If you’re interested in exploring a subject beyond what’s offered in your high school classes, online camps can be a flexible and accessible way to do so. Because these programs are fully virtual, you can participate from anywhere without worrying about travel, housing, or location constraints.
Why Online Camps Are a Strong Option
Online camps are usually short, focused, and built around a specific subject area, which makes them easier to balance alongside school or other commitments. Most programs combine live instruction with hands-on activities, small projects, and guided practice, helping you apply what you’re learning in real time. Rather than passively watching lectures, you’re actively engaging with the material.
Another advantage of online camps is access. Virtual formats allow you to explore advanced or niche topics such as coding, engineering, creative writing, research methods, or social sciences that may not be available through your school or local programs. You also get the chance to learn from instructors and peers from different backgrounds, which adds perspective and depth to the experience.
If you are looking for camps within a single field, check out our curated lists of marine biology, robotics, psychology, and chemistry camps!
1. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Online
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 64 students/year
Application deadline: February 2
Dates: Session One: June 15 – July 3 | Session Two: July 6 – 24
Cost: $3,750; financial aid offered
SUMaC is an online camp that combines daily lectures and problem-solving sessions to guide you through advanced math topics within number theory, algebra, and topology. As a participant, you will spend time working through proofs and extended exercises that mirror the pace of a college class. This setup gives you opportunities to practice abstract reasoning. During the sessions, historical context is woven in so you can see how different mathematical ideas have developed. Collaboration is encouraged through group discussions and support from instructors and graduate assistants. The session ends with a final presentation, where you will share your math research project with peers and faculty.
2. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Online
Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive teens, ages 13–18
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective; first-come, first-served
Application deadline: Typically, March/April; TBA
Dates: Multiple two-week sessions
Cost: Free!
Kode With Klossy’s Summer Camps are free two-week programs that introduce you to emerging tech fields. You will join a track like web development, machine learning, mobile app development, or data science, based on your background. Each track covers core concepts within a computer science/tech field and offers opportunities to use the newly learned skills to build an output you can present. Depending on the track, you might work with peers to design a website, build an app, train a model, or analyze a dataset. You will also attend sessions led by guest speakers, who will share their experiences from tech-related fields.
3. Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research Biomedical Camps
Location: Online options available
Eligibility: Students, ages 14–18; younger students eligible for select sessions
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Rolling
Dates: Multiple workshops from June to August
Cost: $510–$1,100; financial aid available
Rosetta’s online workshops allow you to dive into biology, biomedical informatics, genetics, and other related fields through lectures and hands-on exercises. Each session begins with foundational lectures that introduce topics such as genetics, molecular biology, or disease mechanisms. You will then move on to guided tasks such as interpreting lab data or working through experimental design scenarios. Certain sessions also cover areas like bioinformatics or drug development for deeper exploration. Each workshop concludes with a small project related to a gene, pathway, or disease of your choice.
4. Rice University RNS NeuroCamp
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Application deadline: First-come, first-served enrollment from March
Dates: One-day camp; dates TBA
Cost: Free
RNS NeuroCamp is a one-day virtual camp that allows you to explore topics like neuron function, neuroanatomy, neurological disorders, and computational neuroscience. You will attend sessions and demonstrations to dive into neuroscience topics beyond the high school curriculum. You will also complete simple at-home experiments designed by the instructional team. Career and college panels are also part of the program, allowing you to interact with current Rice University students to explore academic paths within neuroscience.
5. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center Virtual Camps
Location: Online
Eligibility: Middle and high school students; grade-level requirements vary by camp
Acceptance rate: Open registration
Application deadline: None
Dates: Available on demand year-round
Cost: $420/camp
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory runs on-demand virtual camps for middle and high schoolers interested in exploring genetics and molecular biology. During the camp, you will dive into biological techniques while engaging in activities involving PCR, DNA sequencing, or genetic variation analysis. Each camp offers a combination of video guidance and physical materials, providing prerecorded instruction and a mailed lab kit that includes materials for hands-on experiments. Additionally, access to online tools will help you analyze DNA sequences and explore bioinformatics concepts. You will also have access to optional video chats with instructors, allowing you to ask questions and track your progress.
6. Indiana University Luddy Cybersecurity Immersion Camp
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Application deadline: Applications open in January
Dates: June 15 – 19
Cost: $300
This Indiana University camp introduces you to core cybersecurity concepts, along with exposure to how artificial intelligence relates to security challenges through team-based activities and guided practice with tools such as Wireshark and Nmap. You will also learn through structured lessons and small group project work. This setup provides steady exposure to technical skills, even if you are new to the field of cybersecurity. You will spend the week working on a group project that reflects the tools and methods you learned.
7. New York Film Academy Teen Camps
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 17
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Varies by camp
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Cost: Varies; scholarships available
The New York Film Academy offers virtual camps for teens interested in exploring acting, animation, or filmmaking through project-based learning experiences. Depending on the track you choose, you will begin with an introduction to filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, photography, animation, or game design. Then, you will spend most of your time completing project-based assignments that mirror real creative workflows. You will have access to the support of instructors and professionals as you produce a finished piece in your chosen area. Instructors will also offer feedback during scheduled critique sessions to help refine your work. The experience can help you build collaboration and presentation skills.
8. Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep Virtual Camps
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: May 1
Dates: Week-long camps in June and July; dates vary by camp
Cost: $300 or $350, depending on the camp you choose
Elevate College Prep’s virtual camps allow you to explore STEM topics like coding, robotics, AI, and data science. You can choose multiple tracks to explore different parts of the tech and science world. Each camp offers hands-on learning opportunities and exposure to real problem-solving while introducing you to college-level STEM. Additionally, you will have access to the guidance of mentors while you build skills in robotics, design, math, or engineering. Depending on the camp you choose, you will work on assignments and projects to connect what you learn to real scenarios.
9. University of Colorado Denver GenCyber Summer Camp
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students in Colorado
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Open till full
Dates: July 15 – 19
Cost: Free
CU Denver’s GenCyber Summer Camp is an opportunity to explore cybersecurity, digital forensics, and ethical hacking. You will study basic computer and networking systems, learn about common cyberattacks, and configure secure systems using firewalls and VPNs. You will investigate cyber intrusions, perform penetration testing, and identify how attackers exploit personal data. The curriculum covers digital forensics, data-hiding techniques, ethical frameworks for cybersecurity behavior and privacy, and the ethical considerations of smart devices and wearables. You will also attend lab sessions, work with Kali Linux and Raspberry Pi, run virtual simulations, and participate in exercises focused on online safety and data privacy.
10. ACS High School Program/Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old; additional requirements can vary by host organization/university.
Cohort size: ~20 students/program
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates vary by year and host
Application deadline: Varies by year and host
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a $500 taxable stipend is offered
The American Cancer Society’s High School Program, also known as SHE in Oncology, is a multi-institutional camp-like program hosted by cancer centers throughout the country. Here, you will attend virtual lectures and discussions covering topics in cancer care and cancer science. You will also work on a genetics-based research project and a patient case study in collaboration with peers across institutions. You will also receive your own laboratory kit to run experiments at home. Additionally, the program offers professional development opportunities and panel discussions led by cancer research and care professionals.
11. Diabetes Virtual Camp
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students, college students, medical professionals, and researchers
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: TBA
Dates: August 4 – 15
Cost: Free
Supported by the American Diabetes Association, the diabetes virtual camp is a free online camp offering exposure to diabetes research, education, and care. As a participant, you will attend 13 sessions led by clinicians and diabetes researchers. You will complete modules that cover topics like social determinants of health in diabetes development, types of diabetes, diagnostic criteria, and the effects of fructose on glucose metabolism. You will engage in a Q&A session at the start of each day and an open mic session at the end of the day. Additionally, the program runs academic-focused sessions covering the admission process and medical school and graduate school pathways.
12. University of Texas Southwestern Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Remote
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in the U.S. or on U.S. armed forces bases or diplomatic posts
Cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: February 2
Dates: June 1 – 5 and June 8 – 12 (two-week commitment)
Cost/Stipend: None
The Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a virtual camp-like program run by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center for high schoolers interested in exploring careers in mental health. Over two weeks, you will connect with mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, physician assistants, licensed social workers, and neuropsychologists. Through online sessions, professionals will share their experiences, offering you insights into pursuing a career in psychology/. Additionally, you will learn about fields like psychotherapy, community psychiatry, neuroscience, interventional psychiatry, and neuropsychological testing.
13. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 or older and U.S. citizens; those with prior experience in a healthcare project and/or strong math or computer programming skills are preferred
Cohort size: ~25
Application deadline: February 28
Dates: June 16 – 27
Cost/Stipend: $850 + a $40 application fee; no stipend; fee waivers available
This two-week virtual camp-like program is designed for high school students interested in learning about AI within the context of healthcare innovation. As an intern, you will explore how AI can be used to tackle challenges in healthcare and work on addressing a real medical problem using AI tools. You will work with a team on research projects and engage in social activities, virtual group work sessions, and career-focused sessions led by guest speakers from various professional backgrounds. Additionally, you will have access to mentorship offered by researchers and Stanford students. Upon completing the program, you will be eligible for an extended academic year research opportunity.
14. Shooting Stars Foundation Bioinformatics Winter Camp
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; 37 participants in the past
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment
Dates: Varies; typically runs for five days
Cost: TBA; ~$300 – $360 in the past
Shooting Stars Foundation is a nonprofit that offers a virtual camp experience for students interested in the combination of research and programming. The camp covers the basics of drug development and programming, and allows you to practice what you learn by working on a data science project and presenting it at the end of the camp. You will learn from and connect with professionals in the biotechnology industry at camp. As a participant, you will also have access to guidance on building a college portfolio.
15. WIE RISE! An Introduction to Engineering Research
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders; designed for women in engineering, but open to all
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Application deadline: TBA; opens mid-January
Dates: July 27 – 31
Cost: None
This camp-like virtual program offers high schoolers an introduction to engineering research through sessions and exercises led by current University of Maryland undergraduates. Over the course of five days, you will explore multiple engineering disciplines by learning about UMD’s research labs and running at-home engineering experiments. You will also learn how to read and write research papers. The program features live Q&A sessions where you get to interact with undergraduate student mentors about STEM pathways, campus life, and diversity in engineering.
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 – Kode With Klossy