Summer break is one of the few times in high school when you can step away from classes and spend time on something you are actually interested in. A summer program can help you explore a subject, try a new skill, or get early exposure to a field you might want to study later. You get to learn in a setting that feels different from school, with more focus and less pressure.
Summer programs also give you experiences that are easy to talk about later. Whether you’re writing a college essay or sitting in an interview, it helps when you can point to something you did outside your usual routine. You also meet instructors, mentors, and students who are working on similar interests, which can make the experience more motivating.
Why should you choose Hartford, Connecticut?
Hartford has more options than many students expect. The city has universities, hospitals, nonprofits, and cultural organizations that run programs for high school students. That means you can find opportunities across healthcare, STEM, writing, arts, leadership, and career exploration. Hartford also works well if you want something local. Local programs do not require travel or housing, which keeps things simpler and more affordable.
With that in mind, here are 15 summer programs for high school students in Hartford, Connecticut! You can also explore our list of online summer programs here.
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Hartford, Connecticut
1. CBA Law Camp
Location: University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, CT
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited number of spots
Dates: July 7 – 11 (tentative, based on previous year dates)
Application Deadline: May 31 (tentative, based on previous year dates)
Eligibility: Students who attend a Connecticut high school
CBA Law Camp is a one-week introduction to the legal field where you spend time in panel discussions, mentorship sessions, advocacy training, and mock trial preparation. You also meet judges, attorneys, and law students, which helps you understand what legal work looks like in real life and how people enter the profession. The camp is writing and discussion-heavy, so you practice building arguments, thinking through evidence, and speaking clearly under pressure.
2. YWLC Summer Institute
Location: YWCA Hartford Region, Hartford, CT
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July and August, four days a week (Monday–Thursday)
Application Deadline: Not publicly available; you need to get in touch with the Director of Programs for more information.
Eligibility: Students aged 13 to 18
YWLC Summer Institute (YWCA Hartford Region) is built around leadership training that mixes personal development with practical skills. You spend several weeks attending workshops focused on teamwork, communication, confidence, and financial literacy, along with structured activities that introduce basic STEM concepts. The schedule is consistent and routine-based, so you are not just dropping in for a few sessions. It also includes college and career exposure, where you learn about different pathways and what preparation looks like.
3. Hartford Stage Summer Studio Classes: Technical Theater Track
Location: Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Hartford, CT
Cost: $1,500 (tuition aid available for qualifying families.)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: Not publicly available
Eligibility: Students aged 12 to 18
Hartford Stage Summer Studio Classes: Technical Theater Track focuses on the backstage work that actually holds theater together. In the mornings, you learn technical areas like scenic painting, props, and costumes, which are the kind of skills crews use during live productions. In the afternoons, you pick electives so you can spend more time on the parts you want to get better at. The program also places you into real production support by letting you work on the crews for performances connected to the Summer Studio.
4. The Nook Farm Writers Collaborative
Location: The Mark Twain House & Museum, Hartford, CT
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 13 students
Dates: June 24 – July 30 (all weekdays except Thursdays when you will be working from home)
Application Deadline: April 29
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 14 and 18 when the program begins on June 24
If you are someone who enjoys writing, then this writing apprenticeship could be the right summer program for you. Taking inspiration from Mark Twain’s writing journey, this program allows you to explore various genres of writing, including travel writing, journalism, personal essays, poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction. In addition to the in-person classes, you also get to learn from some well-established authors from across the USA through virtual workshops. Students leave with their individual portfolios.
5. Connecticut Science Center Teen Innovation
Location: Connecticut Science Center, Hartford, CT
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 30 students
Dates: Six weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Not publicly available
Eligibility: Students who have completed one full session of the Science Center’s Investigate! program during the academic year or have been part of the Teen Advisory Council for one full school year.
Connecticut Science Center Teen Innovation is a summer job-style program where you are treated as part of the Science Center’s work. Instead of doing generic STEM activities, you help develop new programs and exhibit ideas that will be used to teach visitors. That means you spend time thinking about how to explain science clearly, how to build interactive learning experiences, and how to test whether something actually works for an audience.
6. STAIR (Successful Teens Accepting Individual Responsibilities)
Location: The Grace Webb School, Hartford, CT
Cost: $6,000 for full four-week sessions; you can also opt to participate only for two weeks for $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 8 – August 2
Application Deadline: June 6
Eligibility: 8th to 12th graders
STAIR (Successful Teens Accepting Individual Responsibilities) is designed around independence training, and it is very direct about that purpose. The program teaches life skills like budgeting, banking, meal planning, cooking, and managing daily responsibilities. It also includes social skills and pre-vocational skills, so it is not only about chores, but it is also about how you function in group settings and how you manage your own routine. The schedule includes health and wellness activities, leisure planning, and service projects, so the days are full and structured.
7. G.R.I.T. Great Ready! Immersive Traineeship
Location: ReadyCT, Hartford, CT
Cost: A stipend is provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 130 students
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
G.R.I.T. Great Ready! Immersive Traineeship (ReadyCT) places you into a project environment where the work comes from real clients. You are grouped with other high school students, and you spend the summer completing a task that an organization actually needs, which can include research, planning, communication, or building materials for the client. Because the projects come from large employers and public organizations, you also get exposure to professional expectations and deadlines. The program includes paid participation, but the bigger value is learning how group work operates when the deliverable is real, and someone is waiting for it.
8. Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program (SYELP)
Location: Various companies across Hartford, CT
Cost: None. A stipend is provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by the role
Dates: Six weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 14 and 24
The Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program (SYELP) is Hartford’s structured summer job program, and the core point is work experience. You are placed into a summer job for six weeks, earning a stipend while learning how workplaces run. Depending on the role, you might be doing office support, community work, operations tasks, or basic administrative responsibilities. The program also includes professional development and networking opportunities, so you are not only working, but you are also learning how to speak professionally, show reliability, and build early workplace confidence.
9. Hartford Stage Summer Studio Classes Teen Musical featuring Chicago: Teen Edition
Location: Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Hartford, CT
Cost: $1,640 (tuition aid available for qualifying families)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not publicly available
Eligibility: Students aged 14 to 18
Hartford Stage Summer Studio Classes Teen Musical (Chicago: Teen Edition) is a performance-focused program where the summer revolves around rehearsals and a full staged production. You work with instructors on singing, dancing, and acting while learning how a musical is built from rehearsal to performance. The structure is demanding because you are preparing for a show, so you spend a lot of time on repetition, timing, and group coordination. Alongside performance training, you also attend classes connected to production and stage work, which helps you understand the full system behind a theater performance.
10. Pre-Collegiate Visual Arts Portfolio Workshop
Location: Hartford Art School (University of Hartford), Hartford, CT
Cost: $995, including supplies and materials (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 60 students
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: Opens in the late spring
Eligibility: High school students
Pre-Collegiate Visual Arts Portfolio Workshop (Hartford Art School) is built for students who want serious studio time and a portfolio that looks organized and intentional. You work across mediums like drawing, photography, ceramics, and other studio formats, depending on what the workshop offers that year. The program is taught by working artists, and a big part of the experience is learning how to develop ideas into finished pieces, not just experimenting randomly. Because it is portfolio-oriented, you also learn how to present your work, document it, and think about quality and consistency across multiple pieces.
11. Sundays at the Stadium
Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No limitation
Dates: June 29, July 20, and/or August 17 (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students aged 5 to 17
Sundays at the Stadium is a simple summer program with a clear purpose: reading, community, and a low-pressure environment. You show up at Trinity Health Stadium with a book or magazine, sit with other students, and read together as a group. After the reading session, you get time on the field for sports and activities, so the day feels social and active. It is not a training program or internship, but it is a structured community event that makes summer reading feel less lonely and more routine-based.
12. ActUp Theater’s Arts Academy (ATAA): Teen Fellows
Location: GHAA, Hartford, CT
Cost: $600 (partial scholarships available); participants also get paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: July 6 – 30
Application Deadline: May 29
Eligibility: Students aged 14 to 18
ActUp Theater’s Arts Academy (ATAA): Teen Fellows is a four-week performing arts program where the training covers multiple skills at once. You work on dancing, vocals, diction, improv, drama, and musical theater performance, so the schedule is broad rather than focused on one niche. The Teen Fellows track also includes an interview process, so admission is not automatic. Participants are paid, which makes the program feel closer to a job training environment than a typical arts camp.
13. UConn Pre-College Summer
Location: Available at the University of Connecticut (Hartford Campus), Hartford, CT
Cost: A non-refundable application fee of $50; program fee varies by course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 3
Application Deadline: Opens in December; apply by April 1 to get an early bird discount, and June 11 is the priority deadline.
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 to 17
UConn Pre-College Summer (Hartford Campus) is an academic program where you take college-level classes while staying in Hartford. You choose from different subject areas, so you can explore STEM, humanities, social sciences, or arts courses depending on what is offered. The main experience is learning how college classes work, including pacing, assignments, and classroom expectations. The program also includes workshops, seminars, and guest sessions, which adds a campus experience element even though it is short.
14. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple locations, including Hartford, CT
Cost: A stipend is paid; amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by the host company
Dates: Eight-week summer internship starting after the end of the school year; summit in Washington, DC takes place July 21 – 26
Application deadline: October 14 – January 15
Eligibility: 11th and 12th graders with the legal authorization to work in the US
This is your opportunity to gain essential work skills and experience by being employed as an intern at a nonprofit in your locality, in your case, Hartford. Through this internship, you will become skilled in managing budgets, programs, and daily operations. The program will train you with the knowledge to make financial decisions in favor of your community with confidence. Once you have completed your internship, you are expected to attend the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, where you will learn how government business and nonprofits interact on a larger scale.
15. Harvard Medical School Pre-College Online Certificate Program
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895 – $2,195 (need-based scholarship available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year, including summer
Application Deadline: Open all year round
Eligibility: For students ages 13 and up
Harvard Medical School Pre-College Online Certificate Program is a remote program where you take medical courses without needing to travel. You choose from different topics like medical research, immunology, physiology, pharmacology, and related areas, depending on what is available. The program is asynchronous, which means you work through the lessons on your own schedule and can pace yourself based on how much time you have. The learning style is structured and academic, with real-world examples and interactive components, so it feels closer to a short online course than a casual summer workshop.
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 – University of Connecticut