As a high school student, participating in programs that go beyond the school curriculum and help you explore new interests can be a great way to spend your free time. If you’re based in Tempe, AZ, you’re in luck!
Tempe, Arizona, is home to multiple educational institutions, research centers, and community organizations that provide high school students with such opportunities. These programs can help you build advanced skill sets across disciplines such as STEM, computer science, business, arts, and social sciences.
Local programs can also help you explore advanced concepts through mentorship, college prep guidance, project work, field trips, networking opportunities, writing and presentation, and technical activities without having to move cities or states. In the process, you can build key skills like problem-solving, communication, and collaboration, and acquire the tools relevant to your fields of interest.
Also, participating in local programs not only reduces costs associated with travel and housing but also allows you to connect with mentors and peers within your own community. Whether you are looking for summer programs, year-round mentorships, or paid internships, Tempe offers a variety of pathways that align with your interests and goals.
Here we have listed 15 programs for high school students in Tempe, Arizona.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort sizes vary
Dates: Year-round cohorts lasting 12 weeks to a year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records (recommended GPA 3.3+)
Lumiere’s virtual Research Scholar Program allows you to design and conduct an independent research project in the field of your choice, with opportunities available across disciplines like psychology, biology, chemistry, math, engineering, neuroscience, social sciences, and business, among other areas. You will work one-on-one with a mentor, choose a topic/research question, conduct a literature review, and engage in scientific writing. The program offers support for both experimental and computational research. Through structured workshops and personalized guidance, you will build skills in data analysis, research design, and academic writing. Your final deliverable will be a publication-ready paper, which will showcase your technical and analytical capabilities.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines for each cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12; no prior experience needed for AI Scholars; Familiarity with Python or AI Scholars completion required for AI Fellowship
For students interested in exploring artificial intelligence, Veritas AI offers multiple learning options. As a high school student, you can choose from two focused AI tracks. The AI Scholars is a bootcamp that covers core AI/ML concepts and Python programming through 10 live sessions and practical coding exercises. The AI Fellowship extends over 12–15 weeks, pairing you with Ph.D.-level mentors to develop tailored AI projects in finance, medicine, gaming, or sports analytics. As an AI Fellowship participant, you will apply advanced machine learning techniques and research practices to a publishable or presentable project.
3. Arizona State University’s Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program (JBMSHP)
Location: Arizona State University (ASU) Tempe Campus, Tempe, AZ
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate: Competitive; exact details not specified
Dates: June 1 – July 11
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.25 unweighted GPA, A or B grades in math/science, and ≥3 years of high school math completed; applicants must have Arizona residency for ≥2 years and qualify for in-state tuition. Seniors applying to the program must be accepted to ASU for Fall 2025; selection prioritizes first-generation and economically disadvantaged students.
JBMSHP is a six-week intensive residential program where you take a three-credit university-level math course—College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus for Engineers—at ASU. The program emphasizes college readiness, academic discipline, and peer networking. Here, daily classes, exams, tutoring sessions, and academic success workshops will offer you a glimpse into college rigor. You will reside on campus and engage with peers throughout the program. You will also learn about STEM majors and careers.
4. AZ Summer Camp: Logic, Leadership, & Life Skills @ ASU
Location: Multiple ASU Campuses, including the Tempe campus, AZ
Cost: $350
Dates: Multiple 4-day sessions from May 27 to July 25 | Business Executive Leadership session: July 21–25
Acceptance rate: Selective; cohort size varies; Business Executive Leadership session accepts 20 students
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students, ages 12–18 (7th–12th grade)
The AZ Summer Camp is a four-day youth program that combines licensed professional development training with leadership and life skills curriculum adapted from college-level courses. You will focus on goal setting, emotional mastery, and value-driven leadership through interactive sessions led by certified teen life coaches. The schedule includes leadership training and optional college/career prep. The program also covers personal growth topics, such as stress reduction and confidence building. The program concludes with a family award ceremony, where you will get a leadership training certificate worth 20 credit hours, and you may get to deliver presentations.
