Summer camps give high school students a chance to focus on a specific subject, build practical skills, and gain hands-on experience outside the classroom. These programs are usually shorter and more concentrated than typical academic courses, allowing you to dive deeply into a topic and practice real-world techniques.
For students living in Texas, attending a local summer camp can be a convenient and cost-effective way to participate. You can access expert instructors, specialized facilities, and mentorship without the additional expense and logistics of traveling out of state.
Texas offers a variety of summer camps in medicine and healthcare, from pre-college programs and research immersions to clinical experiences and public health workshops. Below is a list of 13 summer camps in Texas for high school students that provide structured opportunities to learn and explore in these fields.
1. Camp Champions
Program Dates: Multiple sessions June – August
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Cost: Varies based on session
Location: Hunt, TX
Eligibility: Ages 7–17; all skill levels accepted
Camp Champions is a traditional overnight summer camp offering diverse programs in athletics, arts, outdoor adventure, and leadership development. You will engage in skill-building across multiple disciplines, including team sports, creative arts, and outdoor survival skills. The camp structure promotes resilience, strategic thinking, and collaboration through a mix of instructional and recreational activities. While not specialized in STEM or medicine, Camp Champions provides a well-rounded environment that fosters the development of both physical and social competencies within a structured, immersive setting.
2. UTSA High School Summer Camps
Program Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Varies by program; check UTSA website for details
Cost: $250 – $1,200 depending on program length and materials
Location: University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Eligibility: High school students; some programs open to rising juniors/seniors or middle school students
UTSA offers a diverse portfolio of summer camps spanning fields such as criminal justice, music, architecture, and engineering. You will engage in technical skill-building activities like forensic science methods, ensemble performance techniques, architectural model design, or biomechanical analysis. Many camps provide access to specialized labs, rehearsal studios, or mock trial environments and are led by UTSA faculty and industry professionals. Sessions typically include team-based projects, presentations, or competitions to develop both subject mastery and collaborative skills.
3. Creative Writing Camp
Program Dates: Summer sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment; pre-registration recommended
Cost: $525 per student with 5% sibling discount for two or more registered together
Location: Rice University, TX
Eligibility: K–12 students interested in developing writing skills
The Creative Writing Camp focuses on developing advanced storytelling and composition skills through a variety of creative exercises. You will explore narrative techniques, poetic forms such as haikus and sonnets, and character development via projects including mapping fictional worlds and conducting interviews with original protagonists. The camp emphasizes vocabulary expansion, sentence complexity, and the use of figurative language, as measured through pre- and post-camp assessments. Instructors with advanced degrees guide you through an immersive process of creative invention and critical thinking, fostering skills crucial for effective communication and 21st-century learning.
4. Rice ELITE Tech Camp
Program Dates: June 22 – 28, July 6 – 12, July 13 – 19, July 20 – 26
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Cost: Residential: $3,795; Commuter: $1,695
Location: Rice University campus, Houston, TX
Eligibility: High school students
Rice ELITE Tech Camp delivers an intensive pre-college engineering curriculum focusing on machine learning, AI, Internet of Things, data science, 3D printing, and data analytics. You will use engineering design principles in team projects to solve real-world problems, while also building leadership and project management skills relevant to STEM careers. Instruction from Rice faculty and researchers offers direct experience with academic and professional engineering settings.
5. Center for Computer Science Education & Outreach (CSk12) Workshops & Camps
Program Dates: Multiple workshops and camps year-round and summer
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Cost: Mostly free; nominal fees for some workshops
Location: Primarily online and in-person across Texas
Eligibility: Students K–12 and adults; all skill levels
CSk12 offers a structured sequence of coding workshops and camps, beginning with drag-and-drop languages like Scratch and Alice, and progressing to text-based programming in JavaScript, C++, Java, and Python. Participants can enhance their computational thinking and problem-solving skills through practical projects that involve animations, games, and app development. The curriculum accommodates beginners through advanced learners, enabling a pathway from foundational concepts to college-level programming. CSk12 also organizes programming contests and provides tailored workshops on request for schools and organizations.
6. Aggie STEM Camps
Program Dates: Week 1: May 31 – June 6, Week 2: June 7 – 13, Week 3: June 14 – 20, Week 4: June 21 – 27 (includes Gaddis Girls Camp)
Application Deadline: April 25 (registration closes); April 1 for roommate requests
Cost: Middle school camp tuition: $1,499; High school camp tuition: $1,699
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Eligibility: Incoming 6th–12th graders for overnight camps; 2nd–5th graders for elementary day camps
Aggie STEM Camps are one-week, project-based intensive programs that aim to enhance STEM skills such as engineering design, advanced technology tools, and mathematical modeling. Participants work on hands-on, collaborative projects guided by Texas A&M faculty and STEM experts. Overnight camps include private rooms and support various dietary needs, promoting both technical skill acquisition and community building. Each summer features new themes and classes tailored for junior high and high school students, balancing rigorous STEM inquiry with traditional camp activities.
7. Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC)
Program Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Varies
Cost: $6,600 (covers 90% of program costs; financial aid available)
Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Eligibility: High school students with strong math backgrounds; returning students may conduct original research
HSMC is an intensive residential math camp that focuses on advanced problem-solving, original research, and mathematical theory. Returning students can engage in mentor-driven research projects with faculty guidance, targeting competitions such as the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and opportunities for publication in scholarly journals. The camp features guest colloquium lectures on cutting-edge math topics and encourages collaboration to deepen mathematical understanding. Alumni have a strong track record of winning awards at national research competitions.
8. Digital Health Pioneers Summer Camp
Program Dates: June 2 – 6
Application Deadline: Rolling; refunds available until May 22
Cost: TBD
Location: University of North Texas, Frisco Landing, TX
Eligibility: High school students interested in technology and healthcare
This 5-day camp explores the intersection of digital technology and healthcare through hands-on projects, workshops, and seminars. You will engage with topics including telemedicine, wearable health technologies, and digital health data analytics, developing skills relevant to digital health innovation. Led by Dr. Ana Cleveland and UNT faculty, the camp emphasizes applied learning and exposure to emerging healthcare technologies. Meals are not included.
9. Storytelling with Data Summer Camp
Program Dates: June 9 – 13
Application Deadline: Rolling; refunds available until May 29
Cost: Not specified
Location: University of North Texas, Frisco Landing, TX
Eligibility: High school students; no prior programming experience required
This 5-day camp combines Python programming with data analysis and visualization to teach you how to extract insights and create engaging data-driven stories. You will develop skills in Python coding, dataset exploration, and visualization techniques, which help communicate complex information effectively. Led by Dr. Kewei Sha and UNT faculty, the camp features hands-on projects that result in personalized data stories. Meals are not included.
10. NexGen DATA Leadership Summer Camp
Program Dates: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: Rolling; refunds available until June 26
Cost: Not specified
Location: University of North Texas, Frisco Landing, TX
Eligibility: High school students with prior programming experience
This 5-day program focuses on advanced data science topics, including machine learning, predictive analytics, deep learning, and generative AI. You will work with real-world datasets to develop solutions and insights while learning about data leadership roles, including data analyst, engineer, scientist, architect, and chief data officer. The camp integrates technical training with leadership and collaboration skill-building through project-based learning and mentorship.
11. Digital Creators Institute Summer Camp
Program Dates: July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling; refunds available until July 17
Cost: Not specified
Location: University of North Texas, Frisco, TX
Eligibility: High school students interested in digital content creation and technology
This 5-day immersive camp explores the intersection of people, information, and technology. You will work hands-on with AI and large language models to create digital content, alongside projects in website design, digital art, and video production. The curriculum emphasizes digital literacy, responsible technology use, and creative expression. Led by Dr. Brady Lund and UNT faculty, the camp equips you with skills for innovative storytelling and technical creation. Meals are not included.
12. UHD Summer Camps
Program Dates: Various sessions June – August
Application Deadline: Varies by camp
Cost: Varies by program
Location: University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX
Eligibility: Children and teens ages 6–16; varies by camp
UHD offers a broad suite of summer camps spanning STEM, medical science, language immersion, writing, and athletics. You will build specific skills like robotics engineering, coding, medical science, Spanish language, and writing through hands-on projects and expert instruction. Key programs include the Houston Rockets Youth Basketball Camp with professional coaching and gear, the Medical Field Camp in partnership with The Health Museum, and the Robotics Camp focused on engineering design and computer science. Additionally, UHD’s Summer Academy provides academic enrichment in debate, money management, public speaking, and healthcare preparation to build foundational skills for college and career readiness.
13. UTA Summer Camps
Program Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: Varies by camp
Cost: Varies by program
Location: University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
Eligibility: Grades 7–12
UTA presents a variety of summer camps for high school students that blend STEM, music, language immersion, and sports. Key programs include ‘Empowering Youth For a Sustainable Future,’ a two-week research internship focused on engineering solutions and environmental sustainability; ‘Principles of Engineering,’ offering hands-on exploration of mechanical, civil, electrical, and environmental engineering through real-world projects; and ‘Fab Lab: 3D Printing 101,’ where students learn 3D design and modeling with user-friendly software to craft objects and structures. Music camps such as Concert Band, Marching Band, Summer Strings, and All-State Choir offer immersive music education and ensemble experiences. The STARTALK Russian Immersion is a three-week, NSA-sponsored language camp that teaches Russian through interactive role-play and cultural themes on campus. Additionally, the UTA Softball Camp focuses on skill development with UTA coaches and athletes, emphasizing fundamentals and game simulations.
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!
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