Key Takeaways
- These 8 programs take advantage of Portland’s coastal location and academic institutions, spanning marine science field research, transportation engineering, and studio art alongside leadership and debate training.
- Costs vary considerably, from the free Maine Summer Transportation Institute and the $50 Maine-SMART Research Program to residential options like Maine College of Art & Design’s Pre-College Program, which runs several thousand dollars.
- Several programs, including College of the Atlantic’s tracks and Maine College of Art & Design’s program, offer transferable college credit, giving you a head start on future coursework.
- Program length ranges from short one-week experiences like Girls Leadership Week and MSTI to longer three- to five-week residential programs, so time commitment is worth weighing alongside program fit.
- A couple of programs are restricted by age or grade level in ways worth double-checking, such as MSTI’s focus on rising 7th–9th graders and Girls Leadership Week’s eligibility for female-identifying students.
If you’re a high school student looking to explore academic interests beyond the classroom, summer programs give you structured exposure to how subjects are studied in real research, professional, and applied settings. Unlike standard coursework, these programs focus on hands-on learning, project-based tasks, and skill development using discipline-specific tools and methods. You gain experience working with data, laboratory techniques, field research protocols, or technical documentation, often reflecting early undergraduate expectations.
Why Portland, Maine Is a Great Place for Summer Programs?
Portland offers a unique mix of academic institutions, marine science organizations, public-sector agencies, and environmental research centers. With its proximity to the Gulf of Maine, the university offers marine biology, environmental science, and sustainability-focused programs. Portland is also home to universities, hospitals, utilities, and municipal departments that support applied learning in healthcare, engineering, policy, and data analysis.
To help you navigate your options, we’ve put together a list of 8 summer programs for high school students in Portland, Maine.
1. Maine College of Art & Design Pre-College Program
Location: Portland, ME
Cost: $4,800 (Shared Room) or $5,300 (Single Room); includes tuition, room and board, activities, and most studio supplies.
Program Dates: July 12 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 2 (Priority/Scholarship); April 15 (Final)
Eligibility: Students ages 15–18 (sophomores, juniors, or seniors)
This three-week residential program mirrors the structure of an undergraduate studio semester. Participants choose two studio majors, such as illustration, animation, photography, or graphic design, and take a mandatory figure drawing course to build their technical skills. Studio time is intensive and critique-based, with faculty guiding students through concept development, process refinement, and portfolio-ready projects. Work is completed in professional studio spaces using discipline-specific tools and materials. Students earn three college-level studio credits upon successful completion, and the program includes structured critiques similar to those in first-year art school courses.
2. Portland Speech and Debate Institute
Location: Lewis & Clark College, Portland, ME
Cost / Stipend: Commuter: $750 (1 week), $1,350 (2 weeks); Residential: $1,200 (1 week), $2,300 (2 weeks)
Program Dates: July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: June 15
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
This summer institute centers on competitive speech and debate training across formats, including Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, Parliamentary, and Public Forum. Students train in small labs where instructors lead drills in argument construction, research methodology, rebuttal structure, and evidence analysis. Daily practice debates and speech rehearsals reinforce technical precision and strategic thinking. The program culminates in two full tournaments, allowing participants to apply newly developed skills in formal competition settings. Instruction is tiered so both novice and experienced debaters can work at an appropriate intensity level.
3. Girls Leadership Week
Location: Cow Island and Portland, ME
Cost/Stipend: Tier 1: $770; Tier 2: $745; Tier 3: Financial aid available upon application
Program Dates: July 6 – 10
Application Deadline: Registration opens January 21 (for new families)
Eligibility: Rising 9th–11th grade female-identifying students
Girls Leadership Week combines structured leadership workshops with outdoor expedition-based learning on Cow Island. Participants examine leadership frameworks through facilitated dialogue and reflective exercises, then apply those concepts to group-based physical challenges. Activities include team navigation tasks and an overnight sea kayaking expedition that requires coordinated planning, communication, and shared responsibility. Professional outdoor educators guide risk management and wilderness skill-building throughout the week.
4. College of the Atlantic Pre-College Programs
Location: Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Rock, ME
Cost: $3,750 (Future of our Oceans) or $4,400 (Traditional Skiff Building); includes tuition, housing, food, and boat transportation
Program Dates: July 11 – 19 (Oceans); July 26 – August 8 (Skiff Building)
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
College of the Atlantic offers two credit-bearing tracks that use Maine’s coastal environment as a working classroom. In the “Future of Our Oceans” program, students conduct marine field research at offshore stations, collecting ecological data and examining ocean systems firsthand. The Traditional Skiff Building program focuses on hands-on boat construction, teaching woodworking techniques and maritime design principles through the building of a functional vessel. Faculty integrate scientific reasoning, environmental ethics, and manual craftsmanship across both tracks. Completion results in transferable college credit and eligibility for a renewable scholarship should students later enroll at COA.
