If you’re in high school and want to dive deeper into something you’re curious about—whether that’s science, the arts, or anything in between—Rochester has plenty of ways for you to do it. From summer camps and research programs to internships and leadership opportunities, there are options for every interest.
Rochester is home to top universities like the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), as well as community organizations and nonprofits that run programs for teens. You might find yourself doing hands-on science in a university lab, exploring healthcare careers at a local hospital, honing your art skills at a creative workshop, or developing leadership skills through youth programs.
In this blog, we’re sharing 15 programs in Rochester that you can join—whether you’re looking for summer enrichment, academic exploration, or real-world experience during the school year.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by program; financial assistance available
Application deadline: Multiple cohorts are scheduled in a year with different application deadlines; the upcoming cohort’s applications are due on August 24
Program dates: Vary based on the cohort you choose; programs can run for 12 weeks to a year, depending on the chosen format
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers high schoolers interested in exploring an area of interest through research opportunities to work on mentored projects. Here, you will conduct independent research under the one-on-one mentorship of a Ph.D.-level expert. You can choose from various research areas, including engineering, psychology, health, business, and anthropology. Then, you and your mentor can decide on a topic in the chosen track. During the program, you will also have access to a writing coach, who will help you understand the research process and scientific writing. By the end of the program, you will have a complete university-level research paper! You can learn more about the available program formats, research areas, and application here.
2. Veritas AI: AI Scholars & AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid is offered
Application deadline: Program cohorts run all year; applications for the upcoming summer cohort are due on August 31
Program dates: Several cohorts each year; the AI Scholars runs for 10 weeks, and the AI Fellowship program runs for 12–15 weeks
Eligibility: High school students; to apply to the AI Scholars program, you must demonstrate an interest in artificial intelligence; for the AI Fellowship program, you need to be a former AI Scholar participant or have some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI offers multiple learning opportunities focused on artificial intelligence exploration. These programs have been developed and executed by Harvard graduate students and alumni. If applying to the beginner-friendly AI Scholars program, you will work with Ph.D. students from top institutions and learn about the applications of AI. Here, you will also learn how to work with Python and explore key machine learning, AI, and data science concepts. You can also opt for the AI Fellowship program, which offers you mentorship to help you develop your own unique project. In the past, Veritas AI program participants have worked on interdisciplinary projects that focus on AI’s applications in fields like sports, medicine, environmental science, and mental health. You can check out past projects here.
3. Rochester Institute of Technology’s Mobile App Development Camp
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Cost: $400; need-based financial aid available
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Program dates: August 4 – 8
Eligibility: Rising 6th–10th graders
Mobile App Development is a beginner-friendly, week-long day camp where you will learn how to build Android apps using MIT’s App Inventor. You will explore core programming concepts like variables, loops, and conditionals while designing interactive app interfaces with tools such as buttons, images, and labels. The program emphasizes hands-on learning and ends with a showcase where you will present your final app in a friendly competition. Tablets provided for the duration of the camp will be yours to keep after the program!
4. University of Rochester’s Pre-College Programs
Location: Online and in-person at the University of Rochester River Campus and the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
Cost: $500–$8,520; limited need-based financial aid available
Application deadline: Varying deadlines from February 28 to May 1, depending on the format and program you choose
Program dates: Multiple sessions from July 7 to 25
Eligibility: High school students
The University of Rochester’s Pre-College Programs offer high school students the chance to explore subjects like medicine, business, data science, engineering, and journalism through college-style courses led by university faculty. Available in full- and half-day formats, these programs emphasize hands-on learning—whether that’s performing organ dissections, conducting lab diagnostics, analyzing data, or designing interactive media. Tracks such as Mini Medical School and Explorations in Pathology can offer you a closer look at clinical and research environments, as well as mentorship from physicians. Across all offerings, you will find opportunities to build practical skills while developing research, academic, critical thinking, and collaboration skills.
5. Machine Learning Camp @ Rochester Institute of Technology
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Cost: $400; need-based financial aid is available.
