High school schedules leave little room to explore interests properly. Summer programs help fill that gap. They allow you to spend focused time on a subject without juggling exams, homework, and daily classes. These programs often introduce you to college-style expectations. You may work independently, manage your own deadlines, or learn tools used beyond high school classrooms. That experience can be useful when deciding what you want to study later on.
Why is Orlando, FL, a great place for summer programs?
Orlando offers access to a wide range of summer programs across science, engineering, health, technology, and research. Many are hosted by universities, medical centers, and education-focused organizations with strong ties to industry and applied research.
Staying in Orlando makes participation easier and more affordable, especially if you live nearby. At the same time, the work you do still carries weight. These programs help you build experience and give you concrete examples to share in college applications or interviews.
With that, below is a list of 15 summer programs for high school students in Orlando, Florida! If you’re looking for other opportunities in the state of Florida, our other blog covers that, too. Or, if you’re keen on majoring in engineering, then this blog has a bunch of engineering-specific opportunities in Florida!
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Orlando, FL
1. AEOP Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), Orlando, FL
Cost: Fully funded, apprentices earn a $4,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 8 weeks between June – August, with exact dates varying by lab and role
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old who are U.S. citizens. NAWCTSD specifically only admits students turning 18 by the start of the internship.
SEAP is an eight-week summer research apprenticeship hosted in a Department of Defense laboratory. At NAWCTSD, you are assigned a mentor and placed on a research project tied to the lab’s core technical areas, such as electronics, aerodynamics, instructional systems technology, or engineering. Your work includes assisting with lab tasks, observing ongoing research, and attending technical meetings. You also tour research facilities and interact with engineers and scientists working in defense-related research. Past projects at this site have involved human–computer interaction, unmanned aerial systems, human systems integration, and augmented reality–based training tools.
2. UCF Future Physicians Academy (FPA)
Location: UCF College of Medicine, Lake Nona, FL
Cost: Ranges from $1,700 to $2,900 per course, depending on subject
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8 distinct courses stretching over 9 weeks from June 1 – July 31, with each specific course being a 5-day experience
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current high school students
The UCF Future Physicians Academy runs as a series of five-day, subject-specific medical courses spread across the summer. Each course focuses on a single medical field, such as cardiology, trauma, neurology, psychiatry, dermatology, obstetrics, or clinical research. You take part in hands-on medical activities that may include simulations, dissections, suturing, splinting, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, or punch biopsies. Instruction emphasizes clinical thinking and academic rigor rather than broad career exposure. The structure allows you to enroll in multiple courses to explore different specialties.
3. Summer Institute at UCF (SI@UCF)
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Cost: $1,250. Needs-based scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, with only around 35 students accepted
Dates: June 1 – 19
Application Deadline: March 27 for early, April 17 for regular
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–11 aged at least 13+, with an interest in computer science and mathematics
SI@UCF is a three-week summer program focused on computer science and programming fundamentals. You choose from three technical levels: introductory Python programming, object-oriented programming with Python and PyGame, or competitive programming. The curriculum is centered on writing code, debugging, and applying algorithms rather than lectures alone. Beginner levels focus on programming basics, while advanced levels emphasize problem-solving and competitive-style coding. Instruction is delivered through UCF’s computer science department with a strong technical workload.
4. UCF Laser and Photonics Summer Camp
Location: CREOL (College of Optics and Photonics), Orlando, FL
Cost: $650
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited cohort
Dates: July 6 – 10 | July 13 – 17 | July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: June 15
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders
This one-week summer camp is hosted by UCF’s College of Optics and Photonics and focuses on the physics of light. You work in undergraduate-level labs conducting experiments with lasers, optical fibers, and interferometry equipment. The program includes hands-on optical alignment, breadboarding, and measurement techniques. You also study the mathematical and physical principles behind wave optics and photonics. The work is technical and lab-driven, covering material not typically taught in high school physics courses.
5. UCF Camp Connect (Advanced)
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Cost: $300
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – 12
Application Deadline: April 3 for early application, April 24 for regular
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders aged 15+
The Advanced track of Camp Connect is a one-week engineering-focused summer program. You work in teams on a research-oriented STEM project under the guidance of a UCF faculty member. Projects are tied to engineering fields such as industrial, civil, or aerospace engineering. You use university lab spaces to run experiments and analyze problems specific to each discipline. The program emphasizes collaboration, applied problem-solving, and exposure to how different engineering fields operate in practice.
6. UCF Health Leaders Summer Academy (HLSA)
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Cost: Keep an eye on the website for details to be updated in March
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: Keep an eye on the website for details to be updated in March
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA
HLSA is a one-week summer program that introduces you to multiple areas of healthcare practice. You take part in medical simulations that focus on diagnostic skills and patient scenarios. The program also includes case study discussions related to public health, epidemiology, and health disparities. You interact with healthcare professionals from different specialties through workshops and sessions. Campus and facility tours are included as part of the exposure-based structure.
7. Beacon College Summer for Success
Location: Beacon College, Leesburg, FL (Greater Orlando Area)
Cost: $5,400 – $7,50,0, depending on track selected
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 12 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have a diagnosed learning disability such as dyslexia, ADHD, or a related condition.
