Are you a high school student in Washington looking to build new skills this summer?
Washington State offers a range of summer programs that can help you explore advanced fields, from engineering to political science, biology, and machine learning. Below is a curated list of 11 summer programs for high school students in Washington, designed to give you hands-on experience and in-depth learning.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Subject Areas: STEM, Economics, International Relations, Philosophy, Political Theory, History
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon’s research program offers students the chance to work with top scholars on a university-level research paper in fields like data science, political theory, and neuroscience. Using advanced tools like SPSS for data analysis, you’ll conduct original research and develop a project that can be submitted for publication.
Once you select a particular subject track and the type of research you wish to carry out, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar from a reputed university who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
2. iD Tech Camps at the University of Washington
Cost: $1,149 – $1,499, depending on program chosen
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Program Dates: Multiple sessions between June 23 – August 15
Subject Areas: Game Development, Artificial Intelligence, Web Development, Digital Art, Machine Learning
Eligibility: Students aged 13-17
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
iD Tech offers a variety of courses in game design, AI, and coding at the University of Washington’s Seattle campus. You can work with tools like Unity, JavaScript, and Python, building apps, games, and machine learning models. For example, in the Python Camp, you’ll learn how to create a model that can play Rock, Paper, Scissors. You’ll also create your own Artificial Intelligence systems, such as a recommendation algorithm that suggests restaurants for you to try in a specific city based on your favorite cuisines.
3. Ladder Internships
Subject areas: Technology, Business, Finance, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare and Medicine, Software Engineering, and more
Cost: $2,490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships, founded by Harvard alumni, connects high school students with startups and nonprofits worldwide for virtual internships. Participants engage in data collection, analysis, and interpretation and also receive personalized training in communication, time management, and other essential skills. Each intern is paired with a research manager and a Ladder coach for mentorship throughout the program.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company.
4. Seattle University Pre-College Program
Cost: $1,200 + $50 non-refundable deposit. Scholarships available
Location: Seattle University, Seattle, WA
Program Dates: Urban Sustainability: July 28 – August 2 | AI for Equity: July 14 – 26
Subject Areas: Urban Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Entrepreneurship
Eligibility: High school students
Application deadline: April 19
Seattle University’s pre-college summer camps offer high school students the chance to explore college-level courses, discover career paths, and engage with meaningful causes. The AI for Equity course explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and criminal justice, delving into topics like algorithmic predictions and natural language processing. This course offers college credit. The Urban Sustainability section is for students passionate about environmental solutions. The program emphasizes social equity and inclusion within environmental justice.
5. Northwest School Summer Camp
Cost: $600 – $2,600 depending on half day, full day, or boarding + $100 nonrefundable deposit. Financial aid available
Location: The Northwest School, Seattle, WA
Program Dates: July 8 – 19 | July 22 – August 2 | August 5 – 16
Subject Areas: Marine Biology, Robotics, Architecture, Dance, Music
Eligibility: Students aged 10-16 (boarding students must be aged 12-16), including international students
Application deadline: Rolling admissions, applications open on February 12
Northwest School Summer Camp offers engaging classes in subjects like dance, music, theater, marine biology, robotics, and architecture. You can create your own schedule, choosing the combination of classes that interest you. International students can apply and will benefit from the opportunity to practice English, experience American culture, and build friendships with local participants.
6. University of Washington Summer Youth Programs
Cost: Varies by program, usually between $750 – $950
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA or online
Program Dates: Various sessions in July and August
Subject Areas: Coding, Astronomy, Data Visualization, Creative Writing, Algorithms, Engineering, Photography, and more
Eligibility: Varies by program, but usually rising 9th–12th graders or rising 10th-12th graders
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Summer Courses at the University of Washington range from mathematical modeling to writing at the college level. In the coding courses, you’ll master Python or Java, covering fundamentals like values, expressions, and booleans. The engineering design course teaches you how to use electrical wiring, digital logic, and sensors to build your own robot. Writing for College Readiness will equip you with the skills you need to research, write compelling arguments, and revise your work, culminating in a portfolio of written pieces.
7. Seattle University Summer Business Institute
Cost: Free, with a $50 registration deposit
Location: Seattle University, Seattle, WA and online
Program Dates: July 15 – 26
Subject Areas: Business Management, Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Economics
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders; students from underserved communities are encouraged to apply
Application deadline: TBA
At Seattle University’s Summer Business Institute, you will learn the fundamentals of business by developing financial literacy and marketing strategies. You’ll explore economic principles, entrepreneurship, and data visualization. The program gives you the chance to attend undergraduate classes taught by faculty. You will work in a team to develop a business idea, which you will then present to industry leaders. This program also offers two college credits.
8. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program
Cost: Free (Stipend provided)
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Program Dates: 8 weeks
Subject Areas: Molecular Biology, Oncology Research
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Application deadline: March 31
The Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program is a competitive internship that gives you the chance to work in Fred Hutch’s cancer research labs. This program aims to introduce students who are under-represented in the biomedical sciences to cancer research. The internship begins with two weeks of lab training before beginning the research component. You will also participate in research seminars and professional development workshops.
9. Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) Summer Residency
Cost: Free, $255 for credits (Online); $1,025 (Residential, which covers program supplies and room)
Location: Virtual (Phase 1) + Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA (Phase 2)
Program Dates: November through March (Online); July & August (Residential)
Subject Areas: Aerospace Engineering, Astronomy
Eligibility: High school juniors
Application deadline: TBA
Washington Aerospace Scholars is an online distance learning program and summer experience created for high school juniors interested in exploring flight, aerospace design, and space travel. The online curriculum, based on a University of Washington college course, covers air and space vehicle design, NASA’s space exploration programs, and key topics in Earth and Space Science. If you successfully complete the online coursework, you will be invited to join the summer program, where you will collaborate with STEM professionals, NASA scientists, and educators, gaining hands-on exposure to the aerospace field.
10. Evergreen Girls State
Cost: $520, financial aid available
Location: Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
Program Dates: June 22 – 27
Subject Areas: Political Science, Public Administration
Eligibility: Female high school juniors who are residents of Washington state
Application deadline: June 22
The American Legion Auxiliary’s (ALA) flagship Girls State program, launched in 1937, is an experiential learning opportunity for high school girls in Washington. The program aims to develop young women as future leaders, instilling values of patriotism and Americanism. You will gain a deep understanding of the democratic process and the functioning of our republic at the local, state, and national levels. This program provides an in-depth look at the workings of government by simulating the legislative process. You will draft, debate, and vote on bills while developing leadership and public speaking skills.
11. Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Program
Cost: Free (Stipend provided)
Location: Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA
Program Dates: July 8 – August 2
Subject Areas: Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Public Health
Eligibility: 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade high school students who will be able to reside within commuting distance for the program’s duration
Application deadline: March 10
The Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Research Institute offers programs for high school students led by PhD-level scientists. You will gain hands-on experience working in a research lab and explore topics such as biochemistry, immunotherapy, gene editing, and infectious diseases. Additionally, you will participate in workshops focused on college readiness and career exploration, building a strong foundation for future careers in biomedical research. This program is meant for local Seattle students and aims to cultivate a more diverse workforce within biomedical research.
Image Source – Horizon Logo