Application deadline: Accepted on a rolling basis
Program dates: July 28 – August 1
Eligibility: Current high school students
The Machine Learning Camp at Rochester Institute of Technology is a week-long day program designed for high school students curious about AI and data science. This beginner-friendly camp can help you explore core concepts in machine learning, including classification, regression, data visualization, and algorithm evaluation, through a series of projects. Over five days, you will explore algorithms like K-Nearest Neighbors, Decision Trees, Support Vector Machines, and Random Forests. Guided by instructors, you will apply what you learn in practical challenges such as predicting house prices with the Boston housing dataset or classifying images using the MNIST and Fashion MNIST datasets. The program wraps up with a final independent project, where you will select your own dataset and design a machine learning model to solve a real-world problem.
6. RoboCamp @ Rochester Institute of Technology
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester, NY
Cost: $400; need-based financial aid is available.
Application deadline: Accepted on a rolling basis
Program dates: July 28 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising 8th–10th graders
RoboCamp @ RIT is a hands-on, week-long robotics day camp that introduces students to the fundamentals of designing, building, and programming robots. The camp caters to different grade levels and robotics experience. In its Expert camps, designed for rising 8th, 9th, and 10th graders, you will explore advanced robotics using Arduino microcontrollers and real-world sensors. You will apply core robotics and coding concepts to team-based projects and guided challenges, programming Arduino microcontrollers. In the process, you will get to refine technical skills and problem-solving ability.
7. RIT Imaging Science Summer Internship Program
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology campus, Rochester, NY
Stipend: Paid; amount not specified
Application deadline: Not specified
Program dates: July 9 – August 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in the greater Rochester area
RIT’s Imaging Science Summer Internship is a six-week paid summer program that offers rising high school seniors the chance to explore the future of imaging through research. As an intern, you will join a university lab team and contribute to real projects in areas such as machine learning, cultural heritage imaging, and remote sensing. You will work on assignments like reducing visual noise in videos from the International Space Station, restoring historical documents, and researching computer vision under sensing technologies. You will also engage in professional development workshops and team-building activities throughout the program.
8. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Opportunities available throughout the U.S., including in Rochester, NY. You will be assigned a mentor in your area within a 45-minute distance from your home.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a $3,000 stipend + trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit covered
Application deadline: January 19
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer; dates vary
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, as well as recent graduates who are at least 16 years old and live in the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Canada
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program offers paid internships to high school students interested in the fields of fisheries and aquatic science. As a Hutton Scholar, you will work alongside fisheries professionals, who serve as mentors, engaging in projects focusing on aquatic habitat protection, management, and restoration. The program offers insights into the life of a fisheries biologist and other careers in the animal and aquatic sciences. Additionally, you will take on tasks like examining aquatic specimens, conducting fish population surveys, electrofishing, and data processing. Also part of the program is an all-expense-paid four-night trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit, where you will attend sessions on college prep and explore fisheries as a field. You will present your project at the end of the internship.
9. Pharmacy Summer Camp @ St. John Fisher University
Location: St. John Fisher University’s Wegmans School of Pharmacy and Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NY
Cost: $300
Application deadline: July 31
Program dates: August 4 – 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates
The Pharmacy Summer Camp offers students a chance to explore careers in pharmacy through interactive, activity-based experiences. During the program, you will tour the Strong Memorial Hospital pharmacy, complete CPR and Narcan training, and participate in simulations and lab workshops such as compounding, antibiotic plating, and glow germ demonstrations. You will build clinical skills by practicing tasks like measuring blood pressure. Opportunities to meet current Fisher pharmacy students and faculty and take part in a community service activity are also part of the experience. The camp offers a college application info session and a guided campus tour.