15. ASU’s Finding F.R.E.D.: A Chain-Reaction Mystery Competition
Location: ASU Chandler Innovation Center, Tempe, AZ
Cost/Awards: $5 registration fee and materials kit valued at $200 provided for free to each team; prizes worth over $3,000 available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: One-day event on March 29
Application deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Open to all ages, including families, school groups, robotics teams, and college students
Finding F.R.E.D. is a team-based STEAM competition that challenges you to design and build a chain-reaction machine that can unravel the disappearance of the Friendly Robotic Engineering Droid (F.R.E.D.). Over the course of four hours, your team will receive expert mentorship from engineers and storytellers to come up with both mechanical and narrative solutions for the mystery. You will engage in creative problem-solving, engineering design, and collaborative storytelling. You will compete with other teams to win prizes, which are awarded to recognize top performances as well as creativity. Although this is unlike a traditional program, the competition can provide program-like practical exposure to physics and engineering concepts.
5. ASU Figures in Motion Camp
Location: ASU School of Art campus, Tempe, AZ
Cost: $450
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size varies
Dates: June 2 – 5
Application deadline: May 29
Eligibility: Students, ages 13–18
Figures in Motion at ASU School of Art is a drawing-focused camp that helps you explore traditional hand-drawn animation techniques through guided sessions and activities covering the process of animating live models and objects in motion. You will study anatomy, structure, and dynamics such as balance and reactive force to accurately capture the human figure in sequential drawings. Historical animation methods are covered alongside practical exercises in image sequencing to produce an animated video. The program offers technical skill development opportunities, art history exploration, and personalized instructor feedback in a studio environment. All materials are provided.
6. ASU’s Through the Lens: The Art of Analog Photography Camp
Location: ASU School of Art campus, Tempe, AZ
Cost: $450
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size varies
Dates: May 27 – 30
Application deadline: May 22
Eligibility: Students ages 13–18
This four-day camp introduces teens to traditional analog photography techniques, including using film cameras and darkroom printing. You will learn foundational photography principles and develop skills in image storytelling through hands-on practice. By the end of the program, you will have your own printed images and walk away with reusable film. The camp is designed to enhance artistic growth through personalized feedback from specialized instructors. All necessary materials are provided.
7. Arizona State University’s Young Adult Writing Program
Location: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Cost: $325
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size varies
Application deadline: Session A: May 23 | Session B: June 6
Dates: Session A: June 2 – 13 | Session B: June 16 – 27
Eligibility: Students in grades 2–12
The Young Adult Writing Program (YAWP) is a part of the Central Arizona Writing Project. YAWP provides students with opportunities to develop writing skills in a low-pressure, creative setting. As a participant, you will learn about different forms of writing while working alongside other young writers. Each camp focuses on a distinct theme and offers a variety of writing activities to help you gain experience in poetry, autobiographical pieces, short stories, persuasive writing, and nature or science-based content. Daily workshops will allow you to practice writing, reflecting, and sharing your work with peers. At the end of the camp, you will submit a final piece that will be included in a published anthology, highlighting your progress over the course of the program.
8. ASU’s Camp Broadway® Mainstage
Location: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Cost: $700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size varies
Application deadline: Until slots are full
Dates: June 16 – 20
Eligibility: Students, ages 10 to 17
Camp Broadway® Mainstage is a five-day program for students interested in exploring theatre and the art of performance. The camp focuses on helping you develop skills in scene study, improvisation, acting, singing, and dancing. Led by professionals with backgrounds in New York theater, the program offers you an opportunity to learn different aspects of stage performance. You will engage in music theory workshops and group activities that help you build teamwork and communication skills. Key highlights of the week are attending a performance of “Life of Pi” on Broadway and engaging in a lunch discussion with members of the cast. At the end of the camp, you will participate in a final showcase for family and friends, applying what you have learned during the week.
9. Career Ready Tempe Program
Location: Assigned business site in Tempe, AZ
Stipend: Paid at $15/hour for a commitment of up to 120 hours (20 hours/week over six weeks)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June – July; 6-week program
Application deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are Tempe residents, 16+, and authorized to work in the U.S.; applicants must have a minimum 2.0 unweighted GPA
The Career Ready Tempe program is an internship opportunity that matches you with local Tempe businesses across various fields, including bioscience, engineering, digital communications, and business management. You will gain hands-on workplace experience complemented by in-person and online soft skills training via Arizona State University’s Edge program. In the process, you will earn certificates to enhance your resume. A College Connect Advisor will help you with career and educational planning throughout the program. Participation in the program can earn you half a career exploration elective credit if you attend a Tempe Union High School.
