Rocket League, Fall Guys, and more, which will help you build your skills in strategy, teamwork, and competitive play. You’ll also participate in team challenges and sessions on communication and leadership, where you’ll learn how to guide a team, manage group dynamics, and even mentor others. Beyond gaming, you’ll analyze matches to spot strengths and weaknesses, adjust strategies to outsmart opponents, and explore career paths in esports such as professional gaming, coaching, streaming, event management, or other roles in this fast-growing industry.
10. CJC’s Summer Media Institute (SMI)
Location: College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: $949 (early registration fee) | $999 (regular registration fee)
Cohort Size: 120–160 students
Dates: June 22 – June 27
Application Deadline: Applications open on November 1; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The University of Florida’s Summer Media Institute (SMI) is a six-day workshop for high school students interested in journalism and communications. You’ll select from various specializations and electives and get to learn directly from UF instructors and industry professionals. Specializations include broadcast reporting, anchoring and hosting, feature and news writing, photojournalism, filmmaking, sports reporting, social media, and communication strategies. Electives cover areas like sports analytics, AI, body language in communication, sound design, graphic design, reality TV, public relations, screenwriting, and more, which you can select through a survey.
11. USF Wyndham Hospitality Experience
Location: Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Hotel, Clearwater, FL
Cost: $200
Cohort Size: Maximum 20 students
Dates: June 16 – June 20
Application Deadline: Applications open on February 1; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
The USF Wyndham Hospitality Experience introduces high school students to the fields of hospitality, tourism, and culinary arts. During the camp, you’ll explore how a luxury hotel runs by learning about housekeeping, catering, management, and the teamwork that goes into creating a great guest experience. You’ll also work with professional chefs, practicing plating, cooking techniques, and food presentation. You’ll work with your peers to design and run mock events, develop creative themes, and tackle challenges together.
12. Florida Atlantic University’s Ocean Engineering Summer Workshop
Location: Florida Atlantic University’s SeaTech Campus in Dania Beach, FL
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: 30–40 students
Dates: June 9 – June 12
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 14–17
Florida Atlantic University’s Ocean Engineering Summer Workshop allows students to participate in real research at the SeaTech Ocean Engineering Research Facility. It is offered by the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering. You will learn how core science topics, especially fluid mechanics, play a role in everyday life. You’ll start with basic programming and use those skills to design and program small robotic carts and drones that can complete simple autonomous tasks. The workshop also introduces Naval Architecture, where you’ll design and build small boats and then put them to the test in a team-based race at the end of the program.
13. University of Florida’s Gator Vet Camp
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Sessions 1 & 2) | South Florida (Session 3)
Cost: $1,200 (Sessions 1 & 2) | $800 (Session 3: Mini Vet Camp) + $25 non-refundable application fee
Cohort Size: Limited spots are available
Dates: June 8 – June 13 (Session 1) | June 22 – June 27 (Session 2) | July 6 – July 9 (Session 3: Mini Vet Camp)
Application Deadline: January 15 – March 3
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th graders can apply for Session 1, rising 12th graders can participate in Session 2, and Session 3 is open to students from certain South Florida counties
The Gator Vet Camp offers two one-week residential sessions for high school students interested in exploring veterinary medicine and college life. There’s also a four-day Mini Gator Vet Camp for students from select South Florida counties. Both programs include hands-on activities and exercises that highlight courses important for college readiness and allow you to explore careers in veterinary medicine. They’re especially geared toward students who are first-generation, from low-income backgrounds, or have had limited exposure to veterinary medicine but do have some experience with animals.
14. USF High School Robotics Camp
Location: DFX Lab, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $999.99; the residential add-on costs $995
Cohort Size: Maximum 30 students
Dates: June 23 – June 27 | July 7 – July 11
Application Deadline: Applications open on February 1; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
The USF High School Robotics Camp gives students hands-on experience in designing, building, and programming their own Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR). Using tools like Raspberry Pi, 3D printing, and advanced software, you’ll learn the full process, from basic robotics theory and circuit design to programming in Python. You’ll work with sensors, actuators, and other components to assemble a fully functional robot powered by Raspberry Pi. You’ll learn engineering and design principles, practice 3D printing, and use Linux and Raspberry Pi libraries to program your robot for real-world challenges. By the camp’s end, you’ll walk away with your completed robot, project files, and technical skills you can keep building on.
15. JMC Entrepreneurship Summer Camp
Location: Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, Tallahassee, FL
Cost: $100 registration fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: June 9 – June 13
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship hosts a week-long summer camp that allows students to explore entrepreneurship and experience college life firsthand. Guided by faculty and staff, you’ll work in groups to understand the importance of balanced teams and learn how startups are built and developed. Throughout the week, you’ll brainstorm business ideas, attend daily venture creation sessions, and design models. You’ll also meet industry professionals, hear from successful entrepreneurs, and visit local businesses and startups on field trips. At the end of the program, you’ll pitch your team’s venture to family and friends, showcasing what you’ve learned and created.
Image source – Floriday State University