Looking to explore STEM but can’t commit to a full-time program? Consider a STEM camp!
STEM camps give you a chance to go beyond the classroom and dive into science, technology, engineering, or math through hands-on, project-based learning in a short, focused manner. Whether you’re coding your first app, exploring biomedical research, or building prototypes, these programs are designed to help you apply concepts in real-world settings while gaining valuable technical skills along the way.
What are STEM camps for high school students? Why should I apply?
Unlike traditional school programs, STEM camps are short, intensive, and focused on exploration. They let you experiment, problem-solve, and collaborate with peers who share your interests, often with guidance from professionals or university instructors. This kind of early exposure can be a key step in figuring out what you want to study in college or pursue as a career.
Below, you’ll find 13 STEM camps for high school students that offer immersive learning, mentorship, and the chance to explore different fields within science and tech.
13 STEM Camps for High School Students
1. Engineering & Computer Science Camp
Location: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $2,700 (early bird pricing)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application Deadline: Applications open in Spring and are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th graders with a minimum score of 85 (80 if enrolled in advanced courses) in Math, Science & English, and at least 70 in other subjects
The University of Texas organizes various STEM camps for school students across different grade levels. As a high school student, you can take advantage of the Engineering & Computer Science Camp, where you will learn about concepts like real-world engineering, computational thinking, computer programming, technology development, and more. Supported by university staff and student interns, the camp offers a more relaxed experience, allowing you to concentrate solely on acquiring knowledge. The curriculum features lab tours, seminars led by career experts, and additional activities designed to aid your future college and career planning.
2. High School Ecology, Conservation and Outreach STEM Camp
Location: Thomas More University Biology Field Station, Crestview Hills, KY
Cost: $400 (financial assistance available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~15
Dates: July 13 – 16
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising high school students
The High School ECO STEM camp is a four-day, overnight camp at the Thomas More University Biology Field Station that combines hands-on learning with environmental conservation. Taught by university professors and researchers, the curriculum focuses on ecology and conservation, particularly activities that help preserve the ecology of the Ohio River and its watersheds. The experience provides a hands-on taste of being a biologist or ecologist and allows you to contribute directly to environmental preservation efforts.
3. Valor Academies: Week in the Life of a Nurse
Location: Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
Cost: $189, plus $35 materials fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Opens on March 14
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th graders
The ‘Week in the Life of a Nurse’ is a hands-on camp at Bellarmine University for rising 10th and 11th-graders interested in the healthcare profession. The camp simulates the daily work of a nurse, providing you with practical, essential skills like listening to heart and lung sounds, taking blood pressure and pulse, applying wound dressings, and giving injections. By the end of the camp, you will also become CPR-trained and hear from experienced professionals about the diverse career possibilities in healthcare.
4. Ivy Tech Science Summer Camp
Location: Ivy Tech Community College, Valparaiso, IN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15-30 based on other camps organized at Ivy Tech
Dates: 4 Thursdays in June and July
Application Deadline: Rolling, until spots are filled
Eligibility: High school students
The Ivy Tech Science Summer Camp is a program held on four Thursdays in June and July. This camp is designed for high school students aspiring to become medical professionals. Sessions are structured to focus on one health-related topic per day, covering anatomy & physiology, advanced anatomy, biology, and chemistry & physics. Although primarily targeted at future healthcare workers, the foundational science curriculum can benefit anyone with a general interest in science.
5. New Mexico Consortium Summer Physics Camp
Location: New Mexico School for the Arts, Santa Fe, NM
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 – 25 students
Dates: June 2 – 13
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students who live in New Mexico, New Mexico tribal communities, or East Hawaii Island, and have completed a high-level math course like Algebra I
In this camp, you will have the opportunity to learn about energy and energy security at a much more advanced level than your high school syllabus. Over the two weeks, you will participate in hands-on projects that boost your understanding of various STEM-related subjects, like chemistry, bioengineering, and more. More importantly, industry experts like researchers and scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories teach at this camp. Beyond the academics, the camp provides valuable professional guidance on resume writing and interview techniques for future lab contributions.
6. Newton’s Attic Summer Camps
Location: Newton’s Attic, Lexington, KY
Cost: Half-day weeks start at $265; full-day camps start at $530
Acceptance rate/cohort size: High acceptance rate, as there are multiple sessions of an individual camp and new sessions are added based on demand
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
Newton’s Attic offers a comprehensive schedule of summer camp sessions, typically five days long, with options for half-day or full-day participation. The camps allow high school students to explore various STEM subjects, including chemistry, robotics, coding, mechanical, aerospace, and electrical engineering. Known for its hands-on engineering programs, Newton’s Attic provides diverse, project-based learning to suit different interests. High school students should look for camps colored red on the camp calendar.