10. ASU Prep Summer School
Location: Online
Cost: $0 for current full-time ASU Prep students and Arizona public school part-time students (state-funded) | $480 for each 0.5 credit per session for Arizona part-time students (grades 6–12) exceeding free credit limit | University concurrent courses: $675 for three credit hours (AZ/US students) or $1,075 for three credit hours (international students)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; course size varies
Dates: Summer School Session: July 7 – August 1 | University courses: July 2 – August 12
Application deadline: June 13
Eligibility: K–12 ASU Prep students, Arizona public school students, Arizona ESA students, and international students are eligible for specific programs; for university courses, high school students in grades 9–12 can apply.
ASU Prep’s Summer School provides personalized online academic support while you engage in core courses (math, science, English, and social studies), language courses (Spanish and American Sign Language), and elective options. As a high school student, you can also enroll in concurrent university courses to earn both high school and college credits, accelerating college readiness. Courses span various disciplines, including medicine, art history, math, law, technology, engineering, and more. The program relies on adaptive software and expert instruction to cater to diverse learning needs, from credit recovery to academic enrichment and acceleration.
11. ASU’s National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI)
Location: ASU Tempe Campus, Tempe, AZ
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive, limited spots
Dates: June 15 – June 20
Application deadline: April 21
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th graders who reside in Arizona or are in the state for the summer
NSTI is an opportunity for high schoolers to explore the engineering behind Arizona’s transportation systems through a week-long residential camp on ASU’s Tempe campus. The curriculum is designed to highlight applications of engineering principles in transportation infrastructure and encourage exploration of engineering careers. You will collaborate with ASU engineering faculty and peers while engaging in transportation-related projects focused on safe, sustainable, and efficient transit. The program offers learning experiences, field trips, and residential stay in the Engineering Residential Community to help you get a glimpse into the daily work of engineers.
12. Digital Culture Summer Institute
Location: ASU Tempe Campus, Tempe, AZ
Cost: $150–$250/course
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 9 – 20
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 12–18
The Digital Culture Summer Institute provides project-focused, interdisciplinary workshops blending arts, media, computer science, engineering, and technology. Here, you will engage with ASU faculty and graduate students in sessions covering coding, AI, 3D printing, game design, animation, and video production. Classes will introduce you to tools like Minecraft Education, Unreal Engine, Swift Playground, Blender, and Adobe video software. You will build coding skills, learn digital modeling, develop AI literacy, and practice media editing techniques. The program activities can help you refine problem-solving skills and design thinking.
13. ASU’s César E. Chávez Leadership Institute
Location: ASU Tempe Campus, Tempe, AZ
Cost: $50 non-refundable registration fee
Cohort size: 60 (based on previous year’s data)
Dates: June 22 – 25
Application deadline: Priority registration deadline: February 26; Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Arizona high school students entering grades 11 and 12
César E. Chávez Leadership Institute is a residential program designed to help high schoolers cultivate leadership skills with a focus on servant leadership, civic engagement, and Hispanic/Latinx empowerment. Here, you will engage in workshops on identity, college readiness, financial literacy, and community service. The program offers support for high school completion and college access with academic follow-up events during the school year. As a participant, you will develop frameworks for personal and community leadership, gain practical skills in advocacy, and develop organizational understanding relevant to educational and social equity.
14. Barrett Summer Scholars @ ASU
Location: ASU campuses in Tempe, Downtown Phoenix, West Valley, and Polytechnic, AZ
Cost: $800, includes $50 non-refundable registration fee
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: Rising 9th graders: June 1 – 4 (Tempe Campus) | Rising 10th graders: June 8 – 11 (Downtown Campus) | Rising 11th graders: June 15 – 18 (West Valley Campus) | Rising 12th graders: June 22 – 25 (Polytechnic Campus)
Application deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th and 10th graders with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 and rising 11th and 12th graders with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.25
The Barrett Summer Scholars program offers academically motivated high school students a college-level learning experience across multiple campuses. Here, you will explore college and career options through one of five called T.R.A.C.K.s or elective pathways—Technology and Engineering, Research and Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Commerce and Business, and Kinetics and Health. Based on the pathway you choose, you will develop skills relevant to the academic and career options within the track. You will engage in college-level coursework and collaborate with peers from across Arizona during the program.
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 – Arizona State University