10. University of Rochester’s Photon Camp
Location: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Cost: None
Application deadline: May 16
Program dates: June 30 – July 3
Eligibility: High school students in the greater Rochester area
Photon Camp is a free, week-long summer program that introduces rising high school juniors and seniors to the field of optics and optical engineering. Hosted by the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics, the camp features daily lectures from faculty, behind-the-scenes lab tours at both the Laser Lab and Monroe Community College, and hands-on projects conducted in university optics labs. Throughout the week, you will explore concepts like spectroscopy, holography, fiber splicing, laser technology, and solar energy. The program ends with a capstone presentation, where you will present your project to other participants, faculty, and family. Past projects have explored topics like thermal imaging, fluorescence, optical communication, and digital imaging.
11. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple locations in the country, including Monroe County/Rochester, NY
Stipend: Paid; amount not specified
Application deadline: January 15; application opens on October 14
Program dates: Eight-week summer internship starting soon after the end of the school year
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Bank of America offers high school students opportunities to work with local non-profit organizations through its Student Leaders Program. As a participant, you will explore different aspects of running a non-profit, participate in community service initiatives, and develop a clearer understanding of social issues. In the process, you will sharpen your social, civic, and business leadership skills. The program includes a week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where you will get insights into the collaborative efforts of the government, business, and non-profit sectors to address critical community needs.
12. Pittsford Summer Enrichment Institute
Location: Schools in Pittsford, NY (~10 minutes away from Rochester, NY)
Cost: ~$150/course
Application deadline: June 13
Program dates: Vary by course
Eligibility: High school students in the greater Rochester area
The Pittsford Summer Enrichment Institute (SEI) offers a wide range of academic and arts-focused summer programs for students in grades K–12 in and outside the Pittsford Central School District. Whether you are looking to sharpen your study skills, grow as a musician, or step into the spotlight with stand-up comedy, SEI provides learning opportunities in a relaxed, collaborative setting. For instance, you can refine skills like active reading and listening, time management, and material organization to tackle high school academics. Alternatively, you can join music ensembles like Clarinet or Saxophone Ensemble to play and perform with peers and prepare for a special family showcase. If you are interested in comedy and public speaking, the Stand-Up Comedy Showcase covers everything from joke structure to stage presence and ends with a live performance.
13. Summer High School Research Program @ Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Location: University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend (hourly wage) provided
Application deadline: March 10
Program dates: July 7 – August 29
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in the greater Rochester area
The Summer High School Research Program at the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) offers rising seniors in Rochester a paid research-based internship. As a participant, you will work alongside leading scientists and engineers on real research projects related to the lab’s laser systems, including the 60-beam OMEGA laser and the OMEGA EP. Throughout the summer, you will gain exposure to fields like laser physics, plasma physics, and materials science while receiving one-on-one mentorship and training. In addition to conducting research, you will attend weekly seminars on topics like optics, scientific communication, and emerging technologies. You will present your research at an end-of-program symposium and draft a research report that you can use when applying to colleges, scholarships, and internships.
14. Summer Art For Teens at Nazareth University
Location: Nazareth University Arts Center, Rochester, NY
Cost: Not specified
Application deadline: June 1
Program dates: July 7 – 25
Eligibility: Current high school students, ages 13–18
Summer Art for Teens is a three-week program designed for students with a passion for the visual arts. Taught by experienced faculty, including a professor from the Art and Design Department and two New York State Certified Art Teachers, the program offers instruction and hands-on experiences in drawing, painting, and printmaking. Here, you will get to sharpen your artistic skills and build a strong portfolio for college applications. The program ends with an art exhibition where you get to showcase your work.
15. Cardinal Nurse Camp @ St. John Fisher University
Location: St. John Fisher University’s Wegmans School of Nursing and Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, NY
Cost: $500
Application deadline: June 6
Program dates: July 7 – 11
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Cardinal Nurse Camp is a week-long summer program held at the Wegmans School of Nursing, designed to introduce high school students to the nursing profession through learning and practical exposure. You will learn life-saving skills like CPR and Stop the Bleed, take part in skill labs, explore nursing through virtual reality simulations, and shadow nurses at Rochester General Hospital. The camp also offers sessions on the college application process. You will get insights into pursuing a nursing degree through interactions with Fisher nursing alumni and current students.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in an area of your choice, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – St. John Fisher University