Are you a high school student interested in making kinesiology a career? If so, kinesiology summer programs open to high school students can be an excellent first step.
Kinesiology summer programs offer an accessible chance to go beyond classroom learning and experience the subject in a practical setting. These programs often cover topics like biomechanics, motor learning, injury prevention, and exercise prescription, and include lab sessions or research-based projects.
Beyond academics, kinesiology summer programs can help you demonstrate initiative and passion for the field, which could be a strong asset for your college applications. It can also help you figure out whether you want to pursue kinesiology, sports medicine, physical education, or health sciences as a career.
If you’re eager to explore how science and movement intersect and want hands-on exposure to the subject, below are 15 kinesiology summer programs for high school students that are worth a look.
15 Kinesiology Summer Programs for High School Students
1. NSU Kinesiology Summer Camp
Location: Northeastern State University, Broken Arrow, OK
Cost: $75
Dates: June 24 – 25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: All high school students
NSU’s Kinesiology Summer Camp is a two-day immersive program designed to introduce you to the science of human movement and performance. You’ll participate in interactive workshops on biomechanics, nutrition, injury prevention, rehabilitation sciences, and strength and conditioning, making science as engaging as sport. Sessions are led by experienced NSU professors and include hands-on activities such as CPR/AED training and athletic taping. Beyond academics, you’ll also gain exposure to diverse career paths in athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, and sports medicine. With its mix of lab experiments, skill-based workshops, and career exploration, this camp is a great opportunity to learn about kinesiology.
2. Penn State’s Where Sports and Science Meet
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
Cost: $299
Dates: June 24 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling until seats are filled
Eligibility: High school students aged 10 – 14 years
This program explores what happens inside the human body during different types of training and exercise. Across four days, you’ll rotate through applied learning sessions that range from sport performance tests and fitness assessments to athlete-level training techniques. You’ll also tour state-of-the-art Penn State facilities, including nutrition labs, performance analysis centers, and wellness training spaces. A unique highlight of the program is its focus on adaptive and disability sports, where you’ll gain hands-on experience with Paralympic-style training modifications. With a mix of team-building warmups, applied exercise learning, and guided workshops led by kinesiology experts, the camp introduces you to the science of sports in a highly interactive and engaging format.
3. Wake Forest’s Health and Exercise Science Institute
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,400; need-based scholarships are available
Dates: Typically first week of June
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Current 9th – 12th grade students
This weeklong institute introduces high school students to the fundamentals of health, exercise, and wellness through a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on labs. You’ll explore core topics such as cardiovascular and pulmonary health, muscle function, physical therapy, rehabilitation, sports nutrition, and careers in exercise science. Faculty-led labs allow you to practice real-world testing procedures, from measuring heart rate and blood pressure to conducting pulmonary assessments and electromyography (EMG). You’ll also tour campus and community health facilities, offering a glimpse into the professional environments where exercise science is applied. While the program does not carry academic credit, you’ll graduate with an official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.
4. Kinesiology: Pathway to the Medical Professions
Location: UMass Amherst Campus, Amherst, MA
Cost: Residential: $3,907 | Commuter: $2,262; scholarships are available
Dates: June 29 – July 12
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early application encouraged
Eligibility: Rising sophomores to seniors
Pathway to the Medical Professions is a two-week course that introduces you to kinesiology as a pathway into medical and health professions. Through a mix of lectures, team-based lab experiments, and off-site fieldwork, you’ll explore topics in physiology, biomechanics, metabolism, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, and neuroscience. You will know more about muscles and bones, training, mobility techniques, and the application of nutrition. The program also emphasizes applied learning, with opportunities to test personal fitness levels and create individualized fitness plans. You’ll also become CPR/AED certified, gaining practical skills alongside academic insight.
5. University of Connecticut Pre-College’s Sports Medicine
Location: University of Connecticut, CT
Cost: $1,513 to $8,650 depending on number and type of courses (credit, non-credit) + additional $120 – $250 course fees for non-credit courses non-refundable $50 application fee; for more details, click here; need-based discounts and scholarships are available
Dates: Vary as per sessions
Application Deadline: Varies as per session
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors aged between 15-17 years
The Sports Medicine program at UConn provides an in-depth look at the prevention, recognition, and treatment of medical emergencies in sports, military, and occupational settings. You’ll learn directly from the experienced staff at the Korey Stringer Institute, a nationally recognized leader in sports medicine. Through interactive presentations and hands-on labs, you’ll practice emergency response skills for life-threatening conditions and gain knowledge of the most pressing medical concerns in sports and physical activity. Topics include cardiovascular events, exertional heat illnesses, concussions, traumatic injuries, and other causes of sudden death during exercise. You’ll develop a foundational understanding of sports-related medical issues and receive practical training in prevention and first aid care.