Summer for Success is a multi-week summer program designed for students with diagnosed learning differences. You choose from one of several academic tracks and learn structured study strategies and executive functioning skills. Instruction focuses on applying these strategies directly to academic tasks rather than general enrichment. The program emphasizes understanding how you learn and adapting techniques to real coursework. The experience is centered on preparation for high school and college academics.
8. UCF PREM High School Summer Internship
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Cost: No cost, interns earn a $1,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective
Dates: June 9 – July 18
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The UCF PREM internship is a six-week, lab-based research program hosted through UCF’s Center for Quantum Materials Innovation and Education Excellence. You work inside a materials science research lab as part of one of three interdisciplinary research groups. Your work involves analyzing quantum materials using tools such as scanning electron microscopes and X-ray diffraction systems. You assist with material synthesis and characterization while learning how crystallography and solid-state physics guide experimental design. The program is research-heavy and focused on lab methods rather than classroom instruction.
9. Project SEED (ACS) at Embry-Riddle
Location: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 8–10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Current high school sophomore, junior, or senior with at least one year of chemistry. Family income must not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) Project SEED offers high school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to work in real chemistry laboratories. In Florida, you will work at one of the labs at Embry-Riddle University, just 50 miles from Orlando. You will be assigned a faculty mentor and a specific project, which might involve organic synthesis, checking material purity, or analyzing chemical kinetics. You will learn to operate advanced instrumentation such as NMR spectrometers or chromatography systems—hardware typically reserved for graduate students. Alongside the laboratory component, the program also features a virtual summer camp focusing on college readiness and professional development.
10. Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: Local non-profits in Orlando, FL + Washington, D.C. Summit
Cost: No cost; this is a paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective, only 300 students selected nationally
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors
Bank of America Student Leaders is an eight-week paid internship centered on nonprofit operations and civic engagement. You are placed at a local nonprofit organization and work on projects related to community outreach, program coordination, and internal operations. Your responsibilities may include managing schedules, tracking resources, and supporting service initiatives. The program includes a week-long summit in Washington, D.C., focused on public policy, leadership, and civic systems. The work emphasizes organizational and communication skills rather than research or clinical exposure.
11. Winnie Palmer Teen Volunteer Program
Location: Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.0, aged 16+
This summer-long volunteer program places you inside clinical hospital environments at Orlando Health facilities. You commit to regular shifts in assigned departments such as nursing units, radiology, or guest services. Your role involves supporting daily operations while following strict hospital protocols related to safety, privacy, and sanitation. You observe how care teams coordinate patient flow and manage high-volume clinical settings. The experience is operational and observational rather than hands-on medical training.
12. Winter Park Youth Leaders Program
Location: Winter Park, FL (approximately 15 miles from downtown Orlando)
Cost: $400 tuition + $25 application fee; tuition assistance and fee waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – 12
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Winter Park Youth Leaders Program is a five-day, in-person leadership program held in Winter Park. You spend full days working through sessions on civic engagement, professional conduct, and local leadership. The curriculum includes personal branding, emotional intelligence, community awareness, law and government, and career exploration. Much of the learning happens through direct interaction with local executives, government officials, nonprofit leaders, and other decision-makers who lead sessions and mentor you during the week. The program is discussion-based and small in size, allowing regular interaction with mentors and peers. You also complete documented community service hours as part of the experience.
13. CareerSource Central Florida Summer Youth Program
Location: Multiple sites throughout Orlando and Central Florida
Cost: Free; participants earn a minimum $1,200 stipend/wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly accessible (1,000+ participants annually)
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: February (applications open)
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–19 who reside in Central Florida
CareerSource Central Florida’s Summer Youth Program runs across multiple sites and offers three distinct summer pathways. In the Explore Track, you spend time in classroom training, college and technical school visits, and hands-on projects while learning about different career fields. In the Experience Track, you are placed in a paid internship with a local employer and take part in workshops on workplace skills, financial literacy, and teamwork. In the Accelerate Track, you receive focused technical training in specific industries such as healthcare, construction, coding, robotics, or manufacturing, with opportunities to earn industry-recognized certifications.
14. MITES Semester
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June – December
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents
As a top-tier remote option, MITES Semester allows you to engage with MIT-level coursework without leaving Orlando. You will complete a project-based course in a STEM discipline, such as machine learning, thermodynamics, or astrophysics, over six months. The summer component involves two challenging online STEM courses and the development of a final project while being mentored by MIT undergraduates. The fall semester expands the mentorship and has you interacting with faculty, researchers, and professionals via weekly webinars and cluster meetings, as well as participating in college preparation workshops.
15. Girls Who Code Pathways Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 25 for early, April 10 for general
Eligibility: High school girls and non-binary students of all experience levels
Girls Who Code Pathways is a seven-week virtual program focused on applied computer science. You choose one technical track, such as web development, data science and AI, cybersecurity, game design, or AI and society. The curriculum centers on building projects using programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You spend the program writing code, debugging, and developing functional projects. The experience is structured around technical skill-building rather than lectures.
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 – Girls Who Code