5. Maine-SMART High School Research Program
Location: University of Southern Maine – Portland Campus, ME
Cost: $50
Program Dates: July 6 – August 7
Application Deadline: June 15 (Registration remains open until labs are filled)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (currently enrolled sophomores and juniors)
This week-long lab program introduces high school students to applied research methods aligned with Maine’s Targeted Technology Sectors. The most recent sessions focus on algae research, which involves controlled experiments testing growth variables such as agitation levels and nutrient media. Participants document procedures, collect quantitative data, and interpret findings under faculty supervision. Industry professionals visit to discuss biotechnology applications and regional STEM career pathways. Enrollment requires a teacher recommendation to confirm readiness for laboratory-based scientific work.
6. Homer High School Fellows
Location: Portland Museum of Art (PMA) and Winslow Homer Studio (Prouts Neck), ME
Stipend: Paid (Stipend amount unavailable)
Program Dates: Summer (Specific dates unavailable; historically June–August)
Application Deadline: Applications open in March
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Homer Fellows program at the Portland Museum of Art blends studio practice with institutional engagement. Fellows study artworks from the museum’s collection and special exhibitions, using them as inspiration for original projects developed throughout the summer. Sessions include visits to the Winslow Homer Studio and professional artists’ workspaces, alongside discussions on curatorial decision-making and exhibition design. Students also contribute feedback to museum staff on accessibility, interpretation, and youth engagement strategies. The fellowship concludes with a collaborative capstone project presented within the museum context.
7. Maine Summer Transportation Institute (MSTI)
Location: University of Maine, Orono Campus, ME
Cost / Stipend: Free
Program Dates: July 6 – 10
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 7th–9th grade students enrolled in Maine public or private schools
Hosted at the University of Maine, this residential program introduces rising high school freshmen and middle school students to transportation engineering systems. Participants conduct laboratory experiments, visit transportation facilities, and analyze how infrastructure decisions affect environmental sustainability and public safety. Faculty and industry partners lead workshops on aviation, roadway systems, marine transport, and logistics planning. Team-based projects require applying math and science principles to real-world mobility challenges. The residential format also offers a structured introduction to campus life.
8. Waynflete Counselor-In-Training (CIT) Program
Location: Waynflete Spring Street Campus, Portland, ME
Cost: $330 per session
Program Dates:
- Session 1: June 22 – July 2 (No camp July 3)
- Session 2: July 6 – 17
- Session 3: July 20 – 31
Application Deadline: March 1 (Tuition assistance deadline); General enrollment concludes the Monday prior to the session start date
Eligibility: Rising 9th–10th grade students (Ages 14–16)
The CIT program functions as a structured leadership bridge between camper and staff roles. As a participant, you’ll attend daily training sessions covering activity planning, risk management, communication strategies, and group facilitation techniques. Time is divided between observing senior counselors and leading supervised small-group activities within camp programs. Reflection sessions help students evaluate leadership decisions and teamwork effectiveness. Admission includes an interview process, reinforcing that the role carries real responsibility within the camp structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of summer programs are available to high school students in Portland, Maine?
You’ll find a mix of formats, including marine science and environmental research through College of the Atlantic’s programs, studio art training at Maine College of Art & Design and the Homer High School Fellows program, and skills-based training like the Portland Speech and Debate Institute and Waynflete’s Counselor-in-Training Program. The Maine-SMART Research Program and MSTI round out the list with lab-based and transportation engineering research, respectively.
Do you need prior experience to apply?
It depends on the program. The Maine-SMART High School Research Program requires a teacher recommendation to confirm you’re ready for lab-based scientific work, while others, like the Portland Speech and Debate Institute, are tiered so both novice and experienced participants can train at an appropriate level. Most programs on this list don’t require extensive prior experience in the subject area, since they’re designed to introduce foundational skills.
Are there free or low-cost options available?
Yes, a couple of programs on this list are notably affordable. The Maine Summer Transportation Institute is completely free, and the Maine-SMART High School Research Program costs only $50. Most other programs charge tuition ranging from a few hundred dollars for shorter sessions to several thousand for longer residential experiences.
Which programs offer college credit?
Maine College of Art & Design’s Pre-College Program awards three college-level studio credits, and both of College of the Atlantic’s pre-college tracks result in transferable college credit along with eligibility for a renewable scholarship if you later enroll at COA. These are worth prioritizing if you want your summer coursework to count toward future academic requirements.
Which programs are paid or offer a stipend?
The Homer High School Fellows program at the Portland Museum of Art is paid, though the exact stipend amount isn’t specified. Most other programs on this list charge tuition rather than offering compensation, so it’s one of the few options here that pays participants directly.
Which programs are restricted by age, grade level, or gender?
A few programs have specific eligibility requirements beyond general high school enrollment. Girls Leadership Week is limited to rising 9th–11th grade female-identifying students, and the Maine Summer Transportation Institute is designed for rising 7th–9th graders rather than the broader high school range covered by most other programs on this list. Waynflete’s CIT Program is also limited to rising 9th–10th graders specifically.
When should you apply?
Deadlines for these programs are spread throughout the winter and spring, so it helps to plan ahead. Maine College of Art & Design has a priority deadline of February 2, followed by Waynflete’s tuition assistance deadline (March 1) and College of the Atlantic’s programs (March 13). Later deadlines include MSTI (May 1) and both the Portland Speech and Debate Institute and Maine-SMART Research Program (June 15), so it’s worth checking each program’s specific timeline if you’re applying closer to summer.
Image source: Lewis & Clark College