6. Rutgers Pre-College Physical Therapy Summer Academy
Location: Rutgers-New Brunswick, New Jersey
Cost: Residential (In-State): $3,549.50; Residential (Out of State): $4,343 | Commuter (In-State): $2,749.50; Commuter (Out of State): $3, 705
Dates: Residential: July 13 – 19 | Commuter: August 4 – 8
Application Deadline: Domestic student: May 23 | International student: April 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors between ages 16 and 18 | Minimum 3.0 GPA | English proficiency
The Physical Therapy Summer Academy at Rutgers offers you the chance to explore one of the fastest-growing health professions while earning 1.5 college credits through the course, Foundations of Kinesiology and Health. You’ll learn about the physical therapy field and the Exercise Science major, which serves as a pathway to Rutgers’ Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) graduate program. Throughout the week, you’ll receive academic advising, meet with professionals and current DPT students, and gain exposure to the wide range of career opportunities within the field. The program includes tours of Rutgers’ Functional Human Anatomy Labs and the DPT Graduate Program Campus. You’ll leave with valuable firsthand insight into physical therapy careers.
7. University of Miami Summer Scholars: Sports Medicine – Athletic Performance & Injury Management
Location: Coral Gables, Florida
Cost: Residential: $9,532; Commuter: $8,144 + $75 application fee; limited scholarships are available
Dates: June 30 – July 17
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 and 11 | Minimum 3.0 GPA
The University of Miami’s Sports Medicine Program offers high school students the chance to spend three weeks exploring Sports Medicine and Exercise Science. The curriculum includes two hands-on courses. Introduction to Athletic Training helps you learn to identify common sports injuries, understand their causes, and explore methods of treatment and prevention, including practical skills like athletic taping and bracing. Foundations in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition Science introduces exercise prescription and nutrition fundamentals, highlighting their impact on performance, health, and longevity. Each class combines theory with experiential learning. Enrollment is limited to 25 students, ensuring personalized guidance and small-group interaction.
8. Boston Leadership Institute’s Intro to Sports Medicine
Location: Greater Wellesley, MA (Olin College) & Waltham, MA (Gann/Bentley)
Cost: $699 for one week
Dates: Session 1: July 21 – 25 (Olin College) | Session 2: July 28 – August 1 (Gann/Bentley)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: All high school students
Intro to Sports Medicine is a one-week summer program designed for teens interested in pre-med, sports, and health sciences. The course introduces you to the medical methods that help athletes perform at their best, recover from injuries, and prevent future ones. Topics include physical therapy, orthopedics, surgery, concussion research, and more. You’ll gain hands-on experience in advanced rehabilitation and performance techniques, making this program especially engaging for athletes and sports enthusiasts curious about careers in medicine. Each day in the program teaches a different subject – casts, mental health, nutrition, anatomy, and more. The program also involves several interactive and physical activities.
9. UC San Diego Sports Medicine Summer Academy
Location: San Diego, CA
Cost: $3,500
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The UC San Diego Sports Medicine Summer Academy is an intensive three-week program where you get hands-on experience in the field of musculoskeletal and sports medicine through interactive lectures, clinical skill-building, and research projects. You learn directly from UCSD’s nationally recognized faculty while covering topics such as anatomy, sports injury prevention and treatment, concussion research, exercise science, and mental health in athletics. Learning methods include lectures, case-based group exercises, student-led research, and experiential activities such as field trips and sideline evaluation practice. By the end of the academy, you’ll have expanded your knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology and explored treatment methods for common sports injuries.