7. Chip Camp
Location: University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus, Louisville, KY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 9 – 13
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders in Louisville
Chip Camp is a free, highly selective program for rising 10th to 12th graders in Louisville who are curious about the hardware components of technology. The camp provides the basic skills to understand and potentially design hardware, with mini-lectures, videos, and tours of the University of Louisville’s Micro/Nano Technology Center. You will learn about microprocessor chip design and semiconductor technology and gain practical experience by using low-cost field-programmable gate array (FPGA) architectures to build circuits.
8. MSEC Summer Camp
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA or its SciTech Campus in Manassas, VA
Cost: $500 per week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by session
Dates: Various sessions from June 16 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling, until spots are filled
Eligibility: Rising 6th – 9th graders
The Mason Space Exploration Center organizes this camp, which gives you the chance to engage in a variety of space-themed STEM activities at George Mason University. Some of the activities include using Micro Bits to build solar panels and radar detectors, and learning to operate specialized devices like the solar telescope and sunspotter. Additionally, the camp teaches foundational physics concepts like motion and gravity. As a high school student, you will be placed in the Advanced Camp.
9. Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) STEM Camp
Location: Camp Paumalu, Haleiwa, HI
Cost: $50
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40
Dates: February 15 – 17
Application Deadline: December 22
Eligibility: U.S. high school students who are enrolled in STEM subjects at school, have a minimum GPA of 3.2, with medical insurance
The SAME STEM Camp is packed with large-scale projects, such as building a life-size cardboard boat, making a water filter, and designing engineering and construction plans. By involving high school students in these activities, SAME focuses on getting more students interested in pursuing a career in the STEM field. In addition to all the project-based learning sessions, you will also spend your time doing other activities like participating in wilderness survival and playing sports.
10. Camp SOAR
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: Full program cost (including room, board, activities) is not publicly specified; $35 application fee (need-based scholarship available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective based on academic qualifications and potential benefit to the participant
Dates: July 12 – 17
Application Deadline: Typically opens in January
Eligibility: 11th and 12th graders
Camp SOAR is a highly selective residential camp at Texas A&M University that gives 11th and 12th-graders a deep dive into the aerospace engineering field. Students can select a track focusing on airplanes, helicopters, or space. Within their chosen track, they will engage in design projects, developing essential skills in engineering design, teamwork, and critical thinking. Over five days, you will not only design and build your project to better understand the engineering design process, but also get a closer look at the university’s research facilities.
11. FOCUS Academy
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified, but limited spots are available
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling, until spots are filled
Eligibility: High school students
The FOCUS Academy is a highly selective, five-day residential camp at George Mason University structured to explore the four STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, one field per day. The high school syllabus includes advanced topics and longer workshops than the middle school version. On the final day, participants attend a conference to share their learning. The camp also includes college and SAT preparation sessions, fitness classes, and a farewell party.
12. Niagara University STEM Summer Camp
Location: Niagara University, Lewiston, NY
Cost: $950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20
Dates: August 3 – 9
Application Deadline: Rolling until June 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders
In this stay-in-campus camp, you will skim through various STEM topics while primarily focusing on biomedical research and how it influences our daily lives. The other topics that you will study in this summer camp include robotics, DNA testing, archaeology, environmental science, and marine biology. You will also gain experience using the latest lab equipment that is currently used in biomedical research. Organized by Niagara University Biomedical Research Institute, the department also hosts guest lectures and field trips that provide you with a better understanding of the different STEM topics and an insight into future college and career prospects.
13. Week of Code Summer Camp
Location: Awesome Inc, Lexington, KY
Cost: Not specified, but the camp is tuition-based (scholarships available); limited laptops available for rent at $25 per day
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 per session
Dates: June 9 – 12 | June 16 – 19 | July 14 – 17
Application Deadline: Rolling, until spots are filled
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 9 and 16
The Week of Code Summer Camp, held at Awesome Inc, is a four-day program designed to equip students with the skills to design a video game, website, or mobile app. Over the four days, you will learn the basics of programming languages, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and gain proficiency in technologies like iOS, Android, and Construct. In addition to computer science topics, this camp aims to foster skills in logical and creative thinking and teamwork.
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 – The University of Texas at Austin