10. University of Texas’s Longhorns Sports Medicine Camp
Location: Austin, TX
Cost: Residential: $699 | Day Commute: $629; discounts available
Dates: June 13 – 16
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students ages 12-18 (inclusive of rising freshmen who have just completed their 8th grade year)
This camp offers high school students the chance to explore athletic training through hands-on learning and expert instruction. You’ll gain exposure to key areas of sports medicine, including anatomy basics, injury evaluation, rehabilitation, treatment methods, and emergency management. With both basic and advanced tracks, the program accommodates students at all levels of experience. Sessions combine classroom instruction and lab work, covering topics such as athletic taping, splinting, concussion assessment, and treatment of common injuries to the shoulder, knee, and ankle. The camp provides practical skills that you can take back to your athletic programs while preparing for future opportunities in sports medicine.
11. Missouri State’s Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Camp
Location: Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Cost: Resident: $400 | Commuter: $325
Dates: June 15 – 18
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: All high school students, including those who’ll begin 9th grade in the fall and those who are graduating in the spring of the application year
The Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Camp at Missouri State University offers you a chance to explore a wide variety of health-related professions while gaining hands-on experience. You’ll learn practical skills in areas such as athletic training, dietetics, physical therapy, exercise science, radiography, and health education. Sessions are designed to introduce core health care concepts, from injury evaluation and treatment to public health and physician assistantship. The camp balances structured classroom and lab experiences with social activities like sports, gaming, and campus events, giving you a taste of college life. At the end of the week, you’ll test your new skills in the lively Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Olympics.
12. National Youth Leadership Forum Advanced Medicine & Health Care
Location: Washington, D.C
Cost: $5,699; financial aid is available
Dates: June 24 – July 3; July 6 – 15; July 18 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years old
The National Youth Leadership Forum Advanced Medicine & Health Care is a 10-day program that gives high school students a rare opportunity to step into the shoes of a physician. You’ll engage in interactive workshops, medical simulations, and small-group activities that mirror real-life medical scenarios, including performing a simulated fracture reduction. Led by practicing health care professionals, the program covers core skills such as venipuncture, suturing, aseptic techniques, and patient evaluation. You’ll also participate in specialized Apprentice Doctor workshops and gain exposure to cutting-edge medical knowledge through site visits, including a unique experience at the University of Maryland medical school.
13. Youth Adventure Program’s Kinesiology & Sports Medicine
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: $1,299; scholarships are available
Dates: July 6 – 11
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18
The Youth Adventure Program (YAP) offers a specialized one-week session in Kinesiology and Sports Medicine for students eager to explore careers in athletic training, sports physiology, and human performance. You’ll gain access to the university’s Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance, where you’ll learn cutting-edge methods in fitness assessment, injury treatment, and rehabilitation. You’ll also explore exercise physiology, sports nutrition, and modern athletic monitoring technologies such as smart watches and state-of-the-art lab equipment. The program culminates with a case study presentation to Texas A&M coaches, student-athletes, and faculty, where you can showcase strategies for training and conditioning Olympic-level athletes.
14. Boise State University’s Movement Academy
Location: Boise State University, Boise, ID
Cost: $250 + $2.75 per hour for parking
Dates: June 2 – 25 & 3 – 26 | July 7 – 30 & 8 – 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 – 17
The Movement Academy at Boise State University offers a hands-on, science-based training program for high school students interested in exercise, kinesiology, and human performance. You can choose between two tracks: the Athletic Performance Camp, focused on speed, power, agility, and sport-specific strength, or the Health & Fitness Camp, which emphasizes functional movement, cardiovascular health, and lifelong fitness habits. Led by faculty and graduate students in the School of Kinesiology, the program incorporates research-backed methods aligned with NSCA and ACSM guidelines. Small group sessions ensure personalized coaching, while weekly educational workshops cover topics like nutrition, recovery, and training principles. You’ll gain both practical experience in strength and conditioning and foundational knowledge in human movement science.
15. St. Mary’s College of California’s KINES 100
Location: St. Mary’s College of California, Moraga, CA
Cost: $2,100; scholarships are available
Dates: June 9 – 27
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
KINES 100: Introduction to Kinesiology explores the study of human movement through a blend of historical, philosophical, sociological, and scientific perspectives. You’ll examine the cultural and developmental significance of sport, athletics, and exercise while also engaging with topics in U.S. health behaviors, nutrition, and public health. A highlight of the course is time spent in the Human Performance Laboratory, where you gain hands-on experience measuring health and fitness parameters such as VO2 max, lactate threshold, heart rate, and body composition. You will design and carry out a mini-experiment on a variable of your choice, such as the effects of caffeine, dehydration, or heat exposure, culminating in an oral presentation of your findings.
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 – St. Mary’s College of California